Dan's answer about nuclear weapons is different than the one given by the weapons officer interviewed earlier, who dealt with the nuclear artillery shells. It was from an earlier date, but he said he expected to use nuclear shells in response to any invasion.
I served in the US Army Europe from 1983 to 1986. This was excellent.. I agree with the assessment that giving up ground to shape an attack for a counterattack was better way to stop an attack. This concept for the German government and army to accept was another story. Their doctrine was to defend from the inner German border and not give ground. This was especially difficult in the northern army group, where the 3rd Shock Army was the most powerful and modern opposing force. Also - the very best avenue of approach. The British Army wanted to shape the attack using the terrain in the region, where the Germans wanted a forward defense. My words are quite simple and in reality the entire defense planning planning was much more complicated. Remember the US signed up for ten divisions to Europe in ten days and the plan and logistics to do this was in place. Fascinating topic. Please do more presentations on this subject.
Politicians are insane. Yuguslavia, Greece and Poland all lost a lot quicker because they refused to give up terrain. Yuguslavia was the most ridiculous, trying to defend the whole border with less than a third of the enemy force density. Greece should have given up the border with Yuguslavia, who was obviously gonna lose, and Hungary, who had just joined against them⸺and indeed, after resisting for a while and even invading Albania (where from the Italians were coming), that's what did them. Oh, the low countries as well. Though, to be fair, France wanted to give up basically all of them. Still, it turned out almost the same, since they had to fall back almost immediately.
The thing about having to sell the defense plan to Germany is quite annoying. At least three entire countries were lost in WW2 partly because they were not willing to give up terrain. Yuguslavia, Greece and Poland.
When I arrived in West Germany in Sept 81 we would go out on Maneuvers with Tanks with a full load of main gun rounds . no ammo for our personnel weapons or Machine guns. then in spring 82 they started issuing one clip of ammo (7 rounds) for the tank commanders .45
Dan's answer about nuclear weapons is different than the one given by the weapons officer interviewed earlier, who dealt with the nuclear artillery shells. It was from an earlier date, but he said he expected to use nuclear shells in response to any invasion.
I served in the US Army Europe from 1983 to 1986. This was excellent.. I agree with the assessment that giving up ground to shape an attack for a counterattack was better way to stop an attack. This concept for the German government and army to accept was another story. Their doctrine was to defend from the inner German border and not give ground. This was especially difficult in the northern army group, where the 3rd Shock Army was the most powerful and modern opposing force. Also - the very best avenue of approach. The British Army wanted to shape the attack using the terrain in the region, where the Germans wanted a forward defense. My words are quite simple and in reality the entire defense planning planning was much more complicated. Remember the US signed up for ten divisions to Europe in ten days and the plan and logistics to do this was in place. Fascinating topic. Please do more presentations on this subject.
Politicians are insane. Yuguslavia, Greece and Poland all lost a lot quicker because they refused to give up terrain. Yuguslavia was the most ridiculous, trying to defend the whole border with less than a third of the enemy force density. Greece should have given up the border with Yuguslavia, who was obviously gonna lose, and Hungary, who had just joined against them⸺and indeed, after resisting for a while and even invading Albania (where from the Italians were coming), that's what did them.
Oh, the low countries as well. Though, to be fair, France wanted to give up basically all of them. Still, it turned out almost the same, since they had to fall back almost immediately.
The thing about having to sell the defense plan to Germany is quite annoying. At least three entire countries were lost in WW2 partly because they were not willing to give up terrain. Yuguslavia, Greece and Poland.
Excellent and very informative.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Really love your work mate. All way from Australia
Thank you very much!
Excelent podcast and subject! Could you make something similar with NATOs plans for war in Norway and Scandinavia? Greetings from Norway :)
I’m keen to cover more CW Scandinavian subjects and I’m already working on an episode about Swedish stay behinds.
Nice!
Thanks for listening!
When I arrived in West Germany in Sept 81 we would go out on Maneuvers with Tanks with a full load of main gun rounds . no ammo for our personnel weapons or Machine guns. then in spring 82 they started issuing one clip of ammo (7 rounds) for the tank commanders .45
Thanks for sharing these details.
Hey, thats about as much ammo as the Bundeswehr infantry man gets.