🗓 86 years ago — on August 23, 1939 — the Soviet Union and Germany signed the Non-Aggression Treaty in Moscow.
This document was an important achievement of the Soviet diplomacy ahead of #WWII: the USSR was able to buy time to better prepare to repel Hitler’s impending attack, which had been seen as inevitable due to the failed policy of “appeasement” by Western European states and their refusal to forge a collective security agreement with our nation against Nazism.
Signing the non-aggression treaty with Germany was a difficult but necessary decision by the Soviet leadership, driven by national security considerations and the urgent need to deter Nazi aggression in the east.
***
In the 1930s, twenty years after the end of World War I, the threat of a new large-scale armed conflict in Europe began to grow. A key factor for this was the crisis of the Versailles system of international relations, designed by Britain and France, which paved the way for rising revanchist sentiments in the states it had humiliated — Germany and Italy.
With the Nazis’ rise to power in Germany, the threat of a new war in Europe became real. Hitler’s misanthropic ideology was rooted in the notorious doctrine of “racial superiority.” The Nazis used this doctrine to justify Germany’s pursuit of world domination. In this way, an absolute evil emerged at the heart of Europe, endangering the peace and freedom of entire nations.
By the mid-1930s, it became evident that another German aggression in Europe was inevitable — it was merely a matter of time. In an effort to counter the rising threat of German revanchism, the Soviet Union suggested the creation of a collective security system in Europe, founded on anti-fascist principles, to unite efforts and deliver a joint response to the common threat.
Yet in Paris and London, where anti-Soviet sentiments ran deep, the idea of cooperation with Moscow was rejected as such. Instead, Western powers sought to strike a deal with Germany, aiming to pacify the Germans through unilateral concessions. The political establishments of the West failed to grasp the existential threat posed by Nazi ideology, cynically believing that Hitler’s aggression could be redirected eastward.
The “appeasement” tactics whetted the aggressor’s appetite. In March 1938, with the connivance of Paris and London, Hitler carried out the Anschluss of Austria. In September, following the criminal “Munich conspiracy” and with the approval of the UK and France, he cynically dismembered the sovereign state of Czechoslovakia. Warsaw, which was interested in getting part of Czechoslovakia’s territory for itself, prohibited flights of Soviet aircraft to render aid to Czechoslovak army. Already a de facto accomplice of Hitler, Poland had supported every single foreign policy move of the Reich.
❗️A new war in Europe became inevitable.
Thus, “appeasement” policy ended in total failure. Attempting to sate the Nazis’ insatiable ambitions, the Western powers failed to restrain the aggressor or thwart its criminal plans.
The Soviet Union remained the only European power still striving to organise collective resistance against Nazi Germany. In the spring and summer of 1939, the USSR initiated consultations with France and Britain in Moscow. However, the negotiation process failed to yield practical results — the Western powers that until the last moment hoped for a compromise with Hitler, engaged in secret talks with Germany behind the Soviet Union’s back.
👉The Soviet diplomacy ran out of chances to build a collective security system in Europe. Moscow also had to take into account the Japanese factor — the hostilities on the Khalkhin-Gol that began in May 1939. The Soviet leadership could not afford a war on two fronts.
By August 1939, several European nations had concluded non-aggression pacts with Hitler. The Soviet Union was the last major power to follow the suit. As a result, our country gained valuable time to prepare for a clash with the world’s most powerful army at that time.
📖Learn more in our in-depthhistorical feature.
#OTD Вьетнамская война (1955–1975) завершилась 50 лет назад, 30 апреля 1975 года, падением Сайгона и победой Северного Вьетнама, объединившего страну под коммунистическим правлением. США, активно участвовавшие в 1965–1973 годах на стороне Южного Вьетнама, направили до 540 тысяч солдат и потратили свыше 150 миллиардов долларов. Американские потери составили около 58 тысяч погибших и 300 тысяч раненых. Война закончилась для США поражением: войска были выведены в 1973 году по Парижскому соглашению, а падение Сайгона в 1975 году завершило Вьетнамскую войну.
Танки северовьетнамской армии вошли в город, захватив президентский дворец. Южный Вьетнам капитулировал, Сайгон был переименован в Хошимин. Падение города ознаменовало объединение Вьетнама под коммунистическим правлением, но сопровождалось массовой эмиграцией и гуманитарным кризисом.
📅#OTD in 1943, Soviet forces launched Operation "Iskra" (Spark), which broke the Siege of Leningrad. During the offensive, units of the Red Army from the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts overcame enemy defenses, re-establishing a land connection between the city and the rest of the Soviet Union.
The siege ring around Leningrad had fully closed on September 8, 1941. More than 2.8 million people, including 400,000 children, were trapped under harsh winter conditions, enduring hunger and relentless bombings.
