Frontline/TIME: The Defense of Europe (1988)

[@marshalltravis3217]

Those woodland BDU’s and black boots! The good old days

[@russiachinanorthkoreastatetv]

Oh you mean when you weren’t in combat so you had to pay attention to meaningless regs….. I’m so lucky I got to join & actually go fight & not have to play Army in the rear with the gear … I couldn’t imagine preparing for nothing but smoke signals

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

My first-generation, European-American, blonde-haired-eyed father looked absolutely cool standing shoulder to shoulder with other soldiers in said uniform in a unit photo that... well let's just say was not very "diverse".

[@markschade6951]

@@russiachinanorthkoreastatetv That's a very ridiculous assessment of the Cold War. It was the largest military buildup in human history even far outpacing WWII.

[@John-or9ccUndauntedRaceCars]

​@russiachinanorthkoreastatetv You do realize we didn't stop wearing woodland number 2's till around 03-04 ish , right hero ? Plenty of men fought in them in Panama, Grenada, Beruit , down in South America , and other places as well. Some got the chocolate chips in 91 and some didn't, same for Somalia, but then there was Bosnia and good old woodland number 2's again . What exactly do you think the first soldiers into Afghanistan were wearing in late 01 ? That ACU pattern sucked balls . Personally in garrison all services should adopt them and polished boots again . Maybe bring some discipline and pride back along with some esprit de corp , instead of looking like rag bags and taking classes on pronouns .

[@rippspeck]

Peak US Armypunk.

[@BuckeyeRutabaga]

When I was growing up in the 80s in the Soviet Union and my older neighbors were getting drafted for service, everyone dreaded to be sent to Afghanistan and everyone dreamed of being sent to serve in East Germany. The threat of NATO was largely perceived as a dormant theory whereas the prospect of never coming back home from Afghanistan was a grim reality.

[@HasanibnSabah]

Tell us more!

[@MrBigbird007]

Please do tell more!

[@oakspines7171]

Margaret Thatcher, the UK PM, said Nukes keep peace in the world.

[@uniteddeejys1269]

When I was growing up in the 80s in a country occupied by cccp and my couple years older neighbor recieved a letter of drafting I was dreaded to be called in for service were I could be forcing to say comrade (tavarizs) and I dreamed of being drafted in a service were I can say Aye Sir .. Luckily my dream came true and those tavarizs kapitancis gone home by then.. Naively thought that they never think to coming back but nowadays it seems I was wrong .. and sadly this is also a grim reality

[@marc2638]

@@uniteddeejys1269whoa man what lol??? I’m not getting anything of what you’re saying at all,,,,,, are you Ukrainian is that what you’re saying??

[@rx7carl]

The thoughtful, sober, unbiased, well delivered, well written, researched reporting is a sad reminder of how news used to be delivered to us. Real news, not the crap thats called news today

[@BOND19951]

Pretty much. I miss this style of reporting.

[@kevinburt44]

100% agree with you.

[@chobson8602]

Its boring though

[@taylorc2542]

Frontline has the same sickness of all elite media, but sometimes they do good work.

[@numberstation]

@@chobson8602Yes, thoughtful, sober, unbiased, well delivered, well written, researched reporting is boring if you have the attention span of a toddler with ADD.

[@Dharmanarchist]

I was there for REFORGER 88..it is truly mind blowing how much ordinance was stacked up on both sides of the border back then.

[@bigWill-3]

Me too. 3rd Armored

[@marc2638]

I grew up in grossauheim just 40 minutes south of fulda and in the 1980’s I can tell ya right now a Russian invasion was a real possibility for us Germans it was a legitimate fear, I was scared as a kid that they would come over and pay us back for what we did to them in WWII. I was born in 1978 in hanau my mother met my dad in 1980 we would leave Germany and move to the states in 1987 after he got out of the army, I’ve been back twice. I have since then enlisted myself and served in our wars to show my respect and appreciation for having been given permission to come here and live, I’ve had a good life here can’t complain I have two kids of my own now 24 and 19 both boys and I’m also a grandfather, I sometimes wonder what would have been made of me if I ever decided to go back to Germany because I did not like it here at first whatsoever and actually went back home to live with my grandmother for a year as it went I came back to my mother in the end and made America my home. I remember the Russian scare it was legit, it was real, it was something that every German at the very least thought about so for most Germans in the 80’s having America in our country was more than welcoming and more than tolerable, it went beyond accepting it was over our actual lives and way of life we knew and felt and believed if America left Russia would immediately move on Germany and take it it was as simple as that, growing up I never heard anything negative about Americans being here, I mean I grew up in hanau with an American base and or installation if that’s what you wanna call it around us and we had Americans everywhere it was just part of our lives and I just don’t ever remember seeing anything negative about that

[@bearsmith3655]

I lived in Germany from 1980-1983 as a kid at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart. My dad was in the US military. I remember how scared I was that the Russians would attack through the Fulda Gap. I grew up very quickly. A very different life than my friends in the states however I treasure those experiences. I’m 53 now.

