The Central Front D+13 (22 July, 1987) Part V

One of the greatest difficulties for Soviet commanders at the division level and higher was the efficient movement of forces within and between unit sectors. This was especially true of the second and third echelon divisions now coming onto the battle line in Northern Germany, as well as those moving through East Germany inbound to the Fulda area. NATO’s deep strike efforts, or what the Americans referred to as Airland Battle doctrine, were highly effective. From the outbreak of war in Europe, enemy air, long-range artillery, and missile attacks had been striking Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces along their full operational depth. Second echelon, and reserves were being bloodied and punished even before they were committed to battle. Rear areas and roadways were attacked frequently, slowing down movement even more so.

Put quite simply, the NATO capability to launch effective, around-the-clock deep strikes had altered the topography of the battlefield. The movement and commitment to action of the second and third echelon divisions was far behind schedule and not expected to improve in the near future. This rather forthright fact was the rationale fueling Lieutenant General Tchernitsov’s decision to adopt a short-tern defensive stance. His divisions had fought well against the US V Corps, a formation the general now begrudgingly regarded as one of the most capable ever fielded by the Americans army in its history. But there was little to be gained for his men, army group, or the State fro that matter, by continuing the attack now.

Although he was aware that the war was not going to be won between Fulda and Frankfurt, Tchernitsov still acknowledged the fact it could be lost here. If the Americans took to the offensive in central Germany soon, Tchernitsov’s divisions were going to be hard-pressed to stop them. 1^st GTA (Guards Tank Army) despite its best efforts would be pushed across the old Inner-German Border and be forced to stop, or at least delay a NATO offensive spearheaded by one, or two American corps until reinforcing second and third echelon divisions were able to arrive. If he were the V Corps commander at the present time, Tchernitsov would at be studying the possibility of an offensive closely.

1^st GTA’s two forward divisions spent most of D+13 preparing hasty defenses. The newly arrived 39^th Guards MRD (Motor Rifle Division) was setting its first line of defense along the Bundesstrasse 254 roadway from Schrecksbach to Lauterbach. The 11^th Tank Division’s first line was being established south of there. The two divisions were linked in the area between Lauterbach and Herbstein.

In order to keep the US 4^th Infantry and 1^st Armored in the dark about what was going on, the two Soviet divisions each launched three reinforced battalion-sized probes during the day. The purpose was to create a diversion and keep the Americans believing 1^st GTA was continuing its drive to Frankfurt. To reinforce the deception, the army group’s air assault battalion was utilized to seize three crossroads in the rear areas of the American divisions that would be vital to a continued Soviet advance westward.

Through the first half of the day, V Corps took the bait. The airmobile strikes proved to be the icing on the cake. In the late afternoon suspicions manifest themselves at V Corps headquarters. As the Soviet probes died down, reports were coming in from 4^th Infantry Division cavalry scouts who had crossed the FEBA to search out the lead Soviet elements. The scouts reported that the enemy forward detachments were stopped in place. Later on, similar reports arrived from 5/6 Air Cavalry Squadron. Late afternoon air reconnaissance flights in 1^st AD’s sector revealed a comparable situation on the Soviet side of the FEBA.

When word reached Lieutenant General John Woodmansee, the V Corps commander called his senior staff officers together to review the information. If 1^st Guards Tank Army was pausing to resupply, that created a potential opening for Woodmansee’s corps, and CENTAG as a whole, to launch the long-awaited CENTAG counteroffensive. Provided, of course, that conditions were ideal.