Attempts to break the blockade were made several times: in September and October 1941, during the general counteroffensive in January 1942, and again in August-September 1942. Favorable conditions only arose in January 1943, when the bulk of the Wehrmacht's forces were concentrated at Stalingrad.
By the end of January 1943, the troops of the Volkhov and Leningrad Fronts, delivering powerful blows, pierced the enemy's defenses and pushed them 12 km away from the shores of Lake Ladoga.
The combined strike groups of the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts included 302,800 soldiers and officers, approximately 4,900 artillery pieces and mortars (caliber 76mm and above), over 600 tanks, and 809 aircraft.
🎖 For their heroism, bravery, and courage during the breakthrough of the blockade, about 19,000 soldiers of the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts, as well as the Baltic Fleet, were awarded orders and medals.
Although Leningrad was not fully liberated until January 27, 1944, the political, economic, and symbolic significance of breaking the blockade cannot be overstated.
The Soviet forces managed to partially lift the siege, easing the plight of the city's residents. Within three weeks of the breakthrough, a railway was built, and the first trains carrying food and ammunition reached Leningrad. The threat of German and Finnish forces linking up was eliminated, and the initiative in the Leningrad region shifted decisively to the Red Army.
#OTD 20 апреля 1981 года самолёт Т-10С (Т-10-7) который соответствовал «штатной» конфигурации Су-27 поднялся в небо.
Было совершено еще 20 полетов этого самолета. На 20 полете через пару месяцев на нем кончилось топливо и он упал… как можно забыть про топливо на испытаниях новейшего самолета, за которым следят все конструкторы?
Т-10С представлял собой полную переделку Т-10 новым главным конструктором Симоновым, что задержало поступление машины в серию примерно на 5-6 лет.
В 1977 в КБ начался цикл работ, который привел к принятию решения о полной переделке существовавшей на тот момент компоновки Т-10, который на тот момент туже совершил первый полет и выпускалась установочная партия машин. Причем для крупносерийного его выпуска уже была выпущена оснастка и стапели!
Делалось это, якобы для улучшения маневренности самолета. Основным мероприятием стал переход от оживального крыла с фиксированным углом отгиба носка к трапециевидным консолям, со «следящей» механизацией передней и задней кромок. Также изменили и конструкцию фюзеляжа, получившего большую высоту и тормозной щиток на гарготе, как на Ф-15, изменили и конструкция шасси.
Для реализации этих изменений вся выпущенная оснастка и стапели на заводах потребовала полной замены.
Мы видим типичную ситуацию – пришел новый главный конструктор и вместо доработки дел предшественника просто выкинул все в унитаз и начал делать такой же но свой.
Опубликованных фото первого Т-10С нет, только в уже упавшем виде.
#OTD 13 апреля 1990 года первый полет совершил Су-27ИБ (Су-34).
Работы по ударной модификации Су-27, получившей обозначение Су-27Ш (штурмовик) начались в ОКБ в 1979 году и основывались на проработках по применению на самолете конформного топливного бака (КТБ), подвешиваемого между мотогондолами.
За счет применения КТБ существенно улучшить характеристики по дальности полета, наряду с ним было решено использовать предложенную схему для применения конформного контейнера вооружения (ККВ).
В январе 1980-го это предложение вынесли на суд Генерального конструктора и после его одобрения началась углубленная проработка материалов. В качестве базовой машины рассматривался двухместный вариант самолета - Су-27УБ, но с учетом установки на нем модифицированной СУВ.
Повышение возможностей Су-27Ш при действиях по наземным целям планировалось обеспечить за счет увеличения номенклатуры средств поражения благодаря подвеске специализированных контейнеров для наведения ракет («Рябина», «Текон-1М», «Прогресс-Н» и пр). Таким образом, на самолете обеспечивалась «внутренняя» подвеска вооружения в 8 тонн.
Вновь работы по ударному варианту Су-27 активизированы в 1983 г. - были подготовлены и оформлены сразу два предложения по Су-27М и Су-27ИБ на основе модернизации Су-27УБ. Применения ККВ и КТБ на этот раз не рассматривалось. Потом начали делать Су-27УБ с СУВ «Восход», которую делали для штурмовика Су-25ТМ.
Весной 1986 года по инициативе Генерального конструктора М. П. Симонова было принято решение о проработке принципиально нового варианта компоновки, с размещением обоих членов экипажа по схеме рядом.
Исходной причиной такого выбора явилось предложение об унификации основного состава БРЭО Су-27ИБ с оборудованием бомбардировщика Т-60 (Су-24БМ2) проектирование которого шло в этот момент в ОКБ, а целью являлось снижение затрат при разработке оборудования обеих этих машин.
