Description
Object description
An overview of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in the 1970s. Made to promote NATO values and provide a general briefing on the activities, structure and strategic doctrine of the organisation. Key events from this period, such as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), are covered, along with NATO principles of freedom and democracy.
Content description
The first part of the documentary deals with NATO's structure, including the main headquarters in Brussels and its various committees. There is also a run through the NATO hierarchy and command structure, including: the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (ACE), Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT), Allied Forces South Europe (AFSOUTH) and Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT).
The "Striking Atlantic Fleet" is used to highlight the collective defence capabilities of the various NATO allies. The primary role of this combined multinational fleet being to protect vulnerable merchant shipping in the Atlantic and major industrial ports, such as Hamburg. A similar role is undertaken by UK, Belgian, Dutch and German vessels in the Channel, a force known as the Standing Naval Force Channel or STANAVFORCHANT.
An animation is used to detail three main phases in the development of the Cold War up to the mid-1970s. A direct comparison of NATO and Warsaw Pact military capabilities are made, covering mainly the nuclear arsenal and naval fleets. It is suggested that the Soviet fleet has stretched its capabilities beyond that of defensive necessity and become a force capable of threatening NATO interests globally.
A KARA-Class missile Cruiser is used as an example of the significant threat carried by the Soviet fleet. A Soviet Delta-Class submarine "five years ahead of its American counterpart" calls Soviet intention into question, given "Russia has no vital sea lanes to protect".
Continued analysis of the Soviet armed forces includes: the Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG-23 (Flogger), the Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG-21 (Fishbed), the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (Foxbat), Sukhoi Su-17 (Fitter) and the Sukhoi Su-24 (Fencer). More of the Soviet Union's military capabilities are demonstrated by troops and equipment on parade for the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution. Soviet leaders watch as the parade rolls past.
The threat of Soviet nuclear weapons and NATOs defence systems are profiled. Moving on to strategic nuclear weapons, once again using animation, it is stated that whilst NATO will not use nuclear weapons as an aggressor, it will continue to use them as a deterrent. The efforts of NATO, particularly in encouraging détente over nuclear weapons, are also highlighted (including SALT).
Efforts to decrease the nuclear weapons arsenal - via negotiations between NATO, US statesman and Warsaw Pact nations - are shown to have been successful. Progressive talks, at the Helsinki and then Geneva conferences, having allowed more of a free flow of information between the two sides.
The existing divides between East and West, as depicted by towers and barbed wire around the Berlin wall, are nonetheless seen to be growing, rather than receding. The film ends by reflecting on Western values, illustrated by scenes on a beach in Southern France.
N.B. Some additional rushes are also held, containing footage of the inner-German border, between the FDR and DDR. Sentry positions, towns and factories along the border are shown.
Physical description
35mm