[@AetiusPraetorian]

My 2nd enlistment I was stationed in Hanau GE on Lamboy strasse Francois Kaserne. 3rd Armored Div from 84-88. We were always preparing to take the front once the 11th Cav ACR got knocked back. Good but scary times back then.

[@ericscottstevens]

@@AetiusPraetorian I knew a woman who was a military wife to a helicopter pilot in A-berg. She said all of the wives and her had a set of lingerie stored in the bedroom as running from the Soviets was not going to happen. Lingerie was the wives first form of defense distracting the Soviet soldiers from their mission. Jackie Chalfant, you are an original thinker.

[@choossuck7653]

You were brainwashed about WW 2

[@tomservo5347]

My Dad was drafted during Vietnam but sent to West Germany with the 8th Division. Met my mom there. I later went to Germany with the 1AD after the fall of the USSR although we still trained in our Woodland BDU's and black boots. I don't think anyone anticipated the dramatic fall of the USSR and Eastern Bloc shortly after this was made.

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

Guy told me the fall of the USSR happened so fast that when he went through basic training the targets on the range were still nicknamed “Ivan” and the training still was based around a conventional conflict with the Soviets. Said the irony of it was that they ended up meeting Russians under friendly circumstances during the fall of Yugoslavia during the Balkan conflicts

[@the_babbleboom]

honestly not hard to tell if you actually read what gorbachev was writing. anticommunist to the heart, was only a matter of time, literally head of the "communist" party then it was inevitable. it's baffling to think people couldn't see it coming, he pretty much outlined the whole thing in texts and speeches.

[@johnhumphrey9953]

I did, I know that it could not last forever, it occurred to me while I was there that I would be there when the whole thing collapsed. It happened just be for I was transferred to the 101st Airborne Divion. 7th Bat, 6th Infantry Regiment.

[@oakspines7171]

I happened to know a few Viet Vets as Helicopter pilots who were stationed in Germany, then sent to Korea, then to Vietnam.

[@uniteddeejys1269]

Yes, You're right.. but on the other hand it was also "lucky" occurences that followed each other.. I mean the lucky change that Gorbi become the premier .. I believe if antropov don't pass away and he stays much longer then history could have very different now .. In a paralell universe ('cos I don't even dare to think about what could of happen) IF Gorbachev couldn't win the power BUT putin follows antropov straight in kreml then wall didn't fell, Sat states (included mine) still wearing the red star on the top of the parliament .. bla blabla.. so on by everyone worst nightmares .. Thankfully is just a playable scenario in the 1995 PC game C&C Red Alert @@the_babbleboom

[@fudbot]

Wow...I was there when this was filmed. Part of 3rd Armored Div 2/67 Armored Rgt based at Friedburg West Germany.

[@kubanskiloewe]

Friedberg comrade ...where Elvis himself was stationed ;-)

[@4700_Dk]

Was stationed in West Germany in a place called Illesheim from 83-85 with a Scout Platoon. All our vehicles were combat loaded. Hated the Alerts.

[@uszone1]

Hi there, greetings from Illesheim, middle franconia! I can still remeber the big sign of the 101st on the wall of the big machine hall :-)

[@lordflash4312]

11th ACR Wildflecken 1992...it was a fascinating time to be there during the drawdown, and just get time to see what the guys did before us out at the Eastern border. A great time to be alive.

[@airforce5400]

Would you be able to point out what that box on the web gear with green tape is? Seems like SOP dictates it should be taped to the left side of the Y harness.

[@ericscottstevens]

Did a two week field problem at Wildflecken summer of 1990 and I thought Baumholder was bad. Wildflecken was 8th ID until 1991 when 1/68 AR deactivated as well as subordinate units at the Kaserne. Still I would have preferred Wildflecken to Baumholder any day.

[@lordflash4312]

@@ericscottstevens agree, I wasn't impressed with Baumholder the one time I stopped through there. Wildflecken was an outpost but I had the best time of my life there.

[@Aristocrat1cs]

Honestly sad seeing how Americans nowadays feel about Defending Europe. They think America First means America Alone.

[@amishmike1]

They don't. I mean you've made it pretty clear you are not AG opolitical strategist amateur or otherwise. You just don't know what the hell you're talking about you must be your trash. America first refers mainly to Europe Payne for inconcentrating on his own defense rather than relying on the United States to pay for their defense and to defend them when the balloon goes up. We're tired of it. When the time comes and we face a war against China Europe is not gonna be there backing us. Not because they don't want to but simply because they are not able to do it. Their militaries have been diminished by almost 3 years of giving Ukraine most of their weapons and their military equipment.

[@choossuck7653]

We are done protecting Israel interests. We should have never even been in that war to begin with and we ended up fighting for the evil side

[@evanfinch4987]

I can't thank you enough for uploads like this.

[@85daniel]

Looking back, thanks to the US army from Germany. Many people did not understand and do not understand today that deterrence is only possible through strength.

[@Oberschutzee]

💯

[@MM22966]

Sorry for all the fences!