Так, на борту Су-27ИБ появилась РЛС с ФАР и оптимизированная для решения задач по наземным целям и встроенная ЛТПС разработки от УОМЗ. К этому добавилась сварная титановая кабина, туалет и возможность проходить между кресел и стоять. В остальном, самолет было решено о максимально унифицировать с Су-27М. Естественно из-за упереднения центровки и изменениями геометрии нагрузок пришлось переделывать весь фюзеляж. Без изменений планировалось лишь оперение.
В итоге прирост сопротивления, годы доработок и результат – да, действительно не имеющий аналогов мутант.
Btvt.info:
Что тут наблюдается? – как обычно авантюра главного конструктора и попил бюджета.
Начиналось все правильно – с аналога «Страйк Игл» на основе планера Су-27УБ без его доработок. В случае с изначальным проектом с ККВ вообще прогрессивно. Все как у людей – унификация, подвесные контейнеры, универсальность – то есть предлагался по сути двухместный Су-27М (Су-35).
Но от этого и удачного и логичного варианта отказался главный конструктор и начал пилить мутанта? – почему?
Главному конструктору было прекрасно понятно, что установка новой тяжелой носовой части от дальнего бомбардировщика (!) потребует полной переработки всего планера самолета которая займет много-много лет и сулит много денег и авторских свидетельств с доходом. Во второй половине 80-х – ситуация становилась уже понятной – заказов будет немного, вот и решили – а чего бы на этой бесполезной работе не подоить бабло на протяжении лет 10-15? Как итог +4 тонны паразитного веса из-за всех этих планера переделок и писсуаров, избыточных на фронтовом бомбардировщике.
Так бы они ездили по выставкам со своим" не имеющим аналогов" писсуаром и титановой кабиной весом 1,5 тонны, если бы не война. А показала она несостоятельность концепции этой утки, которая не птица, а в другом значении этого слова. В итоге Су-34 сейчас выполняет то же, что мог бы выполнять к примеру СУ-7Б 1960-го года – кидает бомбы с крыльями, наведение которых никак с самой платформой не связано.
🛰On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union paved humanity’s way to the stars!
#OTD in 1957, the first artificial satellite of our planet – Sputnik-1 – was launched into Earth’s orbit. Its simple yet proud “beep-beep” sound stood as mankind’s first signal reaching beyond Earth.
Sputnik-1 was a spherical aluminum spacecraft, 58 cm in diameter and weighing 83.6 kg. Its hermetically sealed body protected the equipment inside from external conditions. Onboard were two radio transmitters operating at 20.005 and 40.002 MHzfrequencies, broadcasting the legendary signals, which were picked up by radio enthusiasts around the world.
Four external antennas, 2.4 to 2.9 meters long, ensured stable transmission. The satellite had no propulsion system and moved in orbit solely by the impulse received at launch.
🚀 To deliver Sputnik-1 into orbit, a two-stage R-7 launch vehicle was used, developed under the guidance of the great Soviet engineer Sergey Korolev. The satellite reached the orbit in 314.5 seconds (just over 5 minutes) after liftoff. Its apogee was 947 km, perigee 228 km, and it orbited Earth every 96 minutes.
In total, Sputnik-1 spent 92 days in space, completing 1,440 orbits and covering more than 60 million kilometers. The last signal was received on January 4, 1958, after which the satellite re-entered the atmosphere and burned up.
🌐 The launch of Sputnik-1 was not only a groundbreaking technological achievement, but also a symbol of a new era – the beginning of humanity’s space age.
Since then, dozens of countries have launched thousands of satellites, transforming science, communications, navigation, and our daily lives.
Yet no matter how many follow, Sputnik-1 will forever be the First!💫
🇷🇺 August 22 is the State Flag Day in Russia, established on August 20, 1994, in accordance with Presidential Executive Order "On the State Flag Day of the Russian Federation".
#OTD, we pay tribute to Russia’s official state symbol which, alongside its emblem and the national anthem, stands as a symbol of and the testimonyto the country’s sovereignty and independence, while asserting the generational continuity for our multicultural and multi-ethnic nation.
The Russian tricoloured flag is over three hundred years old. Tsar Peter I is considered to be its creator: he ordered “commercial vessels of all kinds” to sail under the white-blue-red flag. However, it was only in 1896 that this flag obtained its official status, not long before Emperor Nicholas II’s coronation.
⚪️🔵🔴 While there is no official interpretation of the national flag colours, it is widely accepted that white symbolizes purity, independence and peace, blue embodies faith, loyalty and justice, while red stands for courage, might and valour.
