The Warsaw Pact (background)

• The USSR called "NATO" an agressive alliance , although it already had a network of alliances with East European states , giving it virtual control of their armies
• The Pact was a counter move to the admission of West Germany to NATO
• The Warsaw Pact's members were to support each other if attacked. Joint command structure set up with Soviet Supreme Commander
• members: - USSR , Albania , Bulgaria , Czekchoslovakia , East Germany , Hungary , Poland , Romania
• The conventional forces of the Warsaw Pact always outnumbered those of NATO