1. Despite Being Allied With The USSR During World War II, Churchill Demanded An Attack Plan Named "Operation Unthinkable" Be Constructed
The British and American alliance with the USSR was one of necessity, and not really even convenience, during the Second World War - and even while they were still partners in battle against Nazi Germany, Churchill was plotting a potential invasion of the Soviet Union. In 1945, Churchill ordered the British Armed Forces' Joint Planning Staff to create a possible plan for an invasion of the USSR after World War II - and they came back with two possible alternatives, both under the codename "Operation Unthinkable". The odds were judged "fanciful" for an original offensive invasion by the Western Allies, but the codename remained the same for a second defensive plan. So secretive were the plans - which were never actually acted upon - that they did not become public knowledge until 1998.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