[@the_babbleboom]

exactly, it's what kept the nazi officer led nato from daring another barbarossa.

[@Bergmann.Alaska]

@@the_babbleboom

[@Bergmann.Alaska]

Yep, smiles and fake manufactured emotions won't keep bad guys at bay. I'm glad they are re-enforcing Alaska finally. They need to bring back the Native Militias and Arctic Rangers though.

[@TFT-bp8zk]

If you haven’t read Harold Coyle’s Team Yankee, you’re missing out.

[@KoishiVibin]

team yankee is mid

[@mrflynn510]

​@KoishiVibin and you are cap

[@KoishiVibin]

@@mrflynn510 like 90% of hot war fics are made aggressively mid by the fact that the author clearly has Strong Views somewhere about Something and so you get stuff like Red Army and the author really rubbing one to the soviet army or Team Yankee and the author giving the same to the united states what saves both are the individual tales and viewpoints instead of clancy hack-fics where everyone is having a fangasm to the latest shiny toy... which to be fair are like 70% of hot war fics and why TY/RA are actually so good, it's because they're mid in a sea of trash.

[@mrflynn510]

@KoishiVibin "author has strong views". People with strong knowledge tend to have strong views.

[@mrflynn510]

@@KoishiVibin whereas people with anime avatars tend to have trash tier opinions.

[@chejlr]

I was in Fulda back in late 70s, A troop 1/11ACR. What memories this brings.

[@schlirf]

ALLONS!

[@sfc.m]

BK,... HOW 2/11 Warlords 82-84 Second to None,... 😉

[@soldat2501]

If there was ever a time when the Soviets really, really considered making a go of it, it was back then. After Vietnam when America was perceived to be weak. Anti-Nuke and peace hippies ruled Europe. Communist groups were everywhere, in every country - Red Army Faction in Germany, Red Brigades in Italy, etc. Only you guys gave them pause to think harder on it. In the end, they decided not to F around. Cheers to you. I joined the USMC in 1989 at the end of the Cold War and remembered memorizing silhouette charts of tanks and planes. I kept a copy of Red Storm Rising and Team Yankee by my bed growing up.

[@BLUECHET]

C trp here .

[@turtle19dad]

Hard to believe that after seeing this, the 11th ACR is now the “OPFOR” at NTC. With exception of 3/11 ACR.

[@MM22966]

Heck, 2nd Cav is rolling around Eastern Europe now in their Strykers, and they started off chasing indians in the Florida swamps in the 1820s...

[@murkypuddle33]

@@MM22966 except now the strykers have lasers

[@ericscottstevens]

11th ACR should have gone to Desert Storm. Their mission at the border was over in the fall of 1990, instead they sat it out pulling guard duty. They were Vietnam for 6 years so I guess they already had done their part.

[@ee-ef8qr]

@@murkypuddle33 Not yet.

[@PrimarchX]

Most of those WP 'observers' are from what are now NATO countries!

[@orion3253]

Pols, Czechs, Germans, looking longingly at Americans not forced to wear portyanki by the Russians.

[@ericscottstevens]

You can tell the Polish officer delegation in this video wanting to be part of NATO. They seem not to fit in the group with their Soviet overseers standing nearby. Poland got a raw deal in 1945 and had to accept a Soviet occupation.

[@tinman3586]

Lots of these same guys would get deployed to the Persian Gulf just a couple years later and trash a large Soviet-equipped army in a matter of days.

[@matovicmmilan]

So, 36 countries managed to partially defeat a single country, exhausted by 10 years of war with Iran and 10 years of total economic sanctions, armed with obsolete, export-oriented, often smuggled in equipment. The most powerful SAM were SA-6 Kub and SA-3 Neva systems, both obsolete by Soviet standards as the USSR replaced them with the Buk family. The best tank was the export M (and potentially M1) variant of the T-72 at the time when the USSR used the T-72B (modern armor, FCS, engine etc.) and T-80 with the latest APFSDS and 5 km range guided missiles. Is this the maximum they can go against?

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

​@@matovicmmilandouche

[@Paulfromwish]

@@matovicmmilanpractically none of the current day Russian arsenal and back in the 90s have or had thermal optics so wouldn’t have mattered they are useless without it. Limited Russian inventory with actual optics are for show only let alone exports

[@matovicmmilan]

@@Paulfromwish Sorry to spoil your wet wishes but not only does every Russian tank model possess thermal imager (some have 2; for both gunner & commander), but Russia is able to equip its suicide drones with thermal imagers.

