Russians planned Cold War invasion

Guy Nelson

August 26, 2009

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Russians planned to move tanks down Washway Road

Russians planned to move tanks down Washway Road 1/2 Play Slideshow

THIS amazing map shows how the Soviet Union planned to invade Manchester in 1974.

The map - from the height of the Cold War 35 years ago - was made for Red army tank commanders who needed to know which roads were wide enough for them to roll into the heart of the city.

The Russians would have headed down Sale's Washway Road, on to the Mancunian Way and along Princess Road.

The map dating from the tense stand-off between the Western allies and the Soviets, which lasted for decades after the Second World War, is one of 80 in an exhibition at Manchester University's John Rylands Library.

They form part of the backdrop to a reception during the Royal Geographical Society's annual conference.

Soviet mapmakers added `secret' information left off Ordnance Survey maps at the time, such as Strangeways Prison and the Risley Moss nuclear research site. They also used colour codes to describe targets - black for industrial sites, purple for public buildings and green for military sites.

Manchester University geography lecturer and curator Chris Perkins said: "This and other maps in our exhibition, which is called Mapping Manchester, reveal a very different side to this city.

Tanks

"It shows the roads, familiar to many Mancunians, which the Soviets felt were wide enough to carry tanks - including Washway Road, the Mancunian Way, and Princess Road.

"They even used Russian versions of place names for areas such as Urmston, Salford and Stretford.

"It's quite unnerving, as the map, and their intelligence, is only 35 years old.

"It's incredible how detailed their information was.

"After declassification by the Russians at the end of the Cold War, these maps became available on the international market."

The Russians went to extraordinary lengths to make sure their troops would have had the most up-to-date information, according to Chris.

"The Soviet military who compiled the maps used spy planes and satellite imagery to supplement information from Ordnance Survey maps and available road atlases and trade directories," he said.

Intelligence

"But there's so much extra information, it would be fair to assume they were able to gather a considerable amount of intelligence on the ground.

"No doubt Nato were doing similar things in Russian cities."

The Mapping Manchester exhibition, which runs until January, includes an excerpt of the first large-scale survey of the city published by William Green in 1794.

A 1945 map also shows how lucky the city centre was to escape the fate of inner-city Birmingham and be turned into a `modernist utopia'.

And an 1889 map of licensed alcohol sellers from the temperance society the United Kingdom Alliance showed just how many alcoholic hotspots were available in the Victorian city.

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It's true, united went 37yrs without winning a trophy, Salford (26/08/2009 at 12:13)

Good job the congestion charge never came in. You could imagine the Russian tank commanders getting billed in the post, but then again would they have got past the road-works?

Guten Tag, Manchester (26/08/2009 at 12:33)

I've read so many books and articles about the 'invasion' of Russian Forces in World War 3. So many fascinating scenarios of what may have happened after they rolled up the M6. They would have tried to capture Manchester airport as well as other airfields. All opposition would have been eliminated without question. Personally, I think they would have had a rough ride with the people of Manchester (as well as other cities and towns). I doubt the people would have welcomed them without a fight (apart from those socialist idiots in the Labour Party and council). Then there was the other scenario. Why commit troops when one nuclear missile can do the work for you? Shudder.

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (26/08/2009 at 12:38)

So! Russian for Salford is Co..Op is it?

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (26/08/2009 at 12:43)

On a serious note, not sure how true this is but I did hear that in the event of a Nuclear war between Russia and America, America would have blown Britain off the face of the earth to stop the Russians getting their hands on American weapons. I think it was in a book called offshore Island, like I said, I'm not sure how true it may have been, but it wouldn't have surprised me ..... well it would really seeing those bombs coming over

reppick, salford (26/08/2009 at 12:43)

Somewhere out there maybe in the North West will be a group of government funded people with the best type of academic credentials preparing maps showing in great detail how our country will look after the big bomb. In their spare time they probably enjoy looking at meaningless maps of what might have happened such as a soviet invasion.
I would like to see this map because these map makers will be brilliant at drawing a massive hole.

to the point, bury (26/08/2009 at 12:51)

Thought we had been

Zoomer, The Real World (26/08/2009 at 12:58)

Ive just woke up "YOU MEAN THE RUSSIANS DIDNT INVADE US?" It feels like it sometimes.Stalag townhall .With the KGB crew. HEHEHEHEHEHEH.

happy2behere, South Manchester (26/08/2009 at 15:04)

"And an 1889 map of licensed alcohol sellers from the temperance society the United Kingdom Alliance showed just how many alcoholic hotspots were available in the Victorian city."

