“…Simultaneous dissolution of the European military alliances...”: L.I. Brezhnev’s answer to W. Ulbricht as the beginning of the strengthening the Warsaw Pact

Abstract

The article for the first time publishes a reply letter of 1966 from L.I. Brezhnev to W. Ulbricht – the letter found in the Federal Archives of Germany. This document of 12 pages is marked as “secret” in which the author generally agrees to Ulbricht ‘s views. Brezhnev frequently quotes Ulbricht’s letter to prove his views on the international situation, economic and social issues. He systemically characterizes the facts, mentioned in V. Ulbricht‘s letter to him, defines the tactics of the political parties of the FRG, the ideological tactics of imperialist countries. Brezhnev provides a body of evidence to prove the impossibility of the unification of the two Germanys at that historical point. There is an aspect in the letter when Brezhnev speaks on his personal behalf, and this allows us to give a personal colouring to the whole letter. Brezhnev is very interested in Ulbricht ‘s proposal to head the military union of the socialist countries with the purpose to strengthen it, and he does not hide it. The strengthening by L.I. Brezhnev of the Warsaw Pact bloc provides him with a chance to take over Kosygin A.N. by popularity and to become the real leader not only within the USSR, but also among all socialist and democratic countries. That happened in 1972 when the USSR signed a first ever treaty with the capitalist world on the intermediate and short-range nuclear missiles – the INF Treaty.