[@Paulfromwish]

@@matovicmmilan certainly news to me, They can build the inferior French system under license and is available on the T80U and M export variant only. Very few T80 in the Russian inventory were fitted in the mid 2000s, but this system could not identify targets at range, thus russia heavily invested in night vision systems that at the time were considered superior at range in the early 2000s but those were also not fitted to many models. Today they don’t have modern production variants of either. I’m very interested though can you provide the source on that? Genuinely interested to be wrong because this is how I understand it Edit ( unless you are referencing light ampflication sights ) then yes limited models received those as well as Sosna but these are neither modern thermal imaging sights as we understand them today Saying every or most tanks have thermal when technically it’s practically none with current production being the T72B and t72C have neither 1960s system T72b (budget) and T72C ( can’t see )

[@Mal0Imperzia]

I like how their battleplan is literally the exact same battleplan as Germany 1943-1945. "We need a total forward defense with no retreat and we need an impossibly large KTD ratio"

[@happynowfarms]

At the 50:00 minute mark the US Ambassador said no politicion would ever suggest reducing 100,000 troops from Germany. Forward three years and 100,000 plus going back to the States. This was filmed in 88 and November 89 would see the Berlin Wall drop and the Soviet Union collapse soon after.

[@Gr8thxAlot]

It is amazing this is one year away from the wall falling. I forgot how tense things were back then. If you would have told either side back then, that in 2022 Russia would be invading Ukraine, not West Germany, they'd think you're crazy.

[@Perseus7567]

@@Gr8thxAlot Not to be "that guy" but most of this was actually filmed in 1986, during REFORGER 86 exercises.

[@anthonyfroh3702]

Stationed in Schweinfurt as a Tanker 84-87 and 90-92 as well as NTC Ft Irwin 92-94. Thanks for this unbind and well-done documentary.

[@ThePizzaGoblin]

Man, this narrator is still working for PBS. Good for him

[@idget600]

Spent 77-79 with 3rd AD. I grew to understand it was a display of force/deterrence that obviously worked. As a medic overseeing ranges in Horensfeld and Wildflicken left me in awe many times. Seeing an impact range be lit up at dawn on an ice cold February morning - Infantry, artillery and air attack simultaneously took my breath away. My co-medic and I looking at each other and saying, "what, in God's name would survive a sustained barrage of that magnitude?" The answer? Absolutely nothing.

[@aesonmoritz2100]

Spearhead! 143rd Signal BN & 503rd MI YEAH!!!!

[@KoishiVibin]

A surprising lot will survive that. but assaulting armor is less protected than armor dug in backed up by AA and interceptors...

[@cs7511]

62nd Aviation Company 1985-88. I believe this was filmed during REFORGER 86 in January. It was cold!

[@BLUECHET]

I knew SFC Winn … I was in his troop two years after this aired .

[@jscotty349]

The Cold War lasted for 46 years (1945-1991) but it never went hot in Europe The post-Cold War, or so-called 'End of History' era lasted for 31 years (1991-2022, could be even shorter if you count Kosovo 1998, Georgia 2008, Eastern Ukraine 2014, etc. But for argument's sake let's say it's 2022 when the whole of Europe started re-arming again) So... maybe we were better off in a Cold War status? Let's go back to Cold War then. I liked the constant threat of Nuclear Armageddon, which kept people real, made us learn to live in the moment more, and less whiny or hypocritical. Plus the music was way better back in the 80s!

[@mcfeddle]

Yes, nothing says 'the good life' like the threat of The Last War on everyone's doorstep.

[@specksalat]

Big thank you to all the former American soldiers here in the comments who’ve served here in Germany and secured our freedom 😊

[@zmilorad]

What 70 years of occupation does to people. Are you aware that Germany is not a sovereign country but US puppet and you thank them for that?

[@thoorwulfn9z383]

occupation forces

[@johnhumphrey9953]

you are welcome. for in my view, it was not just for Americans, it was for all our allies.

[@MaSoNGaMeR115]

have some dignity bro

[@rangerregia]

@@thoorwulfn9z383better a western puppet state than a Soviet puppet state

[@erikvanern6178]

Germany 88-92 U.S. Army M.P.!

[@uniteddeejys1269]

Thank you for the time and effort to upload this.. Great Archived Content! I hope it is not going to be happen as a future projection by 10-15years from today :( ..

[@Jay121]

I remember watching this on PBS when it premiered. I think i had just finished reading Red Storm Rising that summer.

[@johnsadventures6783]

598th transportation company, Mannheim, 85-87. Things were a lot calmer in my area.

[@Jrplatt]

This is fascinating watching from 2024

[@BLUECHET]

Many of us are still in contact with each other from all those years ago . We could still do it if we had to ….

[@evanfinch4987]

what

[@kristiangoransson6104]

The times are changing, the A10 is mentioned in the same sentence as high tech advantage. The very plane that’s been on the chopping block since 1990 because of its low tech and gritty mission

[@09rja]

Thanks for posting! At the time, this is something we all wondered: how would Western Europe hold up against a conventional attack by the Warsaw Pact?

[@geoffmcnew5863]

A21 533d MI BN, 3AD "Spearhead"...TS/SCI-cleared and RU language trained...spent 2 years in training before I went to Frankfurt in '85....I thought, we'd won when I went home. FJB!

[@daviddickey9832]

"Peace between the super-powers has become the conduct of war by other means" That was well put.

