In the shadow of the Cold War, a vehicle from 1949 played an unusual role in international politics. This is not an ordinary car, but a 7.7-ton bulletproof car, the Gis-115, which represents the most cutting-edge military engineering technology of the Soviet Union, was presented to the president of the People's Republic of China, symbolizing the unbreakable alliance between the two great powers. But in addition to its amazing weight and heavy armor, the car has two strange settings that go unnoticed that not only reflect its uniqueness, but also deepen the mystery surrounding the car.
The beginning of the new China and the early diplomatic exchanges
On October 1, 1949, the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China was officially proclaimed at the founding ceremony held in Tiananmen Square. On this historic occasion, tens of thousands of people gathered in the square to witness the birth of a new nation. At this time, the red flag rose over Tiananmen Square and fluttered in the early morning air of Beijing. Before the sound of the celebration had completely dissipated, the city of Beijing was already enveloped in a celebratory atmosphere. However, the functioning of politics did not pause with celebration, but opened up more intense international engagement in this new political arena.
Shortly after the founding ceremony began, the Soviet government sent an official note to the newly established government of the People's Republic of China recognizing the new state. The speed and timeliness of the note, which was personally delivered to Zhongnanhai by the Soviet ambassador to China, demonstrated the importance that the Soviet Union attached to the new Chinese regime and its prompt diplomatic response. The Soviet Union was the first country to officially recognize the People's Republic of China, an act of great significance in the international political landscape of the time. This move was not just diplomatic courtesy, but also a clear statement of ideology on a global scale during the Cold War, signaling that the Soviet Union and China would move closer to each other in the future.
The content of the note was concise and clear, expressing the official recognition of the Government of the People's Republic of China by the Government of the Soviet Union, and wishing the people of the two countries friendly cooperation and common development under the new political system. The note was quickly translated into Chinese and carefully reviewed by the then Chinese diplomatic department before being escalated to the top of the government. Although this process was completed in only a few hours, it laid the foundation for the subsequent close cooperation between China and the Soviet Union.
In the eyes of observers at home and abroad, the rapid recognition of the Soviet Union not only enhanced the status of the new China in the international arena, but also provided an example for other socialist countries to extend their diplomatic arms to the People's Republic of China. In the months that followed, more and more countries began to establish diplomatic relations with the new China, a series of moves that significantly strengthened the international image and negotiating position of the new Chinese regime.
In the days that followed, the diplomatic departments of China and the Soviet Union began to communicate and coordinate more frequently. The two countries have not only expressed political support for each other, but have also carried out exchanges and cooperation in various fields in the economic and military fields. This rapidly developing bilateral relationship enabled China and the Soviet Union to occupy a pivotal position in the political landscape of the Eastern world in the years that followed.
The conclusion of the Sino-Soviet Friendship Alliance
At the end of 1949, the president of the People's Republic of China accepted the invitation of the USSR to Moscow to attend Stalin's seventieth birthday celebrations. This visit is not only a celebration, but also an important diplomatic action, marking the first foreign visit by a state leader since the founding of the People's Republic of China, and a milestone in the deepening of Sino-Soviet relations.
In Moscow, the chairman's reception ceremony was extremely large-scale, indicating the importance that the Soviet Union attached to the visit. At the ceremony, high-ranking Soviet officials gathered at the airport, accompanied by a merry song by the military band, demonstrating the respect and friendship of the Soviet Union for the leaders of the newly formed state. After that, the chairman was arranged to live in the most prestigious state guesthouse in Moscow, and the whole visit was arranged in a rigorous and meticulous manner, with the aim of creating a good atmosphere for the next negotiations.
During the negotiations, the two sides first discussed the abolition of the previous unequal treaties. These unequal treaties were imposed on China by foreign powers in history, and the new Chinese government intended to re-establish the country's sovereignty and dignity. After several rounds of intense and exhaustive negotiations, the Soviet Union expressed its willingness to abolish these old covenants and restructure relations with new principles of equality. The discussion touched not only on foreign policy, but also on the possibility of economic cooperation and mutual benefit, including technical support and economic assistance.
The ensuing discussion expanded to a wide range of political and economic relations between the two countries. The two sides discussed how to work together within a common socialist framework, strengthen political alliances, and seek new ways of economic cooperation. The negotiations covered a wide range of areas, including but not limited to industrial development, agricultural cooperation, and scientific and technological exchanges. The Soviet side demonstrated its intention to support the process of industrialization in China and offered to provide the necessary technical and equipment support over the next few years.
After several weeks of intensive negotiations, the two countries finally signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance. The treaty not only marked a formal transformation in relations between the two countries, but also established the basis for Sino-Soviet cooperation for decades to come. The content of the treaty covers many aspects such as political mutual trust, economic mutual assistance, and military support, and clearly stipulates the mutual defense mechanism in the event of external aggression, and strengthens the cooperation between the two countries in international politics and the strategy of joint response to Western pressure.
