British Intelligence

[Welton Toffee]

Yup, it's time for another essay help thread

This time, my question is.... drum roll please......

How central was the role of British intelligence operations and assessment in the outbreak of the Cold War?

Wow. Any ideas at all?? Currently reading up on Gouzenko, Philby, Burgess and Maclean etc. but really struggling for inspiration. Anyone know about this stuff? I know lcab is a bit of an expert....

 

[roydo]

A more important issue perhaps is the role it played in extending and/or developing it. The coldwar didnt "start", as such, more it was a creeping situation, based on mutual fear, opposing political believes, and crucially, misinformation. For example, the USSR never had the nuclear capacity that was believed by NATO, nor the motive or political wish to push beyond the Iron Curtain. But we still have troops in Germany, just in case! In that context, British Intelligence were key in the "war", because the data they sourced, most likely contaminated, led them to the conclusion that the USSR were a bigger threat in their minds, than in reality. And the opposite was the same.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Check out BRIXMIS...Im too gutted to make much sense tonight, but I'll give it some thought and get back to you

 

[Welton Toffee]

A more important issue perhaps is the role it played in extending and/or developing it. The coldwar didnt "start", as such, more it was a creeping situation, based on mutual fear, opposing political believes, and crucially, misinformation. For example, the USSR never had the nuclear capacity that was believed by NATO, nor the motive or political wish to push beyond the Iron Curtain. But we still have troops in Germany, just in case! In that context, British Intelligence were key in the "war", because the data they sourced, most likely contaminated, led them to the conclusion that the USSR were a bigger threat in their minds, than in reality. And the opposite was the same.

Cheers mate, some good starting points that I'll definitely look into tomorrow

Check out BRIXMIS...Im too gutted to make much sense tonight, but I'll give it some thought and get back to you

Nice one, and I know the feeling....

 

[little curly alan ball]

Yup, it's time for another essay help thread

This time, my question is.... drum roll please......

How central was the role of British intelligence operations and assessment in the outbreak of the Cold War?

Wow. Any ideas at all?? Currently reading up on Gouzenko, Philby, Burgess and Maclean etc. but really struggling for inspiration. Anyone know about this stuff? I know lcab is a bit of an expert....

That depends , kid .

The Moles were recruited in the 30's ; THEY HAD NO INFLUENCE IN THE BEGINNING THE COLD WAR - as individuals .

If you do your research , you will discover that Stalin was HELL BENT on a conflict with the West . FFS he didnt trust Molotov , for example , MANY others too . The Katyn Massacre was a PERFECT example . He went to such lengths to deny , even in the face of undeniable evidence , that Russian Army Units were made Polsh . Overnight . Papers . False Identities ... Bizarre . The West were reactive in this . Capitalist Economies need War AND Peace . They werent looking for another conflict ..However , The NUCLEAR word now abounded .

Thus , the Stakes had increased . It thus became imperitive to see your neighbours , Hand , to use a Poker Analogy . Berlin , then manifested itself as a Battle Ground . It was incremental but inevitable , from , Id say when the 2nd Front did not appear in '43 and the Allied Invasion of Southern Italy instead of France was another factor . Stalin claiming later , we left him hanging - we did ...

The Marshall Plan was initially a Catch All Plan for regeneration but later took on Political - Anti Russky connotations . As did the Warsaw Pact / Nato .

The Sputnik Space Programme FRIGHTENED the U.S. sufficiently for them to send a Man to the Moon within a decade . It was that . You hit me ... I hit you ...

Anyway , hope it helps , kid .

In review British Intelligence had VERY LITTLE impact . Enigma was no longer a weapon . Its usefulness had decreased directly as a result . We were included more as a favour . Oppenheimer had Werner Von Braun by then . The Brits were bit part players ...

Good Luck , Welts .

 

[Welton Toffee]

That depends , kid .

The Moles were recruited in the 30's ; THEY HAD NO INFLUENCE IN THE BEGINNING THE COLD WAR - as individuals .

If you do your research , you will discover that Stalin was HELL BENT on a conflict with the West . FFS he didnt trust Molotov , for example , MANY others too . The Katyn Massacre was a PERFECT example . He went to such lengths to deny , even in the face of undeniable evidence , that Russian Army Units were made Polsh . Overnight . Papers . False Identities ... Bizarre . The West were reactive in this . Capitalist Economies need War AND Peace . They werent looking for another conflict ..However , The NUCLEAR word now abounded .

Thus , the Stakes had increased . It thus became imperitive to see your neighbours , Hand , to use a Poker Analogy . Berlin , then manifested itself as a Battle Ground . It was incremental but inevitable , from , Id say when the 2nd Front did not appear in '43 and the Allied Invasion of Southern Italy instead of France was another factor . Stalin claiming later , we left him hanging - we did ...

The Marshall Plan was initially a Catch All Plan for regeneration but later took on Political - Anti Russky connotations . As did the Warsaw Pact / Nato .