[@johnwalsh4857]

who would have thunk 34 years later the Russians would be fighting their fellow USSR member Ukrane and NATO would be much supporting Ukraine .

[@mitcht2255]

I've been wondering for the last couple years exactly what type of Soviet army would have shown up in the 80s knowing what we know about the current army.

[@lunchtaker4183]

The prophet Tom Clancy knew one thing with absolute certainty..."we using way too many napkins"

[@johnwalsh4857]

@@lunchtaker4183 haha

[@johnwalsh4857]

@@mitcht2255 I think back in the 80s the Soviet army was a bit bigger and better motivated than the current Russian army. The equipment they were using were new and in good working order, and NATO army was smaller then. Doctrine wise, the same.

[@hewhoplugwalks]

@@johnwalsh4857 the other issue was corruption. While the Soviets had their fair share, it was nowhere near the levels of corruptiion we see today. Hell, most of these issues come directly from the collapse of the Union. After the government fell, many took to arms dealing or selling under the table, a tradition and part of the Russiian miilitary culture that's only gotten worse. You were absolutely riight in saying that their equipment was new and in working order - none of it had been scrapped, sold off, or left to rot yet. Back then, the Soviiets were actually geared for a possible - and to some, ineviitable - war with the West.

[@bazejs8084]

A very interesting movie. Lots of great footage. Regarding the anti-nuclear protests - did the USSR population also raise such large-scale protests against deploying Soviet nuclear missiles in their area in USSR or only western Europeans protested?

[@NDMO2468]

protests of that nature were of a western occurrence primarily. You simply didn't protest in the eastern bloc.

[@thesovietcarl706]

most of the time Soviet citizens were largely unaware of missiles being deployed in their area, the only ones who were really aware were those who were stationed to the bases

[@jaydaviston8612]

Mainly pampered Westerners. There is some credible speculation that Western Nuclear Disarmament groups had been infiltrated by Eastern Bloc intelligence services..

[@timkey_4542]

as already said protests in the eastern block were quite rare. Also as has been revealed by now, the western peace movement was to a certain degree supported by the Soviet KGB. More or less the same it is now with right-wing politicians in the west receiving Russian support

[@wingitprod]

They were 5th columnists/Marxist/globalist agitators. Essentially antifa. @@timkey_4542

[@CharlemagnetheGreat]

In Tom Clancy's RED STORM RISING, USAF stealth fighters attacked all the major bridges over the Elbe River, trapping the second echelon of Soviet troops poised to invade West Germany.

[@yoyomodiji]

Reality and fiction are totally different things and stealth fighter f117 was shot down by a sam in 1999 , so relax us is incompetent nation

[@wonneproppen-jb2jm]

A very outstanding Book. I wrote it a few Times!

[@CharlemagnetheGreat]

​@@wonneproppen-jb2jmWrote it...or read it?😉

[@reallyhappenings5597]

A lot of this field gear is still for sale on ebay

[@blackhorsecav1]

Shout out to all of the Anvil troopers from 86 - 90 - Alpha Troop, 1/11 Armored Cavalry Regiment.....

[@turtle19dad]

564th MP Fulda/Bad Hersfeld 1991-94

[@jasonkeenan4154]

One could deduce that those nuclear weapons being placed in Germany that those folks protested so much over, did in fact provide the deterrence they were purposed for. With the NATO vs Russia debate now becoming hot again, I hope these lessons will be remembered.

[@waterloo32594]

It’s funny, because even in 1988 it was confirmed fact that if war broke out the USSR would use their nuclear, biological, and chemical/nerve weapons against Germany indiscriminately as an opening strike. So I’m not sure why people would support the protests. Fun fact, most anti nuclear and anti nato protests in Europe and the US were supported and in many cases started by the Soviet intelligence apparatus. Sadly, not much has changed there.

[@grayflaneur4854]

Oh, this so reminds me of time in the U.S. Army. I almost can't relate to the current day army as the force structure was so different. I was a IIH and eventually an NCO (E-6). It was all about hunting Soviet armor and mechanized infantry.

[@bpdp379]

Yup. Your MOS doesn’t even exist anymore…

[@fallwoods9378]

Excellent documentary. Please upload more of these if you’ve got them.

[@KazenoniKakuremi]

the production and dialogue of the journalist is dropped so far from this standard Although, frontline still does great work -everyone else has dropped so low

[@johnnotrealname8168]

Frontline just parrots what the just parrots what the left say but still yeah.

[@Logisticious_gg]

​@@johnnotrealname8168 maybe listen then

[@rangerregia]

@@johnnotrealname8168English please

[@jwf1964]

I served in the BRD w 2-6 IN, 2D BDE, 1 AD. Ferris Barracks. Felt a great deal of resentment coming from Germans. Considering history, ie, we gave them democracy against their will and thru the sacrifice of our soldiers, it made me resentful right back. Then I went to our GDP on the border. The Germans there lined the streets waiving US flags. The kids loved us. We gave them MRE candy and chem lights. We played American football w them. I came to love Germany and still view as my second homeland.

