pjt@niksula.hut.fi (Pekka J Taipale) (04/10/90)
From: pjt@niksula.hut.fi (Pekka J Taipale) In article <15274@cbnews.ATT.COM> samho@vlsi.cs.washington.edu (Sam Ho) writes: >Does anybody know about the independent military capabilities of >Lithuania? If the situation there became a military one, how much >resistance could Lithuania put up against the USSR? Note that I am >NOT talking about the political, moral, etc. character of the >independence declaration or any Soviet response. (That's out of line >for sci.military.) How would it compare to, e.g. Prague Spring. I don't think the Lithuanians have any military power at all. All Lithuanian young men are required to go to the Red Army, like all young men in the USSR. Red Army soldiers from the Baltic countries have been severely discriminated - they are often beaten, put into jail, or even tortured to death - because the Russians think they are unreliable, potential rebels. Well, that's a sure way to make them unreliable. Many Russians also feel envy, because the standard of living in the Baltic countries is better than in the 'deep east' of USSR. That's why the Lithuanian goverment ordered Lithuanians to leave the army. Of course, being AWL from any army is a severe crime, and this is one of the reasons why the situation in Lithuania is becoming hot. Personally, I consider the possibility of armed rebel against the USSR minimal. The Litthuanians know that they can't win by arms. They can only win by talks. The Russians may try to provocate, but I think it won't succeed in the Baltic countries - the Lithuanians use to think before they do something dumb. Provocation might work in some southerns states of the USSR (in fact, they may even not need a provocation :-). Sorry if this is politics - I think many find it interesting, anyway. [mod.note: Well, let's not delve any deeper into this aspect of this situation, OK ? - Bill ] Compared to the Prague Spring - it would propably not be any harder for the Red Army. I just think the USSR can't afford it. >On a more general note, what is the military balance of the Warsaw >Pact? My understanding is that the USSR has most of the troops. Say, 90% of them. >A chart like this would be nice: > USSR Lithuania; Combined Baltics; E Germany; non-USSR WP total; etc. >Infantry | | | | | >Armor | | | | | >Air | | | | | >Naval | | | | | >along with relevant commentary. (Quality, Training, etc.) I'm sorry, I can't tell you much figures. Armor, air and naval for Lithuania and Combined Baltics are 0. Infantry might rise up from Red Army-trained men with hunting rifles (which, against the Moscow's requirement, have not been given to Soviet authorities). I think it would make at most a few thousand men, but it's hard to say. -- Pekka Taipale -- pjt@niksula.hut.fi
alan@decwrl.dec.com (Alan Hepburn) (04/10/90)
From: voder!nsc!dtg.nsc.com!alan@decwrl.dec.com (Alan Hepburn) In article <15321@cbnews.ATT.COM> sysmgr@KING.ENG.UMD.EDU (Doug Mohney) writes: > > > >Most draftees (grunt cannon-fodder) suffer 2-3 years of physical and >emotional abuse from non-coms and officers. Being in the Russian Army >is NOT as sexy as the U.S. Army (not saying that the U.S. Army is all >fun and games, mind you). > Just for reference, I submit the following: Oath of enlistment in the United States Army: I, (your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegience to the United States of america; that I will serve honestly and faithfully against all its enemies, whomsoever; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United states and the orders of officers appointed over me, according to the rules and Articles of War. >From "The Red Army" pamphlet by the Worker's Library Publishers: I, the son of the toiling people, and a citizen of the Union of Soviet Socialist republics, assume the duties of a fighter in the Workers' and Peasants' Army. Before the working class of the USSR and of the whole world, I promise to bear this title with honor, conscientiously to study the profession of arms and to guard like the apple of my eye the national and military property from damage and theft. I promise to observe military discipline strictly and unswervingly and to carry out implicitly all orders given me by the commanders appointed by the workers' and peasants' government. I promise both to refrain myself and to restrain my comrades from any act unworthy of a citizen of the USSR, and to direct my acts and my thoughts toward the great goal of the liberation of all workers. I promise at the first call of the workers' and peasants' government to come forward in defense of the USSR against every danger and against the attacks of all enemies. In the struggle of the USSR for Socialism and for the brotherhood of all nations, I promise not to spare my strength or my life itself. Should I of evil intent break this, my solemn promise, may the general contempt of all be my lot and the heavy hand of revolutionary justice fall upon me. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alan Hepburn Omne ignotum pro magnifico mail: alan@spitfire.nsc.com My opinions are just that: opinions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------