D+18 0000-0400 Zulu 27 July, 1987 Part II

Central Front Freden, FRG, 0000 Zulu, 27 July, 1987 (0200 local time) 1st Brigade/1st Cavalry Division’s crossing of the Leine was underway in earnest by 0200 hours. At Freden and Greene, 2nd Brigade’s battalions had the bridgeheads secure and pushed out 8 kilometers east of the river to give 1st Brigade a buffer against potential …

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

0220- With the bulk of 1/8 Cav having arrived outside of Luthorst, the battalion commander makes the decision to push forward with what he has on hand at present. The single company and support elements bringing up the rear would just have to catch up. Sunrise would come at 0530 or thereabouts, with first light …

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

For the Soviet Union, the principal objective of this war was to capture and neutralize the Federal Republic of Germany. Campaigns and offensives undertaken in separate theaters were planned and executed in support of this goal. In the leadup to war, the Kremlin believed wholeheartedly that seizing West Germany was an elixir for the Soviet …

The Central Front D+16 (25 July, 1987) Part V

NORTHAG’s new American commander arrived at Holzminden and spent 15 minutes with General Yeosock. 1st Cav’s commanding general briefed him on the still-developing plan, providing as much detail as the limited amount of available time would allow. Saint liked the plan. It was aggressive and bold, but not wildly reckless. He gave Yeosock his approval …

The Central Front D+16 (25 July, 1987) Part II Bravo

The NATO intelligence estimates and timetables for the southern Leine crossings were imprecise. 8th Guards Tank Division was already across the river by midnight and its lead combat elements had arrived at their advance departure areas southeast of Einbeck. 3rd Shock Army’s commander monitored their progress carefully, as well as the additional artillery and air …

The Central Front D+16 (25 July, 1987) Part I

NATO was faced with a pair of potentially decisive crises in the early hours of D+16. The first was a crisis of command in NORTHAG while the other was of the physical variety, having to do with the emerging situation on the battlefield. Given the urgency of the moment, these two crises were inexorably joined …

The Central Front D+15 (24 July, 1987) Part IV-Bravo

NORTHAG 1200-1700 (Southern Sector of the Weser Defenses) NATO combat strength in the southern sector of the Weser defense was currently anchored around the Belgian 16th Armored Division. This division’s title is somewhat misleading. It was actually organized more along the lines of a traditional 3-brigade mechanized infantry division once the absorption of reserve units …

The Central Front D+15 (24 July, 1987) Part IV-Alpha

 NORTHAG 1200-1700 (Northern Sector of the Weser Defenses) The afternoon arrived with Soviet tank and motor-rifle formations engaged in heavy fighting against the West Germans southeast of Hameln. 47th Guards Tank Division’s first push had dislodged the West German mechanized infantry from around Dielmissen. The movement of the 193rd Panzergrenadier Battalion away from the village …

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. 3rd 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 …

The Central Front D+14 (23 July, 1987) Part III

1235- The initial fire preparation commences. Forward NATO positions, and their division rear areas were the priority target areas. The first preparation was twenty minutes in duration and covered the length of the entire NATO defensive line in front of the Weser, roughly thirty-five kilometers. The amount of time was far less than it would’ve …