Abstract
This article examines the impact of Soviet-controlled force development in the German Democratic Republic on the Soviet approach to command, control, and tactical organization in the Warsaw Pact's northern tier. After reviewing the evolution of Soviet East German military cooperation, the analysis suggests that Soviet control of the internal and external political factors that position the GDR and the USSR in the world arena has resulted in an unusually close relationship between the two countries' militaries. On the basis of these findings, the essay proceeds to develop a broader analytical framework for the future study of Soviet-controlled force development in the Pact's northern tier, particularly in Poland.
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