The Central Front D+17 (26 July, 1987) Part IV Charlie

0705– 3^rd Shock Army’s forward command post was a scene of unrelenting tumult. Enemy jamming was gradually becoming less of a problem, but the situation on the other side of the Leine remained in a state of chaos. One tank division was moving forward into the attack, seemingly blind to what was going on to the north and east. The other tank division – the Category A formation! – was standing still as NATO tanks carved up its rear area and regiments that were supposed to be advancing west right now. Meanwhile,  the division commander was nowhere to be found. On top of all that, American armor was at the Greene bridgehead. Yet still, 3^rd Shock was not permitted to touch the OMG!

0715– 1^st Cavalry Division’s commander General John Yeosock arrives at 2^nd Brigade’s command post outside Arholzen. So far, the first phase of the plan was succeeding beyond Yeosock’s wildest expectations. A battalion was on the Leine at Greene and would be reinforced by another soon. Then attention could be focused on Freden, site of another bridgehead just to the north. As all of this was happening, 1^st Brigade would continue passing through the corridor and head east. If all went well, it would begin crossing the Leine later in the afternoon. 3^rd Brigade, now crossing the Weser would be in position to reinforce the Belgians by early afternoon if needed. Otherwise, it would follow 1^st Brigade’s path east.

0730– 9^th Guards Tank Division’s attack begins 30 minutes late and in piecemeal fashion. Its sister division, 8^th Guards, to the south does not move at all.

0750– In East Germany, GFSG commander General Snetkov finally makes contact with Marshal Ogarkov at Western TVD and explains what is happening. Ogarkov refuses to allow the OMG to be released until the situation at the Leine is brought under control.

0810– The news that 8^th Guards Tank Division’s headquarters was captured finally makes its way to 3^rd Shock Army. The army group commander summons his operations officer and sends him forward to take control of the division.

0857– 1/32 Armor starts moving north towards Freden as 2^nd Brigade reorients itself fully on the west bank of the Leine.

0945– The first attack by 9^th Guards Tank Division grinds to a halt just outside of Stadtoldendorf. It has cost the Soviets the better part of a tank regiment and the Belgians a considerable amount of men and material as well. But they continue to hold, bolstered considerably by NATO airpower.

1005– The 3^rd Shock Army’s commander receives a report that two columns of American tanks have been seen approaching the vicinity of Freden. He demands confirmation of this sighting and then contacts 47^th Guards Tank Division.

1025– Snetkov is informed of the report from Freden and that 3^rd Shock Army is turning the 47^th Guards Tank Division around to deal with any NATO force attacking the bridgehead. He is becoming alarmed. If the Americans seize control of the two southern bridgeheads it means the morning’s action is more than a limited counterattack. Taken into consideration with other reports of American armor in the rear areas of the divisions on the western side of the river, Snetkov fears the NATO end game is to trap the Soviet divisions now located west of the Leine. He orders his communications officer to establish contact with Western TVD at once.

1040- The reserve regiment of the 47^th Guards Tank Division is ordered to move east and reinforce the Freden crossing.

1050– The lead companies from 1/32 Armor approach Freden and engage the single company of motorized infantry defending the town and its bridgehead. Following thirty minutes of fighting the surviving Soviet troops capitulate, leaving the Americans in command of both southern Leine crossing points.

1059– At NORTHAG’s forward command post, General Crosbie Saint, Northern Army Group’s commander, looks at the recently updated map board and nods his head thoughtfully. 1^st Cav pulled it off, he concluded, still hardly able to believe it. The trick now would be to keep the access route to the east open. He intended to push the Cav’s last brigade through later in the afternoon. After that would come a pair of German and British tank brigades. If the stars were aligned just perfectly, by midnight the remainder of III Corps would start crossing the Weser. Right now, lead units from the 5th Infantry Division, 2^nd Armored Division and 3^rd Armored Cavalry Regiment were preparing to commence road marches to the river.