[@michaelsamuel9917]

Reagan's NATO tough strategy worked 4 yrs later the USSR dissolved itself! and was soundly defeated without firing a shot in anger. BTW those West European "Peaceniks" were funded by the KGB with about 20 million per yr in "donations" some undercover KGB officers actually led "Peace marches" in Europe! This program doesn't mention the Pershing 2's and Cruise Missiles were a Counter deployment of the USSR's previous deployment of SS 20's Missiles in Eastern Europe without of course any public opposition or consultation in those Communist occupied states.

[@conanc1487]

The closing age of the analog Army....

[@jeffreywilliams3944]

I was deployed to Germany Operation Certain Shield 1978. I was 19 years old. a pawn. of 100,000 yearly Reforger Deployment.

[@CB-ke7eq]

"Sergeants aren't supposed to have maps, only Colonels can have maps!" And that folks, is another great example of backwards Red Army doctrine that continues into today's Russian Army. The lack of a serious, empowered NCO corp just won't do on the modern battlefield. Shit is happening way to fast to wait for commands from the rear.

[@uss_liberty_incident]

4:28 The contrast in body language between these two generals is quite stark. General Izydorczyk looks as if he's worried about ever being ordered to fight against US and West German troops. I'm thankful that never happened. 7:10 It hurts my heart to know that the America SP4 Davies would be proud to die for no longer exists. I want to be able to have that kind of pride in America.

[@kamikazemelon787]

Wow, fascinating, and fantastic. Thanks for sharing

[@NLYS27]

A professional military, intelligent leadership, understanding of limited capabilities and realistic expectations. What really throws me off is how professional they are and soldierly they conduct themselves. I feel like I have been cheated, politics and destructive ideologies and leadership who are sympathetic to the enemy cause and idelogy.

[@reallyhappenings5597]

How the Soviets fell, they now spend the last of this once-fearsome military power in Ukraine.

[@bigman6424]

Getting demolished by drones

[@conradsz]

I’m Polish. Before after 1945 and 1989 Poland was obviously under USSR/Russia boot and the army was part of the Warsaw Pact. My father was in the military. He told me that they were trained to attack Denmark and Northern Germany as part of the Soviet invasion in Europe. I’ve later confirmed this since documents have been declassified

[@180life4]

Do you think your father and other Polish soldiers would have eventually defected to NATO and fought the communists had war actually broken out?

[@davidosuna5795]

Was in 1st Bn 33rd Armor in Gelnhausen 1976-1979 went to the Fula Gap many times

[@dannynolan818]

I was stationed there in 81_83 2nd bn 48inf

[@garyinmaine1278]

I was there TDY several times in 77&78 . 8th Inf. 1/8 CSC recon, I was also at OP india once.

[@jeffreywilliams3944]

I was an Army dependent when I was 9 years old living in norther Italy . in 1969.

[@mattwest250]

Combat Patches were pretty rare back then, I see. I served during a good chunk of the GWOT and we just took them for granted.

[@macsdaddy3383]

Ya, Vietnam had been over with for 13 years by then when this documentary was produced. 1988 was my 1st year in and there were a few combat patches to be found on E-5's and E-6"s, but they were by and large all from the Grenada Operation.

[@mattwest250]

@@macsdaddy3383 Were you in Desert Storm? I love reading about that Conflict, It's kind of like the root of everything I did during my service.

[@macsdaddy3383]

@mattwest250 I was in the military during that time, yes, but I didn't go anywhere instead staying CONUS. But not to worry, my Uncle, Sam, saw to it that I would make it over there eventually. I've deployed twice to the AOR over there for about a year and a half in total.

[@reddevilparatrooper]

NATO also have infantry anti-armor teams in every infantry battalion and armor battalions. Each US infantry battalion has 4 rifle companies and one anti-armor company consisting of dual launched M109 Improved Tow Vehicles. Each infantry platoon might have sixteen M47 Dragon missiles, 4 to each squad. Headquarters Company will have a platoon of M109 ITVs before M1 Bradleys were ever deployed to US mechanized infantry and M2 for cavalry scouts. Meaning every infantry fighting vehicle would be capable of engaging Soviet armor especially tanks with TOW missiles. BMPs can be destroyed with the Bradley's 25mm chain gun in support of it's infantry dismounts. The Soviet BMP was ahead of it's time from the US M113 which was still used in Germany in the mid-late 1980s. The Soviets designed the BMP as an infantry fighting vehicle as the M113 as a "Battle Taxi". The Bradley is far superior in firepower than any BMP that uses 1960s and 70s optics and fire control. Next is combined arms training and NATO command operability, Warsaw Pact have very difficult operational standards. The Soviets have trained and indoctrinated Warsaw Pact nations to do one thing, that is to attack forward and soak up NATO ammunition so Soviet Forces can attack as follow up forces and Warsaw Pact armies would be cannon fodder. Very simple plan and method. This is what a "Future" 1980s battle would have become if Europe became WWIII.

[@Duchovicius]

😂😂😂😂😂 silly man..

