Central Front: US III Corps In World War III (Part III)

One of the first transport aircraft to arrive in Europe from the United States on D-3 carried the advance party of III Corps. The corps commanding general remained at Fort Hood coordinating the preparation and movement of corps troops and material from the US to Europe. General Saint and his staff would depart for Europe …

Central Front: US III Corps In World War III (Part II)

REFORGER was officially activated on the late afternoon of 5 July 1987 at President Reagan’s direction. Even before Reagan’s address to the nation when he announced his intention to reinforce Germany, III Corps was in motion. Warning orders had been received at the corps and division levels. Advance parties were on the move to embarkation …

Central Front: US III Corps In World War III (Part I)

In a January 1987 interview with CBS News, US III Corps commander Lieutenant General (at the time) Crosbie Saint was asked what the mission of his corps would be if Warsaw Pact forces invaded Western Europe. He replied bluntly, “To save Germany and NATO.” History has proven Saint’s pre-war words to be accurate. Six months …

The Central Front Mobilization Race Part III

On 28 June, 1987 the Soviet general secretary informed the Ministry of Defense that Zapad ’87 was to commence on the first of July. A final decision on the date hostilities were to commence was not mentioned. Senior Soviet generals suspected Zapad would transition directly into a broader mobilization and from there to war. Marshal …

The Central Front Mobilization Race Part I

Mobilization has played a key role in war planning for centuries. Only in the later half of the 19th Century, with the advent of railroads and industrialization, did it take on a new importance and standing. In Europe during the years leading up to World War I, Mobilization was transformed into nothing less than an …

WWIII Pop Culture: World War III (1998) Part I

World War III is the title of an alternative history pseudo-documentary produced and released in 1998 by ZDF, a German public television broadcasting company. Two versions of the documentary were made: one German and the other English. The English version was released in 1999. From what I’ve read and been told, there are several minor …

Memories Of World War III: The Road To War Part II

The Road to War 1 May-6 July, 1987 Brigadier General Jack Ryder, US Army (Ret.)- “With Gorbachev gone, everyone started to get nervous again. The future was unpredictable now that there was a hardliner in power over there again. But Romanov was hardline enough to make Andropov and Chernenko appear tame in comparison. April became …

Lariat Advance D-3 (6 July, 1987)

It was just past 0200 hours in the Federal Republic of Germany on 6 July, 1987 when President Reagan began his address to an increasingly anxious nation and world. Despite the early hour, Reagan’s speech was being watched closely by thousands of troops, officers and dependents in US Army kasernes and other US military bases …

WWIII Novel: Chapter 3 Excerpt

Author’s Note: Well, I decided to make a little change in presentation. Instead of posting the rest of the prologue, I’m going to post an excerpt from Chapter 3. That way, I can give you guys a bigger piece of the overall picture and flow of events. Hopefully it works out. This weekend I’ll post …

The Central Front D+6 (15 July, 1987) Part VI

With a major Soviet-Warsaw Pact attack expected to come in the north within hours, CENTAG started D+6 unsure about what the day would bring. The 1st Guards Tank Army’s first echelon units in the Main Battle Area (MBA) were almost ready to take over where 8th Guards Army had left off. Air attacks against the …