Closed for weapons testing?

[Kooshmeister]

Starting a separate thread for this. This occurred to me just now... did the Soviets know about the weapons testing which had the base closed off to visitors? It seems to me that they did, because Dovchenko kneeling to tie his shoelace so his men could fire over his back seemed rehearsed. So I think they knew the base would be closed to visitors with minimal personnel, making this the optimal time to break in.

Evidence against them knowing, though, or at least against them knowing what kind of test, and where, is the fact they seemed ignorant of Doom Town's purpose. And also there seemed to be little rush to leave initially, when you'd think there would've been if they'd known about a nearby nuclear blast. So I think they knew there was some kind of test, just not what, and didn't know until a little later at Doom Town.

[WillKill4Food]

Originally Posted by Kooshmeister

It seems to me that they did, because Dovchenko kneeling to tie his shoelace so his men could fire over his back seemed rehearsed.

Well I certainly don't think it was a spur of the moment gesture...
Probably this:

Originally Posted by Kooshmeister

So I think they knew there was some kind of test, just not what, and didn't know until a little later at Doom Town.

[Montana Smith]

I don't think Lucas, Spielberg et al really thought much through with KOTCS. Out of the four films, this one is the most lightweight, popcorn munching entry. It was all about grand visual statements, lacking the fluidity of ROTLA, the dark journey and horror of TOD, the real relationships of TLC.

Spalko could have been getting her intelligence about the weapons testing schedule from Mutt's monkey chums for all we know.

[Henry W Jones]

I don't think you are supposed to overthink it.