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4. Campaign Overview North German plain, December 1985; projected and actual forward positions of 1 (NL) Corps. The coloured areas roughly indicate the intended deployment areas — orange for 4 Divisie, yellow for 1 Divisie and purple for 5 Divisie; the pink area indicates the corps rear area. 1 (NL) Corps units are shown in their most forward positions during the first phase of the war. Original map by Michael Avanzini, HPS Simulations. “The greatest problem facing the Dutch will be getting to the war,” someone once observed. The Dutch were unwilling to station more than 1 brigade in Germany (41 Pabrig), and the resulting maldeployment of 1 (NL) Corps was generally seen as its greatest weakness. Although measures had been taken to speed up reaction time, by 1985 it was recognised that in case of a surprise attack most Corps elements would probably not arrive in their designated positions in time. A covering force, consisting of 3. Panzerdivision, with 41 Pabrig and 3rd US Brigade under command, was to slow down the enemy advance until the rest of 1 (NL) Corps would arrive — which was expected to start happening after 48 hours. The map above shows that the pre-war concerns were justified. 4 Divisie did not get the chance to concentrate — which in itself was no problem, since the brigades were designed to operate independently and under varying commands. 42 and 43 Painfbrig never reached their war positions and instead fought a series of delaying actions on both flanks of 3rd US Brigade, together with elements of West German I Korps and Heimatschutz. 41 Pabrig had been engaged heavily in the critical first 48 hours and it soon saw substantial action again in the woods of the Luneburger Heide, together with 43 Painfbrig; later it performed the so-called “Lada Attack” together with 4th UK Armoured Brigade. 42 Painfbrig had a rough time performing fighting retreats from Bremervorde all the way back to the Netherlands border, after which its remnants were combined with those of 3rd US Brigade into NORTHAG’s first binational brigade: 342 US/NL Brigade. This improvised outfit defended NORTHAG’s outer left flank, around Groningen and Delfzijl, supported by a hotchpotch of Home Guard platoons and reservists of commandos and royal marines. 1 and 5 Divisie did not get anywhere near their designated areas of operation, but wisely took their time to deploy and prepare, with effect: although both divisions took heavy losses they wrecked two Polish and one Soviet division in their drive to the Ems river. The Battle of Cloppenburg, as it was later called, was the only occasion in which a Dutch mechanised division (1 Divisie) fought fully deployed and prepared. It also showed that the units of 5 Divisie, though speedily mobilized, were not really up to their task, lacking much needed training and unit building. Though it certainly was not the role they were intended to play Dutch territorial troops eventually proved instrumental in holding NORTHAG’s left flank with their determined and generally well executed defence of the canal of Stadskanaal, albeit against ghastly losses. Ironically they were less successful in their operations against airborne troops, a task that was thought to be more in their line; but those of course proved to be better trained and equipped. The territorials could be counted on to put up a stiff defence; they could not be counted on to execute an effective counterattack on a significant scale. In the first week of 1986 the overall balance began to shift in NATO’s favour. The technical superiority of NATO air power began to pay off, resulting in increasingly disrupted enemy command and supply lines; on its central front NORTHAG started its first modest counteroffensive, and, finally, long awaited reinforcements from North America began to emerge behind the battered defenders.
5 The Scenarios 5.1 Forward Defence [NN1 Forward Defence.scn] Luneburg, 25-26 December 1985: Christmas morning proved to be the perfect moment for a surprise attack. The war had been as cold as the weather, and signs that a Soviet invasion was immanent only became clear a few hours before the event, giving NATO just enough time to deploy its covering forces. North and south of Luneburg lay the area which, after mobilisation, was to be defended by 1 and 4 Divisie. The covering force consisted of 3. Panzerdivision, with 41 Pabrig and 3rd US Brigade under command. Its task was to hold or slow down the enemy until reinforcements would arrive — which was expected to happen only after 48 hours. Hold or destroy the bridges over the Elbe Seiten Canal and deny enemy passage through your sector. Virtual supply trucks optional rule recommended. 5.2 Shadows & Tall Trees [NN2 Shadows & Tall Trees.scn] Luneburger Heide, 27-29 December 1985: After two days of heavy and complex fighting 41 Pabrig managed to extract itself from the mayhem behind the Elbe- Seiten Canal with losses that were actually surprisingly light. In the night of 26-27 December it retreated into the Luneburger Heide largely in good order and took up positions there, behind the cover provided by substantial outfits of 3. Panzerdivision. They weren’t given much time to recover, and when 43 Painfbrig arrived in the woods the Germans, according to plan, started moving their troops to new positions. Their confidence bolstered by the previous days the Dutch decided to make the enemy’s passage as costly as possible. This is a night scenario, with 3 hour night turns. Explicit optional rule is supported. Based on scenario #10_12 Through the Luneburger Heide by Saunders & Blackie. 5.3 Night Rally [NN3 Night Rally.scn] Bremervorde, 27-28 December 1985: 42 Painfbrig had taken up positions near Bremervorde, in the rear of 3rd US Brigade which was subsequently ordered to recuperate behind the Hamme river. 42 Painfbrig provided cover for this operation, which was led by the staff of 4 Divisie. During the night COMNORTHAG ordered all units to retreat towards Bremen, as a Warsaw Pact thrust to the north threatened to outflank them. This is a night scenario, with 3 hour night turns. Lead 3rd US Brigade to the retreat hexes and try to minimize losses. Virtual supply trucks optional rule is supported.
Page 1 and 2: NORTHAG-NORTH WINTER WAR EXPANSION
Page 3 and 4: English Abbrevations In Full, Dutch
Page 5 and 6: 2.1.2 German 1. Korps 1 (NL) Corps:
Page 7: 3.3 Parameter Data The Dutch conscr
Page 11 and 12: 5.7 Winter Kills [NN7 Winter Kills.
Page 13 and 14: 6.4 A Mechanized Infantry Battalion
Page 15 and 16: 6.5.1 Notes The anti-tank company (
Page 17: http://www.armouredacorn.com/ http:

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