The Sputnik Space Programme FRIGHTENED the U.S. sufficiently for them to send a Man to the Moon within a decade . It was that . You hit me ... I hit you ...

Anyway , hope it helps , kid .

In review British Intelligence had VERY LITTLE impact . Enigma was no longer a weapon . Its usefulness had decreased directly as a result . We were included more as a favour . Oppenheimer had Werner Von Braun by then . The Brits were bit part players ...

Good Luck , Welts .

Nice one boss, very helpful as usual Lots of reading in store for me tomorrow then will try and start to write it on Thursday. Lots of snacks needed methinks... will let you know how I get on!

 

[little curly alan ball]

Nice one boss, very helpful as usual Lots of reading in store for me tomorrow then will try and start to write it on Thursday. Lots of snacks needed methinks... will let you know how I get on!

No worries , Welt's , Mate .

 

[McBain]

British Intelligence.

Two words that absolutely do not belong together in the same time zone, let alone sentance.

Come on someone had to.

 

[little curly alan ball]

British Intelligence.

Two words that absolutely do not belong together in the same time zone, let alone sentance.

Come on someone had to.

OXYMORON was the word you sought ..

McMoron ...!!!

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Hi Welts,

I would say that in the early years of the cold war, British Intelligence formulated the idea of a "liberation policy" within the eastern european countries occupied by the soviets. They were actively involved in making contact with and fuelling resitance movements within those countries notably the baltic states. (This whole project was in fact compromised by Kim Philby) - Research operation valuable

However the US become increasingly reluctant to get involved with this activity due to the risk of all out war with the soviet union.And due to the Korean war/ Cuba/ South America - their gaze moved elsewhere.

So it was left mainly to the Brits to carry forward this intelligence policy of internal de-stabilistaion. This however was to prove fruitless - as MI6 and the JIC had made significant false assumptions regarding the willingness of these states to rise up. Ironically following Stalin's death Czechoslovakia and Hungary did rise up, but US policy was not to provide support in the event of risking all-out war, and so these uprising were crushed completely.

So in conclusion I woiuld concur with LCAB, in that British Intelligence assessments had little impact on the cold war situation. They got it wrong - and may of in part contributed to the deaths of thousands in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, as they stirred it all up and then stood back and watched as the the soviet tanks rolled in and crushed them.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

There was a lot of bummin' went on.

 

[little curly alan ball]

Yup, it's time for another essay help thread

This time, my question is.... drum roll please......

How central was the role of British intelligence operations and assessment in the outbreak of the Cold War?

Wow. Any ideas at all?? Currently reading up on Gouzenko, Philby, Burgess and Maclean etc. but really struggling for inspiration. Anyone know about this stuff? I know lcab is a bit of an expert....

Any headway , kid ???

 

[little curly alan ball]

There was a lot of bummin' went on.

^^^^^^^^

This is also true .

 

[Welton Toffee]

Hi Welts,

I would say that in the early years of the cold war, British Intelligence formulated the idea of a "liberation policy" within the eastern european countries occupied by the soviets. They were actively involved in making contact with and fuelling resitance movements within those countries notably the baltic states. (This whole project was in fact compromised by Kim Philby) - Research operation valuable

However the US become increasingly reluctant to get involved with this activity due to the risk of all out war with the soviet union.And due to the Korean war/ Cuba/ South America - their gaze moved elsewhere.

So it was left mainly to the Brits to carry forward this intelligence policy of internal de-stabilistaion. This however was to prove fruitless - as MI6 and the JIC had made significant false assumptions regarding the willingness of these states to rise up. Ironically following Stalin's death Czechoslovakia and Hungary did rise up, but US policy was not to provide support in the event of risking all-out war, and so these uprising were crushed completely.

So in conclusion I woiuld concur with LCAB, in that British Intelligence assessments had little impact on the cold war situation. They got it wrong - and may of in part contributed to the deaths of thousands in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, as they stirred it all up and then stood back and watched as the the soviet tanks rolled in and crushed them.

Nice one mate, some very good pointers! Have been reading up on liberation thanks to this!

Any headway , kid ???

Slow progress at the moment. Still in the ploughing through books stage at the moment. Been at home for reading week and heading back to uni today, so planning to spend most of the weekend in the library. Want to have all my notes done by Sunday so I can start writing it. Struggling to get my head round it all but I think it's just about starting to make sense.... Hopefully.

 

[little curly alan ball]

Nice one mate, some very good pointers! Have been reading up on liberation thanks to this!



Slow progress at the moment. Still in the ploughing through books stage at the moment. Been at home for reading week and heading back to uni today, so planning to spend most of the weekend in the library. Want to have all my notes done by Sunday so I can start writing it. Struggling to get my head round it all but I think it's just about starting to make sense.... Hopefully.

Dude ; Chronology .

Like a Christmas Tree . Get the Branches first . The Baubles then just need adding on ...

Duh ..!!!

You BEST get another First or you can find ya'self another Source ...

Good Luck , kid ...