Short Primer Before D+20 Starts Up

It has been a little over two-weeks since the final D+19 entry was posted. I think it will be helpful to provide a bit of a primer before we head into D+20. Just to give readers a refresher on where we’re at, major events and other important information. Beats having to dig back into the recent archives to familiarize yourself with the situation. And on that note I still plan to fix the theater and day links layout when I get a free weekend.

Political– As D+19 comes to an end, senior government leadership of the United States and Soviet Union are returning to their respective capitals. Tensions remain extremely high, but for the time being. For entirely different reasons, President Reagan and General Secretary Romanov are both under the impression that they have control of the situation and have the initiative going forward.

Eastern Europe– The majority of the Soviet Union’s Warsaw Pact allies are in disarray, with a few notable exceptions. In Poland, the entire country remains a simmering cauldron. Soviet troops control Gdansk, portions of Warsaw, and the areas around Soviet military installations. The highways and other transportation lines running east to west are also largely in Soviet hands. However, Polish Army troops, aided by US Army Special Forces have made control of Poland’s highways and railways very fluid. The internal struggle for power in the German Democratic Republic has come to an end with the Defense Minister and his supporters coming out on top. Yet not decisively. Fighting continues as Stasi and other State Security elements loyal to Erich Mielke hold out in the hopes that their Soviet allies will provide assistance soon. Czechoslovakia is sliding closer to rebellion with each passing hour. Although there have been no overt moves against the Communist government in Prague, the military is very close to permanently throwing its lot in with the people. Hungary is quiet for the moment, but the seeds of rebellion have been planted and are growing in select government sectors and in the military. Romania’s internal strife is now of no concern to the Soviet Union, even though it was responsible for the failed coup against Ceausescu. Now the Romanian leader’s many opponents are coming together to challenge the Romanian strongman for control of the country. Bulgaria is the only remaining Pact nation that is loyal to the Soviet Union.

Northern Flank– Operations in the north of Norway have been non-existent since the nuclear exchange, but there are growing indications this will not remain so for long. Soviet forces remaining in Norway are fortifying and preparing defenses as fast as possible while the single motor-rifle division in northern Finland is withdrawing across a landscape crawling with Finnish Jaegers and a growing number of Swedish commandos.

North Atlantic– Strike Fleet Atlantic is preparing to commence air operations against the Kola Peninsula on D+20 while simultaneously trying to keep its carrier groups hidden from the eyes of Soviet submarines and reconnaissance aircraft. The Backfires and Badgers on Kola are once again a threat, and their bases will be among the first targets hit by the carrier air wings. The sea lanes between North America and Europe remain secure except for the handful of Soviet submarines still lurking about.

Baltic Approaches– Denmark is quieting down but Western TVD anticipates a NATO offensive will be launched from Jutland southward with the intent of clearing southern Jutland and Schleswig-Holstein of Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces. Likely this action will be coordinated with the anticipated main NATO counteroffensive in northern Germany.

Southern Flank– Another area that is becoming quiet in the aftermath of the brief nuclear exchange. Efforts to seize the Bosphorus have failed. Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces are adopting a defensive posture with a handful of exceptions. NATO is not prepared to take the offensive for fear of escalating the war.

Central Front– The worm has turned entirely in Germany. The Soviet/Pact offensive has run out of steam entirely and now NATO is preparing to unleash a major counterattack and push the enemy back to the other side of the Inner-German Border…and maybe beyond.

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