In November of 1983, the United States of America and the Soviet Union - the two significant superpowers - came extremely close to all-out nuclear war. As the Cold War became increasingly ominous, the Soviet Union was certain that the United States was about to strike with nuclear weapons. With both countries armed to such a degree with nuclear weapons that a single mistake could trigger a nuclear war in which, would wipe the human civilization off the face of the earth, all military movements were watched for extremely closely.
At the same time, the Soviet Union was certain that a nuclear attack was incoming, the United States and NATO commenced an operation in November 1983 named Operation Able Archer. This operation was an annual exercise designed to test communication with the NATO allies, with high-ranking NATO officers commanding a large force of 40,000 US and Nato forces. This particular exercise designed to test communications introduced unique elements to such a degree that would cause the Soviet Union to freak out and come close to the brink of a nuclear war. The unique elements introduced in Operation Able Archer included coded information, radio silences, and the participation of the heads of governments.
On November 7, 1983, Soviet intelligence was attempting to detect the early signs of a nuclear attack just as NATO was carrying out Operation Able Archer. The exercise was so realistic that it made the Soviets believe that a nuclear strike on its territory was imminent. Believing its only chance of surviving was a preemptive strike, the Soviet Union began to ready its nuclear arsenal. Nuclear-capable aircraft in Poland and East Germany were placed on the high-alert status and intercontinental ballistic missiles, easily readied and difficult for the U.S. to detect, were prepared to launch.
Fortunately, Soviet fears subsided when the Able Archer exercise concluded on November 11. After receiving intelligence reports on the Soviet reaction, U.K. officials lobbied Americans to ensure the misinterpretation would never happen again. However, it is far too easy to imagine a scenario in which the situation had ended with a devastating outcome. And perhaps more threatening, there are current trends globally that mirror those in 1983.
At the same time, the Soviet Union was certain that a nuclear attack was incoming, the United States and NATO commenced an operation in November 1983 named Operation Able Archer. This operation was an annual exercise designed to test communication with the NATO allies, with high-ranking NATO officers commanding a large force of 40,000 US and Nato forces. This particular exercise designed to test communications introduced unique elements to such a degree that would cause the Soviet Union to freak out and come close to the brink of a nuclear war. The unique elements introduced in Operation Able Archer included coded information, radio silences, and the participation of the heads of governments.
On November 7, 1983, Soviet intelligence was attempting to detect the early signs of a nuclear attack just as NATO was carrying out Operation Able Archer. The exercise was so realistic that it made the Soviets believe that a nuclear strike on its territory was imminent. Believing its only chance of surviving was a preemptive strike, the Soviet Union began to ready its nuclear arsenal. Nuclear-capable aircraft in Poland and East Germany were placed on the high-alert status and intercontinental ballistic missiles, easily readied and difficult for the U.S. to detect, were prepared to launch.
Fortunately, Soviet fears subsided when the Able Archer exercise concluded on November 11. After receiving intelligence reports on the Soviet reaction, U.K. officials lobbied Americans to ensure the misinterpretation would never happen again. However, it is far too easy to imagine a scenario in which the situation had ended with a devastating outcome. And perhaps more threatening, there are current trends globally that mirror those in 1983.
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