Definition: The Warsaw Pact, otherwise known as the Warsaw Treaty Organization, was an alliance creating an organised – and Russian dominated - military among central and political ties. Created by the 'Warsaw Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance' the Pact was, in the short term, a reaction to the admittance of West Germany to NATO. In the long term the Warsaw Pact was both designed to partly mimic and counter NATO, strengthen Russian control over its satellite states and boost Russian power in diplomacy. The Pact formalized and acted as one of the two key power blocs in the Cold War, during which Pact troops, operating under the Brezhnev Doctrine, occupied and ensured compliance with Russia against member states. The Pact, originally a twenty year agreement, was renewed in 1985 but officially dissolved on July 1st 1991 at the end of the Cold War.
Member nations were: the Soviet Union, Albania (withdrew in 1968), Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany (withdrew in 1990), Hungary, Poland, and Romania.