[@shamsuaddinrachedi792]

aLl aMmO sPEnT lmao who here after a 10 hour warno binge? is it just me?

[@jeffreygoodhall7342]

Does anyone know an Arthur Goodhall from this era?

[@joeykonyha2414]

If I recall, there was a documentary where it was stated that once engaged, the life expectancy of a armored unit was minutes. I also think it was highly naive to think any Warsaw Pact push wold not end in at least a tactical nuclear exchange.

[@TheTitaniumSkull]

Allons!. 1986-1990

[@John-w6s]

Judy I was there 87/88 3rd ID I think you were a better reporter than than you are now

[@wcatholic1]

USAR 1980-1983 had OG107 Fatigues and Khakis. Went RA 1in 83 and had to trade them in for the BDUS and the green shirts.

[@daviddickey9832]

The crazy part is 11th ACR probably wouldn't have even had the ammo available for what would have been coming their way.

[@callsignkit6930]

Nearly 40 years later, and not much has changed.

[@BLUECHET]

We as young American soldiers were far far better trained and led than the those of the eastern bloc….. I as a private had a map and could land navigate with it and possibly even direct artillery fire 🔥…. It would never come to that but I was trained to do so …. And more actually… we could operate all systems on our fighting vehicles ……we were well trained.

[@Cotac_Rastic]

Average survival time : 15 minutes

[@daviddevault8700]

@@Cotac_Rastic I think NATO would have won. We are encouraged to take the initiative, not to blindly obey. We can perform at several levels higher than our rank.

[@Cotac_Rastic]

@@daviddevault8700 You're entire doctrine was literally 1. Dig hole 2. Fire AT weapon 3. Rip off uniform patch and sprint for the hills of become soup in the hole

[@daviddevault8700]

@@Cotac_Rastic American Generals write American doctrine. Warsaw Pact officers read doctrine. American soldiers make own battle plans.

[@Cotac_Rastic]

@@daviddevault8700 LoL, you have never spoken to a member of the West German garrison and it shows, Americans look at the Soviets blitzing to the rhine and go "Fck that im outta here"

[@SOMEGANGSTER]

War is allot different these days you can't hide. Drones have been biggest game changer.

[@rramos117]

4:22 And now US Army V Corps has a Polish general on their staff. Adversaries becomes allies.

[@Chris-qk4vc]

Amazing how incredibly poor the Soviet weapons and tactics actually were/are.

[@ayebing]

Col. Thomas White later went on to become secretary of the army from 01-04

[@anthonywilfredwong4545]

Don't forget the DMZ in Korea.

[@michaelmulligan0]

Wasn’t the same said about the Ardennes… more than once ?

[@PowermadNavigator]

5:10 I am afraid that the case in at least one of the former Warsaw Pact nations which is now a NATO ally is still the same...

[@tommym321]

You guys ever see Buffalo Soldiers (2001)? Great movie 😂

[@storm_shadow78]

Ukraine has proven a lot of what the bean counters calculated in the 80s!

[@yoyomodiji]

War in Ukraine is a totally different war with 100% visibility , Russians Ukrainians both are fighting well but I can vouch that the uk aur usa army would have collapsed by this time...

[@haskins_halligan]

The game, WARNO, showcases the disparity in quality between the Soviet armor and Western armor. I allowed an extra hard AI to utilize every single unit the soviets had with a large pool of resources. I faced them off with an equal difficulty AI with only: HEMTT logistical trucks, M2 Bradleys, M1 Abrams Chaparral AA and Cobra choppers. Only those units. The AI with American armor and vehicles using AT teams as dismounts from the bradleys steamrolled the Soviets who deployed just about everything there was to offer. The Iraqi army in 1991 found out the hard way why the bradley is a formidable vehicle and the game shows it too. The TOW missiles can hit tanks, the chaingun can be used on infantry and helicopters and the vehicle can carry a compliment of infantry with various weapons, in my case it was shoulder fired AT munitions. Take the capabilities of a single bradley and multiply it up to 20 and another 20 abrams and you have a battalion's worth of vehicles. I can just imagine the cakewalk it would have been but thankfully i didn't need to wonder, it happened in the sands of Iraq.

[@dix0n778]

Would you like to know more?

[@ukrainevictory-j4u]

(need to know more intensifies)

[@jessphuqette1716]

Bad Tolz in 1978. Good times

[@dannyzero692]

"The Sergeant has a map!" "Sergeants aren't supposed to have maps, only Colonels are supposed to have maps!" I think if the Cold War went into DEFCON 2 the Warsaw Pact would've been folded pretty quickly.

[@npickle54]

Kinda genius really having the soldiers families live in Europe

[@West_Coast_Mainline]

The pact mind cannot understand sergeants with maps

[@oldreliable3506]

I was at bad kissengen 80's 2/11 a.c.r.! allons!!!

[@sfc.m]

Eagle Horsed 82-84. 😉

[@friendofcoal]

I was there 84-85 C-Btry 2/41st FA 3ID....