Gift of bulletproof vehicles and technical exchanges
During the chairman's visit, as a celebration of the signing of the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance and a special courtesy to the Chinese leader, Stalin personally presented a Gis-110 bulletproof sedan. At that time, the car represented the top achievement of the Soviet automobile industry, especially in terms of safety. The design and construction of the vehicle demonstrated in detail the great importance that the USSR attached to the safety of important political figures.
The Gis-110 sedan has a solemn exterior with sleek lines, and the body color is a deep black, giving it a calm and serious feeling. The main feature of the vehicle is its superior ballistic resistance. The body armor is made of special steel 8 mm thick, which is able to withstand attacks from small firearms. Even more striking are the glazing parts of the vehicle, which are not ordinary window glasses, but 8 cm thick composite bulletproof glass that has been treated with a special process. Each layer of glass is alternately superimposed with a special layer of transparent adhesive to form a multi-layer protective structure. When the glass of this structure is subjected to external impact, even if the surface glass is broken, the adhesive layer can still effectively absorb and disperse the impact force, which greatly enhances safety.
In terms of the interior decoration of the vehicle, the Guise-110 also shows a very high manufacturing process. The interior is made of high-grade leather and high-quality wood, and the seats are wide and comfortable, ensuring a comfortable and luxurious ride. The car was also equipped with the most advanced communication equipment at the time, so that the vehicle could maintain unimpeded communication while moving, meeting the work needs of senior leaders.
The technical demonstration and delivery ceremony of the vehicle took place at a famous automobile exhibition center in Moscow. Senior officials and technical experts from the Soviet side gave a detailed description of the design concept and safety features of the vehicle, ensuring that the Chinese delegation had a full understanding of the car's performance. At the ceremony, Stalin handed over the car keys to the Chinese president, a gesture that not only symbolizes the deep friendship between the two countries, but also attaches great importance to the security of the Chinese leader.
The Gis-110 bulletproof sedan was then transported to China and became a special vehicle for the Chinese leadership. The use of this car not only provides a solid security guarantee for important occasions at home and abroad, but also becomes a continuous reminder of Sino-Soviet cooperation and friendship, symbolizing the depth of technical and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The advanced design of the Guise-115
After the successful gift of the Gis-110 bulletproof car, Stalin, in order to further strengthen the friendly relations and technical cooperation between the two countries, once again presented the new achievements of the Soviet automobile manufacturing industry to China - the Gis-115 bulletproof car. The car was based on the Gis-110 and underwent a number of technological innovations and functional upgrades, demonstrating the latest technologies of the Soviet automotive industry in high-end protective vehicles.
The exterior of the Guise-115 is wider and more majestic than its predecessor, with a body length of 6 meters and a width of almost 2 meters, making it more rigid and modern. The body uses 8 mm thick high-strength armor plates, which are able to withstand not only the fire of ordinary firearms, but also the attacks of certain types of light anti-tank weapons. The windows are also made of 8 cm thick composite bulletproof glass, and the layers of glass and glue absorb and disperse the impact force, providing almost impeccable protection.
In terms of interior design, the Guis-115 bulletproof vehicle fully considers the combination of functionality and safety. The vehicle is equipped with a unique third-row seating design that can be stowed into the rear of the vehicle when not needed, greatly enhancing the vehicle's space-using efficiency and versatility. What's more, the car adds a lifting, bulletproof partition that sits between the driver's seat and the rear seat and can be raised and lowered as needed, both to protect passengers from possible attacks from ahead, and to provide sound insulation and sight blocking when confidential discussions are required, ensuring the privacy and safety of passengers.
The GIS-115 bulletproof vehicle was designed and manufactured with special consideration in mind to combat high-level security threats, and for this reason, extremely strict protective measures were taken in the construction of the vehicle's chassis. The chassis of the vehicle is equipped with heavy steel plate armor that is not only significantly thick, but also made of special alloy steel, which has the strength and toughness to effectively resist explosive forces from below, such as mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
This high-strength chassis armor design takes into account the vehicle's needs to drive in potential war zones or unstable areas, ensuring that the vehicle can protect its occupants from ground explosions while driving. The arrangement of the armor is specifically reinforced for possible points of explosion, especially the critical parts of the vehicle such as the fuel tank and engine area, and there are additional protection measures in case these parts are directly hit during the attack, thus increasing the survivability of the vehicle as a whole.
The addition of these safety features significantly increases the weight of the Gis-115, which weighs 7.7 tons. While the added weight may affect the speed and agility of the vehicle, this trade-off is necessary for a bulletproof vehicle whose primary mission is to provide the highest level of security. In order to meet the challenges posed by this increased weight, the Gies-115 is equipped with a more powerful engine in the choice of powertrain, which ensures that the vehicle can maintain good handling performance and sufficient power output even under extreme conditions.
Automobile & Accessories,2009(10):10-10