Free The Black Effect (Cold War) by Harvey Black Page B

crossed it to the south.”
    He swept the pointer in an arc across the upper section of map. “Crossing the Elbe, the Warsaw Pact forces would then have the option of swinging north and cutting behind the second Bundeswehr panzer division covering force, cutting them off and isolating Hamburg. Hamburg’s only link with the rest of West Germany would be by the sea.”
    He paused and pulled a notebook from the front pocket of his NBC suit. “To NORTHAG. 1st Netherlands Corps is moving into position around the Bremen area. Another Bundeswehr division is covering that sector until the Dutch are there in strength. 1st German Corps, south of the Dutch and north of 1st British Corps, are in position, with their covering force withdrawing, slowing the enemy down. Our area of operation, from south of Hanover to north of Kassel in the south, I will cover shortly. South of us, and the last Corps of NORTHAG, 1st Belgian Corps, is moving through the dense forests north of Frankfurt. A Bundeswehr panzer division is holding the Soviets back until the Belgians are there in force and able to dig in.”
    The Brigadier held up his hand. “The three German Corps are extremely powerful, but the three divisions acting as a covering force can only conduct limited operations until the Dutch and Belgians take up the slack. So we do need them to get their act together quickly. I will cover our positions when Staff Sergeant Owen has finished his piece, which I think is nearly done. But, generally, 1 BR Corps and 1 German Corps are in position, but our northern and southern flanks are vulnerable. Carry on, Staff.”
    “Sir. Enemy positions, 1 BR Corps sector. As expected, we are up against 3rd Shock Army.”
    “As expected,” the Brigadier said with a chuckle, eliciting a response from the group, most of their faces breaking into a smile.
    “It appears, as expected, that we have 2nd Guards Tank Army to the north and 1st Guards Tank Army to the south. At our immediate front, the two 3rd Shock Army units we are up against are the 10th Guards Tank Division and the 7th Guards Tank Division. These are the Army’s 1st echelon divisions and we have been fighting those divisions’ 1st echelon regiments for the last twenty-four hours. They are currently in the process of forcing a crossing over the River Oker.”
    That brought a gasp from some of the officers, astounded that the Soviet army had penetrated so deeply already.
    “We have had significant Spetsnaz activity in our area of responsibility, consisting of sabotage and supporting assaults in the areas south of Bielefeld, Herford, north of Salzgitter, west of Braunschweig, Bad Pyrmont, Guterslough, Bruggen, Blomsberg, Munster, north of Springe, and Rhoden.”
    “And these types of attacks will continue,” imparted the Brigadier. “So, don’t just keep a watch to your front. There could be helicopter or parachute assaults to your rear, and even attacks by Spetsnaz units already in country.”
    “And these are only the ones we know about,” added Captain Rees.
    “That’s my briefing concluded, sir,” informed Staff Sergeant Owen.
    “Thank you, Staff, a good brief. Right, gather around the bird table, gentlemen, and I will take you through our current positions and my intentions.”
    The assembled officers congregated around the two-metre by two-metre map table, the clink of their weapons audible as they moved.
    “Someone at the back there, open the tent flaps,” called the Brigade Major. “Your hot, sweaty bodies are turning this place into an oven.”
    The group laughed, and a couple of junior officers peeled back the tent flaps, tying them into position, the slight breeze cooling the air inside, which was much welcomed.
    The Brigadier leant over the map and pointed at it with a pen. “Our brigade’s area of responsibility runs from just south of Nordstemmen, here in the north, our brigade boundary line with 7th Armoured Brigade, and to the south our brigade boundary line is with the