History Main / RussiaCalledTheyWantAlaskaBack

This is a sister trope to MexicoCalledTheyWantTexasBack, with Russia in place of Mexico and Alaska in place of Texas and the Southwestern U.S. Like with Texas, this is also a localized version of InvadedStatesOfAmerica.

In RealLife, Alaska has only been invaded once, not by Russia, but by Imperial Japan during World War II when they seized two Aleutian Islands as a diversion from their planned attack on Midway in 1942; it didn't work out like they planned.

* Averted in ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare''. The sequel features Russia invading America, but the invasion is on the East Coast, leaving Alaska alone.

* In [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1944-us-isot-to-the-world-of-the-two-georges.338072/ 1944 US ISOT to the world of the Two Georges]] (registration required to read), a variation of this occurs when the US and its territories get [[MassTeleportation ISOTed]] into the world of Two Georges. The Russian Czar is furious over the United States now owning Alaska and demands it be returned immediately. [[ThisMeansWar What happens next]] [[CurbStompBattle doesn't end well for Russia.]]

* In an episode of ''Series/CoryInTheHouse'', Cory accidentally hands the deed to Alaska to the Russian Prime Minister when he puts it in his jacket pocket. The episode revolves around Cory and President Martinez attempting to get the deed back. HilarityEnsues.
* The 1982 miniseries ''World War III'' revolves around the Soviets sneaking a special forces unit into Alaska to sabotage a critical pumping station. The series focuses primarily on trying to stop the attack and prevent possible all-out war.

* The Fallout Series switched Russia with China, with the battle of Anchorage being the biggest clash before everything went nuclear.
* Averted in ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare''. The sequel features Russia invading America, but the invasion is on the East Coast, leaving Alaska alone.

* After the start of the Ukraine crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin held an annual question and answer television segment in which a woman asked him about taking back Alaska. Putin dismissed it saying it was "too cold" and that Russia already had enough cold places.

* In ''A Matter of Honour'', a 1986 thriller by Creator/JeffreyArcher, the hero comes across a copy of the treaty which shows Alaska is only leased to the US, and is due to revert to Russia (at the time the book is set (1966), the USSR.)

* In ''AMatterOfHonour'', a 1986 thriller by Jeffrey Archer, the hero comes across a copy of the treaty which shows Alaska is only leased to the US, and is due to revert to Russia (at the time the book is set (1966)the USSR.)

Overlaps with InvadedStatesOfAmerica and sometimes RussiaTakesOverTheWorld.

A Russian assault would be unlikely at present because doing so would almost certainly start WorldWarIII, provoking a response from America's allies as well as the U.S, itself. There is also the fact that both sides of the Bering Strait are severely lacking in the infrastructure needed to move and supply any invading force. The nearest Russian railhead is roughly 2,000 miles away, meaning any effort would be by sea, and the US Navy currently outclasses the Russian Navy, especially in the Pacific. So such concerns or discussions of this happening in the real world are minor at the moment unless an actual World War III suddenly breaks out.

* On the other side of the iron curtain, it was discovered that in the late-1940s and early-1950s, Stalin had formed and assigned the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Army_(Soviet_Union) 14th Assault Army]] to cross the Bering Strait and seize the Steward Peninsula in the event of war with the US. This was planned as purely tactical maneuver, though; the idea was to establish makeshift airfield on which Soviet long-range bombers (which at this time does not have enough range or aur refueling capability), flying over North Pole, could be quickly refueled during raids against US homeland.

* On the other side of the iron curtain, it was discovered that in the late-1940s and early-1950s, Stalin had formed and assigned the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Army_(Soviet_Union) 14th Assault Army]] to cross the Bering Strait and seize the Steward Peninsula in the event of war with the US. What they were supposed to achieve beyond that... isn't exactly clear.

** There is also a punny joke about Alaska in Russian. Here it goes: Putin's mistress asks him for some "krem" (cosmetic cream), but Putin mishears and conquers "Krym" (Crimea) for her. And now the mistress is afraid to ask him for a "kolaska" (perambulator)... Or for ''[[GratuitousEnglish ice cream]]'', [[DontExplainTheJoke i. e. Ice-Crimea, i. e. icy land Russia wants back]].

** On the other side of the iron curtain, it was discovered that in the late-1940s and early-1950s, Stalin had formed and assigned the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Army_(Soviet_Union) 14th Assault Army]] to cross the Bering Strait and seize the Steward Peninsula in the event of war with the US. What they were supposed to achieve beyond that... isn't exactly clear.

A Russian assault would be unlikely at present because doing so would almost certainly start WorldWarIII, provoking a response from America's allies as well as the U.S, itself. So such concerns or discussions of this happening in the real world are minor at the moment unless an actual World War III suddenly breaks out.

