Let’s take a closer look at Russia’s Dead Hand system. This mysterious creation emerged during the Cold War and has fascinated scholars and historians ever since. Join us as we unravel the story behind this secretive and chilling mechanism and explore its significance in global history.
Russia’s Dead Hand. How and Why Russia Built it?
The Cold War between the US and Russia lasted for almost 45 years. The World War was a tense time in world history. Why? One of the reasons is the nuclear race between two superpowers, the USA and Russia.
Both countries were paranoid enough to assume that the other one might launch an attack. It is said that Russia built such a device called the ” Dead Hand” amidst all this. But what drove the soviet union to build the ultimate doomsday machine?
What inspired President Ronald Reagan’s announcement? Ronald Reagan’s hard-line approach was to show the world that the US was not afraid of war.
According to the authors of “On Thermonuclear War” and “Thinking About the Unthinkable,” They believed that the side with the most massive arsenal and expressed readiness to use it would gain leverage during every crisis.
There was this cold war logic, You either launch the first attack or convince the enemy that you can strike back even if you are dead.
Ronald’s Administration was expanding the atomic arsenal. Seeing the US’s harder approach, Moscow believed that the US might start a nuclear war. The biggest inspiration was when, a few months later, President Ronald Reagan announced that the US would develop a space laser weapon system that would defend the US from the Soviet warhead. He called this “Missile Defense.” Critics named it Star Wars.
This announcement made the Soviets believe that the US was planning an attack. They calculated that it would be impossible to stop thousands of Soviet missiles at once. So, that means that the Star Wars system will work as a defense system post-initial strike.
The US will fire its missile on the Soviet cities and missile Silos. But of course, few of the soviet weapons would survive, which would be used as retaliation by the Soviets and would be stopped with Regan’s Space Missile Defence System, not all but most of them.
But decades later, it was clear that the US would never attack first, as Ronald’s diary stated that the shield was for defense. As per the Soviets, if America was planning an attack, then that’s what the US would say.
If the US had attacked, the Soviets would have used its Doomsday device, “Perimeter.” some called this Mertvaya Ruka “Dead Hand.”
Russia’s Dead Hand system is A system that will launch a nuclear strike automatically. This system is likely to be operational even today. But unfortunately, it’s so secretive that there is still very little verified information available today.
If there is such a system, then it’s understandable that its details are something that Russia would not like to disclose. But the truth is this system does exist. Over the years, the proof of this system and how it works has been disclosed here and there. Many independent journalists, ex-Soviet officials, and people who worked on this project have given a general idea of how this system works.
David Hoffman, a Washington Post journalist, has given some of the best information in his book. He spent six years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He talked to many sources over the years.
David researched thousands of papers of a senior staff member of the defense department of the Central Committee of Soviet Communists. After years of research, he wrote a book, The Dead Hand- The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy. This book got won the Pulitzer Prize.
So, How does Russia’s Dead Hand system work?
Russia’s Dead Hand System is at some undisclosed location in a hardened hidden bunker powerful enough to withstand a nuclear blast. It was a system to retaliate. It was designed to be activated in a time of crisis. It was a machine to guarantee the ability to launch a strike even if the soviet leadership had fallen.
The system would lie dormant until high officials turn it on in a time of crisis. Then, it would start taking measures of a series of sensors like seismic, radiation, and air pressure sensors to detect whether a nuclear hit Soviet soil. If it detects a nuclear war sign, it will try to establish communication with the Soviet war room.
If the lines are dead to the general staff, then the launch authority will be transferred to whoever was handling the system. If the system and officials are present, there is a confirmed nuclear war. Then, it has to bypass the layers of common command authority.
Now, the man present there at the time is responsible for initiating the system. And if that person presses that button, then the command missile would fire from hidden hardened silos designed to withstand a nuclear blast and its radiation.
Now, command Missile would fly across the soviet union and radio down the remaining nuclear missile after the first attack. Command missiles would command them to launch the ICBMs, which would lead to the US destruction. How much the automatic system was is still unclear.
Three conditions must activate this system, which is designed to work in a crisis.
- Only a soviet leadership can turn this system.
- Communication must be dead to the command
- Censors must detect signs such as pressure, radiation, and seismic.
If all three are true, only then will the dead hand system be activated for more detailed knowledge related to the dead hand and Cold War nuclear strategy. Then it’s recommended you read David Hoffman’s book. “The Dead Hand- The Untold Stories of Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy.”
Conclusion
Russia’s Dead Hand system is a stark reminder of the lengths countries went to during the Cold War to stay safe from nuclear threats. Even though it’s secretive, its story teaches us about the dangers of relying too much on weapons and not enough on peace. As we learn from history, let’s aim for a world where cooperation and understanding are valued over fear and conflict.
FAQs
Is Russia’s Dead Hand system still operational today?
While the exact status of the Dead Hand system remains unknown, it is believed to have been modernized and potentially remains operational to this day.
What role did Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative play in the development of Russia’s Dead Hand system?
Reagan’s announcement of the Strategic Defense Initiative heightened Soviet fears of a first-strike capability, prompting them to develop the Dead Hand as a countermeasure.
How reliable is the Dead Hand system?
The reliability of the Dead Hand system is a subject of debate, with experts questioning its effectiveness and potential for unintended consequences.
Has Russia officially acknowledged the existence of the Dead Hand system?
Russia has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the Dead Hand system, maintaining a veil of secrecy around its strategic capabilities.
What safeguards are in place to prevent accidental activation of Russia’s Dead Hand system
The Dead Hand system is designed with multiple fail-safes and authentication measures to prevent inadvertent activation, ensuring that it is only initiated under specific crisis scenarios.