Were they selling happy hour drinks too ? I knew somewhere there would be a dig at the drinkers in Manchester

David Macaulay (26/08/2009 at 16:39)

The mind boggles as to how the Soviet tanks would have got to Manchester.
Would they be landed at Hull and had the long trundle along the M62 over the Pennines?
Or could they have been brought over a few at a time by Tupolev transport aircraft to Ringway?
But then would they have got through airport security?
A better idea might have been to sail past Liverpool (not too difficult) and on up the Ship Canal and unload in Salford.

D.F.Macaulay.

Enough, Manchester (26/08/2009 at 22:13)

"Good job the congestion charge never came in. You could imagine the Russian tank commanders getting billed in the post, but then again would they have got past the road-works?"

Thanks for that! My sides are still hurting!

Tony Colemans Barman, Manchester 19 lost in Oz (27/08/2009 at 02:05)

With a bit of luck they would have invaded on a Sunday and the Manchesters would have come storming out of Ardwick and sorted them, no bother.

mancyank , Pennsylvania USA (27/08/2009 at 04:28)

Joe Stalin would have been proud of Manchester if he had lived. Cameras in the bus lanes, cameras at the red lights, cameras on the high street cameras every where. But the most surprising thing is, a free nation accepting this invasion with out a fight. I think England would have been better off if Adolf would have crossed the English
channel. The Yanks did you no service by coming to your aide

Technobabble, Manchester (27/08/2009 at 08:39)

I can see my block of flats on there... literally! What's Russian for "Eccles"?

Crumpsall-Lass, Crumpsall (27/08/2009 at 09:13)

Now would be the best time to invade. All our tiny armed services are out of the country, and the territorials. We have no defence because of illegal and daft wars.

citycentre, manchester (27/08/2009 at 10:03)

mancyank

Stalin killed millions of the population, we have speed cameras; hardly the same?
As to coming to our aid, Germany declared war on the United States, so you didn't. at least technically, unlike your ever faithful allies in the UK, who were there from the start of your overseas adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq.

lovinthebanter, Manchester (27/08/2009 at 13:33)

mancyank

Come to our aid, get real, u lot would still have been to scared to join the war if you hadn't been forced by the fact of the other countries declaring war on you.

Not only that the munitions you sold to europe in the early year of the war is the only real reason you lot got out of your depression so hu help hu out.

L_M, Manchester (28/08/2009 at 10:35)

Technobabble,

"Eccles" in Cyrillic is roughly "ЭКОЛС" (eh ka o el s)

It's good to see that the Russians would have made good use of Chester Road rather than the railway lines. Imagine the disruption to poor commuters in times of occupation!

salfordrat (28/08/2009 at 11:29)

"The Yanks did you no service by coming to your aide"
mancyank , Pennsylvania USA

I lived in America for two years and they actually believe this 'coming to your aide' business. I was often fond of pointing out that the only war America has ever actually won was the civil war, and that is like beating yourself at chess. They would usually trot out the old War of Independence line but, as I also pointed out, the deciding battle there was a naval one between the British and French. So they didn't really win that war either. That said, I was never sure which was worse, getting beat by a gang of hillbilly militiamen with rusty muskets and smelling of raccoon, or by the French. Tough call.

citycentre, manchester (28/08/2009 at 11:45)

salfordrat

"I was often fond of pointing out that the only war America has ever actually won was the civil war"

Dont forget the invasion of the mighty Grenada

Mr Manchester (28/08/2009 at 13:14)

Mancyank: back in your trailer, trash.

Colon, Adelaide, South Australia (07/09/2009 at 17:05)

I think joining the Mancunian Way from Upper Brook Street is designed to be tank proof - it's bloomin nearly impossible in a car, and about the most dangerous thing you can do in Manchester!

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