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Oberon · 06-14-12, 11:50 AM

I can't open the link either which is a shame, hopefully it'll clear up later.

Just finished reading 'Chieftains' and 'Red Army' which present two differing outcomes of the conflict.

SPOILER

In Chieftains their war ends via nuclear Scud, but in Red Army the Soviets are able to pressure West Germany into surrender after NATO makes moves towards nuclear release. It's a close run thing though as the US forces in the Southern theatre are able to wheel northward and severely threaten the main route of advance. Fortunately for the Soviets, the FDR folds first.
I've got 'Team Yankee' on the desk which is based on the scenario put forward by General Sir John Hackett in 'Third World War: The Untold Story" which has the Soviet advance stall in the Ruhr, resulting in the nuclear destruction of Birmingham and Minsk, which causes the collapse of the Soviet Union through internal strife.

Personally I consider the likelihood of a situation between the three, as I think there are some facts that we can agree upon, particularly now in hindsight.

1) The war would have gone nuclear quite rapidly
2) Soviet equipment was better than western media portrayed it as (in particular things like the MiG-29s BVR and Kontakt-5)
3) Instability in Soviet satellites was deeper than realised at the time

So, the war would have been the death of the Soviet Union, which is most likely why they were as terrified of a West first strike as we were of a Soviet one. However, it would not have been the NATO cake-walk that some books portray it as, West Germany would most likely have been lost and it is probably at that point that it would have gone nuclear, IMHO anyway.

Going to try that link again once I've finished posting this. The Fulda Gap is one of the places I'd love to visit in Germany one day. Here's a pic I found ages ago which I think sums the border up:

Also, and I plug this video every time I come across a Cold War gone hot thread, but I can't stop rewatching it!

EDIT: Just seen the pic as posted...Whoa...that is...rather a lot of tanks. 64s or 72s?

06-14-12, 11:50 AM	#9
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	I can't open the link either which is a shame, hopefully it'll clear up later. Just finished reading 'Chieftains' and 'Red Army' which present two differing outcomes of the conflict. SPOILER In Chieftains their war ends via nuclear Scud, but in Red Army the Soviets are able to pressure West Germany into surrender after NATO makes moves towards nuclear release. It's a close run thing though as the US forces in the Southern theatre are able to wheel northward and severely threaten the main route of advance. Fortunately for the Soviets, the FDR folds first. I've got 'Team Yankee' on the desk which is based on the scenario put forward by General Sir John Hackett in 'Third World War: The Untold Story" which has the Soviet advance stall in the Ruhr, resulting in the nuclear destruction of Birmingham and Minsk, which causes the collapse of the Soviet Union through internal strife. Personally I consider the likelihood of a situation between the three, as I think there are some facts that we can agree upon, particularly now in hindsight. 1) The war would have gone nuclear quite rapidly 2) Soviet equipment was better than western media portrayed it as (in particular things like the MiG-29s BVR and Kontakt-5) 3) Instability in Soviet satellites was deeper than realised at the time So, the war would have been the death of the Soviet Union, which is most likely why they were as terrified of a West first strike as we were of a Soviet one. However, it would not have been the NATO cake-walk that some books portray it as, West Germany would most likely have been lost and it is probably at that point that it would have gone nuclear, IMHO anyway. Going to try that link again once I've finished posting this. The Fulda Gap is one of the places I'd love to visit in Germany one day. Here's a pic I found ages ago which I think sums the border up: Also, and I plug this video every time I come across a Cold War gone hot thread, but I can't stop rewatching it! EDIT: Just seen the pic as posted...Whoa...that is...rather a lot of tanks. 64s or 72s?