Date
4-26-2024
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)
Chair
Mark Edwards
Keywords
Cold War, USMLM, United States Military Liaison Mission, East Germany, Soviet Union, Intelligence
Disciplines
History
Recommended Citation
Ofner, Frank Christopher, "Uniform Intelligence: The United States Military Liaison Mission and the Cold War 1947-1990" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5460.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5460
Abstract
On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allied Powers, ending the war in Europe. As such, the Western Allies of Britain, France, and the United States came into direct contact with the Soviet forces in Germany, which they divided into four zones of occupation. With the potential of an armed conflict over Germany, the Western Allies and the Soviets agreed to use military liaison missions to help foster communication in Germany. The British and French maintained their units: British Commanders in Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany (BRIXMIS) and La Mission Militaire Francaise de Liaison (FMLM or MMFL in French) in East Germany. Reciprocal Soviet Missions (SOXMIS/SMLM) also existed in West Germany. Following the British example, the United States started the United States Military Liaison Mission to Commander in Chief, Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (USMLM) in 1947 with the signing of the Huebner-Malinin Agreement. Throughout the 20th century, the various powers used liaison missions to collect intelligence on potential advisories and outright enemies. For example, the United States had a prior liaison mission with the Germans in the 1930s which helped US intelligence before World War II. Additionally, during the war, the US used its diplomatic corps in Moscow to help keep tabs on the Soviet Union. However, the USMLM stands out among liaison missions due to its length of service and its access to the Eastern Bloc. The work of the USMLM highlighted that there was always a gap between American public fears of Soviet expansionism and the Soviets' will and ability to make good on that expansion. Nevertheless, USMLM reporting remained an underutilized and ultimately forgotten asset because it was not deemed politically useful.
