the 'Hand from grave' deterrent

More commonly known as the 'Dead Hand' the nuclear fail safe deterrence system was put online around 1985, this was to save the Soviets from winning 'the' nuclear exchange between it and the western countries if all of its high command were to be killed in a decapitation strike.

It would respond with overwhelming force against the western nations countries, possibly all members of NATO, it was of course kept a closely guarded secret until the collapse of the Soviet Union.

It's been theorized that if one side carried out a successful decapitation strike against the other it might have been able to severely hinder a quick and sustained response.

It's these simply facts kind of remind me of that line from Dr. Strangelove in the war room when talking about the fictional Soviet doomsday machine:

"Yes, but the ... whole point of the doomsday machine ... is lost ... if you keep it a secret! Why didn't you tell the world, eh?"

The joke is that obviously if one had this kind of deterrent it should state just that fact to 'deter' their opponent from attempting a first strike in the first place!