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* ''Film/RedDawn1984'' features an invasion of the United States by the Soviet Union, Cuba, and Nicaragua. Lt. Col. Tanner mentions the Soviets crossed the Bering Strait and invaded Alaska in an attempt to attack the continental U.S. from the North but were stopped at the Canadian border. The U.S. still has deal with invaders that came up from Mexico however.

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[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

** There is also a punny joke about Alaska in Russian. Here it goes: Putin's mistress asks him for some "krem" (cosmetic cream), but Putin mishears and conquers "Krym" (Crimea) for her. And now the mistress is afraid to ask him for a "kolaska" (perambulator)...

** On the other side of the iron curtain, it was discovered that in the late-1940s and early-1950s, Stalin had formed and assigned the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Army_(Soviet_Union) 14th Assault Army]] to cross the Bering Strait and seize the Steward Peninsula. What they were supposed to achieve beyond that... isn't exactly clear.

In 1867, [[UsefulNotes/ImperialRussia the Russian Tsar]] sold the territory of Russian America to the United States. The territory wasn't doing the Tsar much good, never really turning a profit, and proving to be an unnecessary thorn in the Empire's already strained relationship with the UK (which owned Canada), so the Russian government was open to any reasonable opportunity to offload it. Russia and the US being rather buddy-buddy in the 1850s and '60s (the US had backed up the Russians diplomatically during the UsefulNotes/CrimeanWar, and Russia had run interference in Europe on the Union's behalf during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar[[note]]by subtly threatening to engage Prussia (it's a long story, much of it to do with the Balkans, but suffice it to say Russia and Prussia were also on good terms in the days of Bismarck) in an attack on France and the UK should either recognize and assist the Confederacy[[/note]]), the Tsar made the obvious decision once the US sent a decent offer. The U.S. named their new territory Alaska (long a colloquial name for the region), and 94 years later in 1959 it became the 49th state. But what happens if the UsefulNotes/RussiansWithRustingRockets decide to renege on the deal?

In 1867, [[UsefulNotes/ImperialRussia the Russian Tsar]] sold the territory of Russian America to the United States. The territory wasn't doing the Tsar much good, never really turning a profit, and proving to be an unnecessary thorn in the Empire's already strained relationship with the UK (which owned Canada), so the Russian government was open to any reasonable opportunity to offload it. Russia and the US being rather buddy-buddy in the 1850s and '60s (the US had backed up the Russians diplomatically during the UsefulNotes/CrimeanWar, and Russia had run interference in Europe on the Union's behalf during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar[[note]]by subtly threatening to engage Prussia (it's a long story, much of it to do with the Balkans, but suffice it to say Russia and Prussia were also on good terms in the days of Bismarck) in an attack on France and the UK should either recognize and assist the Confederacy[[/note]]), the Tsar made the obvious decision once the US sent a decent offer. The U.S. named their new territory Alaska (long a colloquial name for the region), and 94 years later in 1959 it became the 49th state. But what happens if the RussiansWithRustingRockets decide to renege on the deal?

Some more humorous works might have two or more sides fighting over a fictional "deed" to Alaska left over from the original purchase. (Note: Such a deed doesn't exist in real life).

A Russian assualt would be unlikely at present because doing so would almost certainly start WorldWarIII, provoking a response from America's allies as well as the U.S, itself. So such concerns or discussions of this happening in the real world are minor at the moment unless an actual World War III suddenly breaks out.

* The first episode of ''Series/{{Sliders}}'' had them visiting a parrellel world where The Soviet Union won the Cold War and invaded and occupied ''all of America''. Alaska is home to some nasty gulags where political prisoners are sent.
* In an episode of ''Series/CoryInTheHouse'', Cory accidently hands the deed to Alaska to the Russian Prime Minister when he puts it in his jacket pocket. The episode revolves around Cory and President Martinez attempting to get the deed back. HilarityEnsues.
* The 1982 miniseries ''World War III'' revolves around the Soviets sneaking a special forces unit into Alaska to sabotage a critcal pumping station. The series focuses primarily on trying to stop the attack and prevent possible all-out war.

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Fiction has produced no shortage of works depicting this scenario. It began gaining popularity during the UsefulNotes/ColdWar, when there was real fear of the Soviet Union invading. However, it has remained common in the post-Soviet era, usually with a [[MakeTheBearAngryAgain resurgent Russia]], or even some other enemy like China invading. This is because Alaska has so many resources that are important for America and it also occupies a strategic place on the globe so it could be a tempting target for any enemy with the power to go up against the YanksWithTanks. In 1935, General Billy Mitchell testified before Congress about Alaska's importance, saying: "I believe that in the future, whoever holds Alaska will hold the world. I think it is the most important strategic place in the world."

Ah Alaska, America's 49th state and the Last Frontier. The home of salmon, gold, oil, and many kinds of wildlife. And a potential place of origin for WorldWarIII.