The American military plan, HALFMOON, in the likely event of a Red Army attack on Western Europe, envisioned containing the Russians for the first two weeks, during which they would reach as far as the Netherlands. Then, 50 atomic bombs, later increased to 133, would be dropped on Soviet cities. Moscow would be hit by eight atomic bombs and Leningrad by seven. It predicted the deaths of 2.7 million Russian civilians from nuclear explosions alone, not including the fires they caused, and a reduction in industrial capacity of 30-40%. It admitted, however, that it would still not be enough to stop the Red Army from occupying Western Europe. The plan’s primary purpose was to save Great Britain. Later (from 1949), after the first Soviet nuclear tests, the plan would be updated. If the Soviets were to launch a nuclear attack, the counterattack would be launched not only from Great Britain but also from bombers in Iceland, Greenland, Alaska, Okinawa, Egypt, and India. Truman didn’t like the plan.
