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The '''Warsaw Pact''' (''Officially the'' '''Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance''', ''Russian'' '''Договор о дружбе, сотрудничестве и взаимной помощи''') was a political and military organization made up of the [[communism|communist]] states of [[Central Europe]] and the [[Soviet Union]]. The Warsaw Pact was officially formed on May 14, 1955, in response to the integration of [[West Germany]] in to [[NATO]]. The Warsaw Pact effectively lasted until November 9, 1989, when the [[Berlin Wall]] fell<ref>[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1955warsawpact.html The Warsaw Pact], ''Fordham University''</ref> and officially ceased to exist on July 1st, 1991.<ref>Conservapedia Main Page</ref>

The '''Warsaw Pact''' (''Officially the'' '''Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance''', ''Russian'' '''Договор о дружбе, сотрудничестве и взаимной помощи''') was a political and military organization made up of the [[communism|communist]] states of [[Central Europe]] and the [[Soviet Union]]. The Warsaw Pact was officially formed on May 14, 1955, in response to the integration of [[West Germany]] in to [[NATO]]. The Warsaw Pact effectively lasted until November 9, 1989, when the [[Berlin Wall]] fell<ref>[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1955warsawpact.html The Warsaw Pact], ''Fordham University''</ref> and officially ceased to exist on July 1, 1991.<ref>Conservapedia Main Page</ref>

==Background==

==Background==

During the Organisation's first thirteen years the Ministers of Defence of the sovereign states, whether they were pro-Soviet puppets or actual Soviet generals and Marshals, were subordinated to the Commander-in-Chief, who was appointed by the Soviet government and who was himself Deputy Minister of Defence of the USSR. Thus, even in a legal sense, the Ministers of these theoretically sovereign states were directly subordinated to a Soviet Minister's deputy.  

During the Organisation's first thirteen years the Ministers of Defence of the sovereign states, whether they were pro-Soviet puppets or actual Soviet generals and Marshals, were subordinated to the Commander-in-Chief, who was appointed by the Soviet government and who was himself Deputy Minister of Defence of the USSR. Thus, even in a legal sense, the Ministers of these theoretically sovereign states were directly subordinated to a Soviet Minister's deputy.  

After the Prague Spring in 1968, the Consultative Committee was set up. In this committee, Ministers of Defence and Heads of State from the Central European occuped countries gathered to talk as equals and allies, but in reality all decisions were still made in the Kremlin. During [[Czech_Republic#The_1968_Soviet_Invasion|'Operation Danube']], the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslavkia, the `allied' divisions of the Warsaw Treaty Organisation were integrated in the Soviet Armies. None of the Central European countries had the right to set up its own Corps, Armies or Fronts. They had only divisions commanded by Soviet generals. In the event of war with [[Nato]], they would be fully integrated into the United (or Soviet) Armed Forces.

After the Prague Spring in 1968, the Consultative Committee was set up. In this committee, Ministers of Defence and Heads of State from the Central European occuped countries gathered to talk as equals and allies, but in reality all decisions were still made in the Kremlin. During [[Czech Republic#The 1968 Soviet Invasion|'Operation Danube']], the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslavkia, the `allied' divisions of the Warsaw Treaty Organisation were integrated in the Soviet Armies. None of the Central European countries had the right to set up its own Corps, Armies or Fronts. They had only divisions commanded by Soviet generals. In the event of war with [[Nato]], they would be fully integrated into the United (or Soviet) Armed Forces.

==References==

==References==