The Central Front D+21 (30 July, 1987) Part I

By 0100 hours the main components for the first phase of the NORTHAG counterattack were in place. North of Hanover, the Dutch 5th Division was primed and ready to jump off. This division’s attack would hit the forward positions of the Soviet 20th Guards Army just west of Autobahn 7. The first objective was Celle, …

The Central Front D+19 (28 July, 1987) Part II

Author’s Note: CENTAG is coming first because my laptop went south on Friday and it took over 36 hours to get it reset and all my files recovered. Need some extra time to gather my CENTAG and NORTHAG timelines and notes up from the wreckage. As a result, this entry will be short, unfortunately. 😊 …

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

Brainstorming and informal planning for a potential CENTAG offensive option continued on. Many of CENTAG’s war plans assumed an offensive from the army group’s region would be directed north or northwest to blunt a major Soviet attack or breakthrough on the North German Plain. An embodiment of the cavalry coming to the rescue, so to …

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 …

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

In the CENTAG area the attacks that commenced the previous day in the V Corps sector had made good progress. CENTAG’s commander General Glenn Otis, US Army, was encouraged by the progress of the current operations. The two V Corps divisions were pressing their attacks west in the direction of Bad Hersfeld and Fulda. Beyond …

The Central Front D+15 (24 July, 1987) Part VI

CENTAG Region D+15 The 4th Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division’s attacks went off as scheduled before dawn and within twenty minutes of one another. Each attack force consisted of a heavy maneuver brigade supported by division-level artillery, along with attack helicopters as well. Early on, both forces met stiff resistance, especially 2nd Brigade/4th Infantry …

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

In the northern CENTAG area, the first part of the day saw the continuation of  changes in missions developing for NATO and Warsaw Pact ground forces. It was becoming clear that the Soviet drive on Frankfurt had come to a halt for the time being at least. The 1st Guards Tank Army;s (1st GTA)  forward …

The Central Front D+13 (22 July, 1987) Part V

One of the greatest difficulties for Soviet commanders at the division level and higher was the efficient movement of forces within and between unit sectors. This was especially true of the second and third echelon divisions now coming onto the battle line in Northern Germany, as well as those moving through East Germany inbound to …

The Central Front D+11 (20 July, 1987) Part V

The attack was scheduled to start at 1400. This was the earliest possible time that it could be launched. 20th Guards MRD had taken dreadful losses the previous day and to be replenished in both men and equipment. With permission from General Snetkov in East Germany, Lieutenant General Tchernitsov was siphoning troops, tanks, infantry fighting …

The Central Front D+10 (19 July, 1987) Part V

0000-0600  In the V Corps area of the CENTAG front there was a considerable amount of linebacker movement, so to speak, underway in the early morning hours. By 0200 the 8th Infantry Division had cleared the battlefield fully. Two of the 4th Infantry Division’s brigades (4th ID) were deployed on Phase Line Yale (PL Yale) …