The Central Front D+2 (11 July, 1987) Part III

The situation in and around Brauschweig continued to ebb and flow from the late afternoon into the evening hours of D+2. The 1^st Panzer Brigade fell back into the city itself with the 55^th and 56^th Guards Tank Regiments struggling to maintain contact. As the 1^st Pz Brigade’s fighting withdrawal reached the more built up urban areas its resistance stiffened and slowed the Soviets. It was around that time that the West Germans launched a counterattack from the north with the 1^st PzD’s reserve battalions. The attack drove a wedge into the weak right flank of the advancing Soviet regiments, cutting off the lead battalions of the 55^th Guards west of Schapen. As dusk fell on the battlefield, 56^th Guards was moving to contain the counterattack.

Meanwhile, back at the forward division headquarters, 7^th Guards Tank Division’s commander was pondering whether to release his last regiment to the effort against Brauschweig, or wait until the situation became more favorable. Before he reached a decision, West German Phantoms struck the forward headquarters . The division commander was severely wounded, while  his deputy, and half of the division’s staff officers were killed. At a critical moment, the head of the division had been unceremoniously separated from the body.

General Mityukhin, once he was informed of what had happened, ordered the 7^th Guards to halt in place for the moment. He sent his chief of staff forward to take command of the division and restore order. As this was going on, he huddled with his battle staff and worked to make revisions to the operations presently underway.

 

CENTAG

The request by the commander of 8^th Guards Army (8GA)  early on D+2 for authorization to use chemical weapons blindsided General Snetkov, the commander of Group Soviet Forces Germany. He was cognizant of the situation 8GA was facing, however, he could not fathom why the army commander was suddenly demanding permission to unleash chemical agents. The US and West German units opposing 8GA were putting up stiff resistance, yet this was not unexpected. Pre-war planning had presumed…correctly, as the case appeared……that the US V, and VII Corps, and West German III Corps would prove to be difficult to dislodge. Still, Snetkov did not quite understand the reasoning behind the appeal. There were no signs of a NATO counteroffensive in the works, or indications that NATO was preparing to use its own chemical weapons.

Snetkov immediately denied the request. After 8GA confirmed receipt of the answer, he informed Western TVD of the request and his response. He also attached his recommendation that chemical agents remain unused for the time being. CINC-West would make the final decision on the issue, but it was well within Snetkov’s rights to deny the initial request until the theater commander had assessed the situation and rendered his decision.

The urge to go forward and personally take stock of 8GA’s situation was growing. Snetkov understood that, as a senior commander, his place was in the rear directing the battle. However, the soldier in him wanted to be forward assessing with his own eyes what was going on in 8GA’s sector. Getting him there before daylight would be dangerous enough. Contrary to what his comrades in the air force proclaimed, NATO appeared to control the skies completely from dusk to dawn. His chief of staff was too busy and valuable at the moment to burden with a trip to the battle area. Instead, Snetkov summoned the deputy commander GFSG and ordered him to go forward at dawn via helicopter, assess the situation in 8 GA’s sector firsthand and report back personally by 1200. With that handled, Snetkov retired to his quarters at 0300 for a couple of hours of desperately needed sleep.

 

 

*Author’s Note: Final part of Central Front: D+2 will be up on Monday*