[@macsdaddy3383]

Wow! 1988 was my 1st year in U.S. military service and all I heard then was only about how it was feared that forward deployed troops in West Germany were really going to be nothing more than just a speedbump in the Fulda Gap in the hopes we could slow the Warsaw Pact down if it all should come to blows. Had a number of buddies I went to AIT with who were dreading the thought of graduating AIT and then being sent to Germany in the middle of February to become POL Clerks at some god-forsaken forward OP/LP facility or at one of the big maintenance facilities. It amazes me how so much of what was reported on then in this video in 1988, we Americans found out all these years later to be true, or, to become true later, esp. after Gulf War 1, and certainly now with what we have learned about Russian (still using former Soviet doctrine, tactics, and equipment by and large) losses in the Ukraine. It was all mostly smoke and mirrors as to Warsaw Pact's ability to successfully prosecute a war. And today many of those same Warsaw Pact countries are staunch NATO member's esp. Poland.

[@M81_WOODLAND]

One of my tank commanders was stationed in Baumholder in the 80s. He told me they had preplanned defensive positions in the event Soviet armor would come streaming through the Fulda Gap. They basically told them "this is where you will make your stand and die."

[@metubetoday1]

7:43 now that's fine binocular warfare.

[@marshalltravis3217]

What a great memory.

[@TheBezimienny101]

Funny, the German engineer obviously has some Polish heritage: his family name Szczech comes from a village Szczechy not far from where I was born. And Polish officer is not general, but colonel. Poles or Germans, all very glad now that it is all over.

[@C.A._Old]

*Nobodys know Soviet Union Ends in 3 years left at time...*

[@Delatta1961]

I was a Ft Rucker teaching Advanced Combat Skills to IERW students in 88. I spent most of my 21 years in Korea or Bragg. I regret not going to Germany

[@DrGalazkiewicz]

0:27 Apple watch prototype? 😀

[@SurG30n]

Casio ;)

[@daviddevault8700]

Very good documentary. I understand the need for nuclear deterance. I don't understand putting resources into nuclear parity, or the viability of static land based nuclear missiles. I feel that those resources would better be used to gain superiority in another relm of military power.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

I think at that point it became a signal to the soviets, this is why it went to a committee.

[@supersound99ss]

Regarding parity, see the concept of counterforce. For land based missiles, the answer is simple. They are the only means that is available to strike a moments notice. Submarines are only good first and retaliatory strikes. Bombers require too much time and are much more vulnerable to first strikes.

[@jwf1964]

The triad provides incredible redundancy of retaliatory systems. Basically locks the door on the idea a nuclear war is winnable. Air Force has declassified some analysis supporting triad. It's from the 1970s. Think you can access thru their FOIA website. Brilliantly and, in my opinion, irrefutably supports triad.

RCAF had 6 bases in Europe 2 in France and 4 in Germany with CF100s F86 ,Cf104 starfighters and CF18 HORNETS all nuclear weapons capable

[@rippspeck]

Virtually every single NATO member had bases in Germany back then.

@@rippspeck your point being?

[@ericscottstevens]

I was added to USAREUR a year later west of the Rhine, 2nd Brigade 8th Infantry Division. Our orders were on red alert was to get our Abrams the way to Schlitz northwest of Fulda in less than 12 hours. That was all in accord to the boys in Dexheim engineering us a pontoon bridge us across the Rhine along with 2nd brigade of 4 Arty, 2 INF regiments, an MLRS component, ADA, and 208th support battalion across that river. One thing about these models of ground invasion, they never factored in the German refugee influx coming from the east. All roads would have been full of people fleeing the Soviets onslaught with little traffic getting through. It would have been X-country for us trying to dodge any airstrikes........I doubt we could have made it to our rendezvous as planned which was the town graveyard in Schlitz by the way. In all practicality our best defensive position was the west bank of the Rhine or south of the Main river aligned with our 1st brigade counterparts.

[@jyy9624]

France, Norway, Sweden Finland Denmark Belgium Spain Italy Luxembourg all had conscription during the cold war. Now no one. Meanwhile in Taiwan and Korea

[@bigman6424]

Norway has conscription... Hell now women have to conscript too, it's just that we want higher expectations of soldiers, so it's harder to get in

[@jyy9624]

@@bigman6424 that sounds excellent - some people like Israelis don't have that option

[@scepticalbeliever]

Sweden has draft too, it's just they have enough volunteers for now

[@blankpage555]

I m looking at this and I think: Gulf War 91, Ukraine 24. The M1s, the F16s, the Howlitzers.

[@toddbrackett4277]

The assessment of the Russian tanks in this 1988 video didn’t account for their flying turrets 💥

[@Berzilla]

Dont forget about Giessen and Friedburg

[@vanpearsall]

I was stationed at the rock right in the middle

[@protocoldroid7388]

Okay, now I'm really worried about the Soviets. Great : (

[@robertpontisso4953]

I, was stationed in Korea when this show aired and in Germany 1992-1994.Scouts Out!