“Not if they are being called up for duties in Afghanistan. We can slowly wind down Afghanistan. It’s not so important now. But NATO won’t know that.”
“It’s war then, Comrade General Secretary, war.”
Chapter 9
The table was lined four on one side and five on the other, with the General Secretary of the Soviet Union choosing to sit behind his desk. On the right of the extended table, nearest to Baskov, sat Yuri Aleksandrov, Chairman of the dreaded KGB; next to Aleksandrov, Marshal Obraztsov, Commander of the Western Strategic Direction, Commander of the Western TVD, covering a front from southern Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Federal Republic of Germany, Northern France and, although not on the continent, Great Britain. To his right sat Army General Mantarov, Commander of the Southern TVD, responsible for southern Europe from the southern edge of the Western TVD boundary. Further right was Army General Golodayev, Commander of the South-West TVD. To Baskov’s left, along the other side of the table, sat five other senior members of the Soviet Union’s Defence Force. Nearest the General Secretary was Marshal Dolzhikov; next to him, a large man in resplendent uniform: Army General Zavarin, his uniform bedecked with medals, Commander of the Group of Soviet Forces Germany (GSFG), the most powerful conventional force in the Soviet Union’s armoury. Then it was the Commander of the Central Group of Forces, Banin; Commander of the Northern Group of Forces, Colonel General Zhiglov; and Kaverin, Commander of the Southern Group of Forces. Although a large body of very senior officers, this was only a mini-STAVKA. The full Soviet Stavka, Verkhovnogo Glavnokomaidovaiya-STAVKA, commanding all of the Soviet forces involved in time of war, would be assembled at a later date.
Baskov banged his desk with the model artillery piece that often found its way into his hand and called the meeting to order. “Generals, please help yourself to a drink. Coffee and water only. We can have something stronger during dinner later,” he said with a laugh. “We have an extremely important subject to get through today.” He pointed to Marshal Obraztsov. “Comrade Marshal, please start off proceedings.”
The marshal, responsible for the Western TVD, with the Polish, Czechoslovakian, Hungarian and the Groups of Soviet Forces under his command, opened the file in front of him and pulled out the operations order for молот 84. The rest of the attendees went through the motions of studying a similar document and waited for the Commander-in-Chief to run through the briefing. Baskov left his personal copy in his folder, preferring to listen to its outline from the architect himself. He also used the time as an opportunity to study his generals, thinking through their respective strengths and weaknesses, and scanning their faces, registering the level of commitment they exuded, or any doubts they felt about the impending operation. There were no weaknesses, he thought, only strength. Their commitment was to the motherland. Nothing else was acceptable. If they were weak, they wouldn’t be here.
“Operation молот 84, Comrade General Secretary, Comrade Aleksandrov, is the attack plan to liberate the Federal Republic of Germany, and force the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, to concede defeat and leave Western Europe.” Obraztsov looked around the room, looking for signs of disapproval, although he expected none. He continued. “The main effort will be from the Group of Soviet Forces Germany and General Zavarin.” He looked at Zavarin who nodded. “His armies will be supported by our Northern and Central Groups of Forces.” This time he looked at his other European group commanders who also nodded their acceptance of their role. They too sensed the Soviet leader looking at them.
Obraztsov continued. “The overriding first objective is to destroy the enemy’s first line of defence, their first echelon. We then push through to the Rhine, Ruhr and North Denmark.”
Baskov added his own thoughts, interspersed with thumps of his desk. “Momentum.” Thump. “That’s the key.” Thump. “Destroy their first echelon quickly.” Thump. “Then our second echelon of our first strategic echelon can smash right through them until their backs are to the Rhine.”
The room was quiet. The Soviet leader nodded in Obraztsov’s direction.
“Thank you, Comrade General Secretary. The Northern Group of Forces, led by Comrade General Zhiglov, along with the 5th German Army, 5th GE and the 1st Polish Army, 1st PVA, will thrust north through Hamburg and into Denmark. Now to GSFG’s main task: Third Shock Army’s first echelon will advance towards Hanover, their second echelon pushing on to Osnabruck. The second strategic echelon, 20 Guards Army, minus the elements we will use to take West Berlin, will come in behind 3SA and strike for Munster and Hamm, north of Essen, and eventually into the Netherlands and Belgium. North of them, 2 Guards Tank Army will advance through Bremen, Oldenburg and, finally, the Netherlands. There, the coast is a mere 400 kilometres from the GDR border. GSFG will push through to Cologne and Bonn via Bad Hersfield, using 8 Guards Army. The 3rd German Army will head for the Rhine at Duisburg and 1 Guards Tank Army, Wurzburg, Mannheim and Saarsbrucken. A mere 150 kilometres to the Rhine! 3 GE and 1 Guards Tank Army will be supported by 4 PVA.”
“And the south, Marshal Obraztsov?” Baskov asked.
“The first and fourth Czechoslovakian armies will push into Austria. But that is just a sideshow, Comrade General Secretary. The main battles will be on the northern German plains, striking deep into West Germany through Braunschweig, Hanover and Osnabruck. The second thrust, using 1 GTA and 8 GA, will be straight for the Rhine, passing through the Fulda Gap.”
“Should you need to concentrate on any one axis if necessary, which would that be?”
“The north, Comrade General Secretary. Our main effort will be focussed on their Northern Army Group. It is their weakest force.”
“What about reinforcements?”
“The British are in Germany in force as is the Bundeswehr, naturally. But it will take time for the Dutch and Belgium armies to commit. British reinforcements will also have to be called up, and those reserves already available will have to cross the English Channel. And, as for the American reinforcements allocated for Northag, VII Army Corps, that will be delayed even further. It will be days before they will be in a position to make any difference.”
“Isn’t the Rhine the best option? It’s a shorter distance. The Americans have stocks of equipment in Germany but, if we can interrupt their Reforger Operation and prevent their men getting into theatre, wouldn’t the south be the best option?”
“Yes, Comrade General Secretary, if that is the case then we would switch our efforts. But we would be up against two German and two American Corps. If the French agree to support NATO then we would have the French Army to fight as well. Also, the ground is better in the north: the northern plains are ideal for our superior massed tank attacks. Although the ever growing German population has expanded the size and number of towns and villages in the area, providing them with some defensive positions, it is still the best option.”
“I see. I trust the reorganisation of your force is progressing well, General Zavarin?” Baskov said, turning to the Commander of the Group of Soviet Forces Germany.
“It is, Comrade General Secretary. 2 Guards Tank Army now has three independent tank regiments. That’s ninety tanks per regiment, and an additional tank battalion for each motor rifle division. That has increased the overall tank strength for that army from 700 to over 1,100 tanks.”
Baskov nodded, clearly satisfied with figures being spouted. “And our elite Shock Army?”