Author Archives: theory

Marshall Plan

Posted on March 16, 2012 by theory

Marshall Plan 1947 On June 5, Secretary of State George C. Marshall announced to the world the US plan to reconstruct all of Europe. Due to Soviet pressure, Eastern European states did not participate. However, for the 16 nations of … Continue reading →

Posted in Early War, US Events | Tagged | 10 Comments

General Strategy: The AR7 Play

Posted on March 15, 2012 by theory

Overview The “AR7 Play” refers to any US play on the final Action Round of the turn (AR6 on Turns 1-3, AR7 thereafter) intended to overload the USSR’s first Action Round in the next turn.  The AR7 play is the … Continue reading →

Posted in General Strategy | 11 Comments

Independent Reds

Posted on March 13, 2012 by theory

Independent Reds 1948 The Communist Information Bureau, COMINFORM, expelled Yugoslavia for Marshall Tito’s refusal to conform to Moscow’s wishes. Albania would ultimately follow a similar tack, breaking with Yugoslavia, then Khrushchev’s USSR. While remaining within the Soviet structure, Ceausescu’s Romania … Continue reading →

Posted in Early War, US Events | Tagged | 4 Comments

NATO

Posted on March 12, 2012 by theory

NATO 1949 The second part of the US strategy to rebuild Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) became synonymous with the West’s opposition to the Soviet Union. An oft repeated maxim for NATO’s purpose captures it nicely: “NATO was … Continue reading →

Posted in Early War, US Events | Tagged | 24 Comments

Olympic Games

Posted on March 12, 2012 by theory

Olympic Games 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988 Sport often served as an outlet for the intense competition between the Superpowers, and that competition was never so intense as at the Olympics. The Olympics served … Continue reading →

Posted in Early War, Neutral Events | Tagged | 16 Comments

General Strategy: The Space Race

Posted on March 12, 2012 by theory

The number one mistake beginning players make in Twilight Struggle is to send too many cards off to space.  Among strong players, you rarely see either player make it to Stage 4 (Man in Earth Orbit in the Deluxe Edition, … Continue reading →

Posted in General Strategy | 25 Comments

Truman Doctrine

Posted on March 2, 2012 by theory

Truman Doctrine 1947 Before a joint session of Congress, the President announced the new Truman Doctrine, ushering in an era of intense intervention on behalf of states with liberal economic and political institutions. Truman stated “I believe that it must … Continue reading →

Posted in Early War, US Events | Tagged | 11 Comments

Captured Nazi Scientist

Posted on February 27, 2012 by theory

Captured Nazi Scientist 1945–1973 Code named “Project Paperclip” in the United States, the victors of World War II scrambled to “recruit” former Nazi scientists into their own research establishments. In the West, such efforts involved shielding scientists from war crime … Continue reading →

Posted in Early War, Neutral Events | Tagged | 7 Comments

De Gaulle Leads France

Posted on February 24, 2012 by theory

De Gaulle Leads France 1958–1969 Founder of France’s Fifth Republic, De Gaulle’s role during the Cold War is generally viewed through the lens of his second presidency. While still a western ally, De Gaulle attempted to establish France as an … Continue reading →

Posted in Early War, USSR Events | Tagged | 15 Comments

Warsaw Pact Formed

Posted on February 20, 2012 by theory

Warsaw Pact Formed 1955 A reaction to perceived Western aggression by the creation of NATO, the Warsaw Pact was a Russian-dominated military alliance that included all of the states of Eastern Europe except Yugoslavia. It integrated both tactics and equipment … Continue reading →

Posted in Early War, USSR Events | Tagged | 12 Comments