☝️ Today, the tricoloured flag has become an integral part of our lives as a symbol of the Russian state, national unity and our people's devotion to the Fatherland, as well as the commitment to assert and promote the national interests.
This photo of Earth, dubbed the Blue Marble, was taken by the Apollo 17 crew #OTD in 1972 as they traveled to the Moon.
It soon became one of the most widely-distributed photographs in history.
Source: @NASAhistory
@EverythingScience
🇷🇺🇧🇾 On April 2, the peoples of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus celebrate their Day of Unity.
🗓#OTD in 1996, they signed a treaty on the formation of the Community of Russia and Belarus, which served as the first step towards the creation of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.
The Treaty on the Union of Russia and Belarus came into force a year later, and on December 8, 1999, the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State was signed.
🤝 Today, the Union State implements programmes in industry, energy and IT, to name a few. Trade between Russia and Belarus grows at record high rates every year, given the considerable degree of mutual complementarity of their economies.
💬 Addressing a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State on January 29, 2024, President Vladimir Putin said:
We have been working together to build the Union State for almost 25 years. Along this path, we have managed to achieve a great deal. Thanks to the successful implementation of 28 sectoral Union programmes, Russian and Belarusian legislation was harmonised, the legal and organisational foundations for a common economic space formed, and conditions created for the implementation of a unified macroeconomic and monetary policy, and for joint work to minimise damage from illegal Western restrictions.
☝️ The Unity Day of the Peoples of Russia and Belarus confirms the cohesion of the two fraternal peoples and their striving to continue strengthening their interaction based on the centuries-old traditions of friendship and close cultural and spiritual ties.
📃 On the occasion of the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and Belarus President Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.
🎊 We congratulate our Belarusian friends on a holiday that is a symbol of unbreakable ties of brotherly friendship between our countries and peoples!
📖#OTD on November 11, 1821, the outstanding Russian novelist and thinker Fyodor Dostoevsky was born in Moscow.
From his early days, Dostoevsky plunged into the depths of the human soul – exploring guilt, redemption, freedom and faith. His masterpieces like The Brothers Karamazov, Crime and Punishment, The Idiot continue to challenge and inspire readers around the world.
He was no stranger to hardship – sentenced to death, spared at the last moment, sent into exile in Siberia, emerging to write some of the greatest works of world literature.
His words travel far beyond Russia:
“Man only likes to count his troubles; he doesn’t calculate his happiness.”
📆#OTD 151 years ago, on October 9, 1874, Nicolas Roerich — a renowned Russian artist, writer, philosopher, and traveler — was born in Saint Petersburg.
🎨 Roerich’s artistic journey took him across continents. Deeply inspired by the majestic landscapes and spiritual traditions of India and the Himalayas, he created timeless works that reflected humanity’s search for beauty, peace, and harmony.
His legacy continues to inspire people around the world, including here in Asia, as a bridge between cultures and a symbol of creative and spiritual unity.
In 1993, the International Roerich Memorial Trust was established in Naggar, Himachal Pradesh, India, to preserve and promote the artistic and philosophical heritage of the Roerich family.
📅#OTD in 1943, Soviet forces launched Operation "Iskra" (Spark), which broke the Siege of Leningrad. During the offensive, units of the Red Army from the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts overcame enemy defenses, re-establishing a land connection between the city and the rest of the Soviet Union.
The siege ring around Leningrad had fully closed on September 8, 1941. More than 2.8 million people, including 400,000 children, were trapped under harsh winter conditions, enduring hunger and relentless bombings.
Attempts to break the blockade were made several times: in September and October 1941, during the general counteroffensive in January 1942, and again in August-September 1942. Favorable conditions only arose in January 1943, when the bulk of the Wehrmacht's forces were concentrated at Stalingrad.
By the end of January 1943, the troops of the Volkhov and Leningrad Fronts, delivering powerful blows, pierced the enemy's defenses and pushed them 12 km away from the shores of Lake Ladoga.
The combined strike groups of the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts included 302,800 soldiers and officers, approximately 4,900 artillery pieces and mortars (caliber 76mm and above), over 600 tanks, and 809 aircraft.
🎖 For their heroism, bravery, and courage during the breakthrough of the blockade, about 19,000 soldiers of the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts, as well as the Baltic Fleet, were awarded orders and medals.
Although Leningrad was not fully liberated until January 27, 1944, the political, economic, and symbolic significance of breaking the blockade cannot be overstated.
The Soviet forces managed to partially lift the siege, easing the plight of the city's residents. Within three weeks of the breakthrough, a railway was built, and the first trains carrying food and ammunition reached Leningrad. The threat of German and Finnish forces linking up was eliminated, and the initiative in the Leningrad region shifted decisively to the Red Army.