Theater nuclear force modernization as an issue in West German politics, 1977-1980
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Authors
Glad, Thomas Carl
Subjects
Nuclear weapons
Federal Republic of Germany
Helmut Schmidt
Manfred Wörner
Enhanced radiation weapons
Long-range theater nuclear forces
Federal Republic of Germany
Helmut Schmidt
Manfred Wörner
Enhanced radiation weapons
Long-range theater nuclear forces
Advisors
Yost, David S.
Date of Issue
1980-12
Date
December 1980
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
This thesis reviews the dominant opinions within the main political groupings of West Germany regarding the two major theater nuclear modernization issues of the recent past-enhanced radiation weapons (ERW) and long range theater nuclear forces (LRTNF) . The broad strategic context of both the ERW and LRTNF questions sets the scene for exploration
of the major hypothesis : whether differences in the capabilities of proposed new theater nuclear
systems are a principal variable in explaining the positions adopted by each of the three major political party groupings in West Germany--the CDU/CSU, the SPD-FDP government, and the left wing of the
SPD. The thesis concludes that weapons characteristics did influence the government .
Characteristics of the political balance in the West German political system, however, as well as perceptions of Soviet threat and reliability of American guarantees to Europe, were also
significant.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.