The Central Front D+4 (13 July, 1987) Part IV

CENTAG Early in the afternoon on D+4 advance parties from the 1st Guards Tank Army went forward. 1st GTA’s commander, Lieutenant General Anatoli Tchernitsov was eager to gain a first-hand look at the battle his army group would be joining in a short time. As Tchernitsov sat down with his counterpart from 8th Guards Army, …

The Central Front D+4 (13 July, 1987) Part III

Warsaw Pact activity in NORTHAG’s southern area in the first half of the day was centered around a series of aggressive medium-sized probes and supporting attacks along the length of the Belgian, British, and West German lines.  3rd Shock Army had discovered, to its surprise, that NATO forces had fully withdrawn from Braunschweig during the …

The Central Front D+4 (13 July, 1987) Part II

NORTHAG D+4 opened on the North German Plain in much the same way the previous day ended. Warsaw Pact pressure on Dutch lines was constant although not heavy. Probing and limited attacks continued along the length of I NL Corp’s line. Dutch forces held firmly to their positions with little trouble as the morning progressed. …

The Central Front D+4 (13 July, 1987) Part I

In the pre-dawn hours of D+4, Group Soviet Forces Germany commander General Snetkov stood over an expansive table map of the central front region. The latest positions of Warsaw Pact units, as well as the known, or suspected positions of enemy units were displayed. Every so often an intelligence officer would come over and make …

Gaming World War III: Introduction

As a young boy growing up in the 80s, the idea of large armies and fleets engaging in titanic battles to decide the fates of nations never failed to get my heart pumping, or inspire my imagination. I played soldier along with the rest of the neighborhood kids. With our trusty plastic toy M-16A1s and …

The Politics of Global War: NATO’s Vulnerable Member States

    Within minutes of the balloon going up in Europe, the member-states of the NATO alliance, as well as the rest of the free world, instinctively rallied around the United States. In Washington, the Reagan administration breathed a collective sigh of relief. This moment of truth had long been anticipated by US politicians, diplomats, …

The Central Front D+3 (12 July, 1987) Part III

Supply, fuel, and munition expenditures were also on SACEUR’s mind as D+3 progressed. Like his land commanders, General Galvin was keenly aware that NATO ground and air forces were burning through everything from tank rounds, to spare parts at a brisk clip. Fortunately, NATO war stocks contained enough munitions and material for ten days of  …

The Central Front D+3 (12 July, 1987) Part II

Conditions in the CENTAG area were favorable to NATO forces for much of D+3. Enemy pressure against the West German III Corps and US V Corps diminished by the early afternoon hours. Meanwhile, in Bavaria, US VII Corps was contending with probing attacks launched by East German motor rifle divisions while the West German II …

Air War on the Central Front D+3 (12 July, 1987) Part II

As the day progressed the level of enemy air activity remained low in comparison to what it had been in the opening days of the fighting. It was becoming evident the Soviet and Warsaw Pact air forces in Eastern Europe were on the doorstep of a reconsolidation period. Mid-morning Intelligence reports making their way to …

Air War on the Central Front: D+3 (12 July, 1987)

In the early morning hours of D+3, General Bill Kirk, USAF reflected on the progress of the air war on the Central Front thus far. The four star general wore two hats, serving as Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe. Like a good number of his NATO and …