The Central Front D+15 (24 July, 1987) Part I

NORTHAG’s picture of the battlefront and the Soviet drive to the Weser remained unruffled and consistent as the new day started. 3^rd Shock Army’s push to Hameln was continuing with a tank division expected to be committed sometime around daybreak. Behind this unit was a nearly intact tank army approaching the northern Leine bridgeheads. This group was expected to take up the advance from 3^rd Shock Army and attempt the breakthrough and subsequent crossing of the Weser at Hameln. That particular phase of the advance was expected to start within the next 24 hours.

NORTHAG’s plan for the defense of Hameln remained undisturbed for the moment. The British and West German brigades now absorbing the brunt of the enemy push were in the process of being reinforced and would eventually be replaced on the line by other brigades from their respective divisions. As the new Soviet tank army crossed the Leine and prepared to join the battle, NORTHAG’s commander-in-chief General Martin Farndale planned to use that moment for a counterattack. It was to be centered around two armored divisions, one American, and the other British. He intended to use them to strike the flank of the approaching Soviet tank army and slow it down between the two rivers long enough to exploit the pause and seize the Leine bridgeheads. There was much that still had to fall into place for the counterattack to come off ideally. However, Farndale was, if anything, highly confident in his ability to bend the present battlefield situation to his will.

In Brussels, SACEUR did not share that confidence. Farndale’s take on how the battlefront stood at present, as well as the direction events were likely to go in made perfect sense. The evidence was certainly in favor of the NORTHAG commander’s views. Yet SACEUR’s suspicions about the Soviet advance on the Weser remained. He wasn’t fully convinced the main attack was aimed in the direction of Hameln. The possibility remained that the point of main effort would develop at a point south of there. If that did happen, the American general was sure it would place the bulk of NORTHAG in a disadvantageous position, quite possibly endangering the entire front. Farndale’s forces south of Hamburg consisted mainly of a Belgian division, and a handful of British sub-units. Not enough to delay a Soviet tank army long enough for NORTHAG to shift enough reserves into the area and meet the threat. In deference to SACEUR’s concerns, Farndale also moved additional West German Territorials and a brigade from the US 1^st Cavalry Division to act as an immediate reserve for the Belgians in the event of a major attack in their sector. Realistically though, he didn’t anticipate the possibility. The main attack was moving in the direction of Hameln. Farndale was confident enough in his forecast that he’d be willing to wager all of Western Europe on it if he had his way.

Unbeknownst to him, that was exactly the situation being brought to existence by his thoughts and actions over the previous three days. The fate of Western Europe, for better or worse, appeared destined to ride on Sir Martin’s hand.

Author’s Note: Afternoon, everybody. Short entry to begin Central Front D+15 but for a reason. This day on the Central Front will be laid out a bit differently than others owing to the amount of activity taking place. Especially in the north. I will put up a note explaining the plan in greater detail tomorrow evening along with an outline for the upcoming Central Front posts. –Mike