"Another twelve hours would be better, but they're ready." The operations officer checked his watch. "They go off on the hour. Ten minutes." The hours spent getting the new division in place had been used profitably. Several additional brigades had been assembled into a pair of new polyglot divisions. The front had been almost entirely stripped of reserves to do it, while a hastily thought-out cover and deception plan had radio units all over the front, broadcasting radio messages to simulate the presence of the relocated formations. NATO had deliberately limited its own "maskirovka" until now, allowing SACEUR to bet all of Western Europe on a pair of fives.
It was a stimulating exercise. Alekseyev had to move his A exploitation forces forward while a battered B motor-rifle division bled to force a crossing of the Weser. All the while the General waited nervously for news from his shaky right flank. There was none. CINC-West was as good as his word, and launched a covering attack against Hamburg to draw off NATO forces from the latest Soviet breakthrough.
That was no easy maneuver. Antiaircraft missile and gun units had been drawn from other sectors. When NATO appreciated what was in the offing, they would break every effort to prevent a Soviet advance on the Ruhr. Resistance so far had been light. Perhaps they didn't understand what was happening, or perhaps, Alekseyev thought, they really were at the end of their personnel and logistical string.
The first A unit was 120th Motor-Rifle, the famous Rogachev Guards, whose leading elements were just now crossing at R?hle, and right behind was 8th Guards Tank. Two more tank divisions were bunched on the roads to R?hle, while an engineer regiment labored to erect seven bridges. Intelligence estimated two, perhaps three, NATO regiments coming to meet them. Not enough, Alekseyev thought. Not this time. Even their air power was depleted. His frontal aviation groups reported minor opposition only around R?hle. Perhaps my superior was right after all
"Heavy enemy air activity at Salzhemmendorf," an Air Force communications officer reported.
That's where 40th Tanks is, Alekseyev thought. The B unit had been badly chewed up by the German spoiling attack
"Fortieth Tanks reports a major enemy attack under way on its front."
"What do they mean by 'major'?"
"The report comes from the alternate command post. I can't reach the divisional HQ. The assistant commander reports American and German tanks advancing in brigade force."
Brigade force? Another spoiling attack?
"Enemy attack in progress at Dunsen."
"Dunsen? That's close to Gronau. How the hell did they get there?" Alekseyev shouted. "Confirm that report! Is it an air or ground attack?"
"Hundred twentieth Motor-Rifle has a full regiment across the Weser. They are advancing on Br"keln. Eighth Tanks, leading elements have the Weser in sight. SAM units are setting up to cover the crossing point."
It was like having people read different parts of the paper to him simultaneously, Alekseyev thought. General Beregovoy was at the front, coordinating traffic control and setting final assignments for the post-crossing maneuver. Pasha knew that was his proper place, but, as before, he was annoyed to be far from the real action, giving orders like a Party boss instead of a fighting commander. The artillery from all the advancing divisions was well forward to protect the crossing against counterattack.
My rear areas are awfully weak...
"Comrade General, the attack at Dunsen is composed of enemy tank and motorized troops with heavy tactical air support. The regimental commander at Dunsen estimates brigade strength."
A brigade at Dunsen, and a brigade at Salzhemmendorf?
Those are B unit commanders. Out of practice, inexperienced. If they were really effective officers, they'd be in A units, not shepherding out-of-shape reservists.
"Enemy ground units at Bremke, strength unknown."
That's only fifteen kilometers from here! Alekseyev reached for some maps. It was cramped in the command vehicle, so he went outside and spread them on the, ground with his intelligence officer beside him.
"What the hell's going on here?" His hand moved across the map. "That's an attack on a twenty-kilometer front."
"The new enemy division is not supposed to be in place yet, and Theater Intelligence says it will be broken up for spot-reinforcement use all over the northern front area."
"Headquarters at F"lziehausen reported a heavy air attack and went off the air!"
