This is really interesting, thanks for sharing. One thing that surprised me was:<p>According to one veteran in a Soviet documentary of the event, "Some, the majority even, had no protective clothing, and besides it was impossible to use gas masks" [in the 115-degree Fahrenheit (46-degree Celsius) temperatures of the area].[clarification needed]<p>"The exercise was conducted on September 14, 1954, at 9.33 a.m"<p>46C at 9:33 a.m., mid-September in 1954?<p><a href="https://weatherspark.com/h/d/148893/1954/9/14/Historical-Weather-on-Tuesday-September-14-1954-at-Orenburg-Tsentralny-Russia#Figures-Temperature" rel="nofollow">https://weatherspark.com/h/d/148893/1954/9/14/Historical-Wea...</a><p>I think the Soviet documentary quote might be talking about some entirely other event?