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w not only where things were going； but also where they had e from puter support made the task easier by eliminating items that moved no more than once every two hours…thus erasing the Russian radar lures…and there it was； a brand…new intelligence tool。
With several copies made of each tape； a staff of over a hundred intelligence and traffic…control experts examined the data round the clock。 Some engaged in straight tactical intelligence。 Others looked for patterns。 A large number of trucks moving at night to and from front…fine units could only mean shuttle runs to fuel and ammunition dumps。 A number of vehicles breaking away from a divisional convoy and deploying in line parallel to the front meant artillery preparing for an attack。 The real trick； they had learned； was to get the data to the forward manders quickly enough so they could make use of it。
At Lammersdorf； a Belgian lieutenant was just finishing up a tape that was six hours old； and his report was sent by land line to the forward NATO manders。 At least three divisions had been moved north and south on Autobahn…7； he reported。 The Soviets would attack at Bad Salzdetfurth in strength； sooner than expected。 Immediately； reserve units from the Belgian； German； and American armies were rushed forward； and allied air units alerted for a major land action。 Fighting in this sector had been vicious enough already。 The German forces covering the area south of Hannover were at less than 50…percent strength； and the battle that had not yet begun was already a race； as both sides tried to get reserves to the point of attack before the other。
HOLLE； FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
〃Thirty minutes；〃 Alekseyev told Sergetov。 Four motor…rifle divisions were on line； covering a front of less than twenty kilometers。 Behind them a tank division waited to exploit the first breach in German lines。 The objective was the town of Alfeld on the Leine River。 The town manded two roads being used by NATO to shuttle units and supplies north and south； and its capture would open a breach in the NATO lines； allowing the Soviet operational/maneuver groups to burst into NATO's rear。
〃rade General； how are things progressing in your opinion？〃 the captain asked quietly。
〃Ask me in a few hours；〃 the General answered。 The river valley to his rear was yet another wasteland of men and arms。 They were only thirty kilometers from the border…and the Red Army's tanks had been expected to reach Holle in only two days。 Alekseyev frowned； wondering what staff genius had e up with that timetable。 Again the human factor had been overlooked。 The morale and fighting spirit of the Germans was like nothing he had ever seen。 He remembered his father's stories of the battles across the Ukraine and Poland； but he had never quite believed them。 He believed them now。 The Germans contested every lump of dirt in their country like wolves defending their cubs； retreating only when they were forced to； counterattacking at every opportunity； draining the blood from the advancing Russian units as they brought every weapon they had to bear。
Soviet doctrine had predicted heavy losses。 The battle of movement could be achieved only by costly frontal assault which first had to blast a hole in the front lines…but the NATO armies were denying that hole to the Soviets。 Their sophisticated weapons； firing from safe； prepared positions； were ripping through each attack wave。 Their aircraft attacks in the Soviet rear sapped the strength of units before they could be mitted to decisive battle and played hob with artillery support despite the most careful deceptive measures。
The Red Army was moving forward； Alekseyev reminded himself； and NATO was paying its own price。 Their reserves were also being thinned out。 The German forces were not using their mobility as Alekseyev would have； too often tying themselves to geographic locations instead of fighting the Soviet forces on the move。 Of course； the General thought； they didn't have very much terrain to trade for time。 He checked his watch。
A sheet of flame rose from the forests below him as Russian artillery began its preparatory bombardment。 Next came the multiple…rocket launchers； and the morning sky was alight with streaks of fire。 Alekseyev turned his binoculars downrange。 In a few seconds he saw the orange…white explosions of the rounds as they impacted on NATO lines。 He was too far from the fighting front to see any detail； but an area that had to be many kilometers across； lit up like the neon signs so popular in the West。 There was a roar overhead； and the General saw the leading elements of the ground…attack fighters racing to the front。
〃Thank you； rade General；〃 Alekseyev breathed。 He counted at least thirty Sukhoi and MiG fighter…bombers； all hugging the ground as they headed toward the battle line。 His face crinkled into a determined smile as he walked into the mand bunker。
〃The lead elements are moving now；〃 a colonel announced。 On a table made of rough planks laid across sawhorses； grease pencil marks were made on the tactical maps。 Red arrows began their march toward a series of blue lines。 The plotters were all lieutenants； and each wore a telephone headset linked to a specific regimental headquarters。 The officers connected to reserve units stood away from the table； puffing on their cigarettes as they watched the march of the arrows。 Behind them the mander of 8th Guards Army stood quietly； watching his plan of attack unfold。
〃Meeting moderate resistance。 Enemy artillery and tank fire is being encountered；〃 a lieutenant said。
Explosions rocked the mand bunker。 Two kilometers away； a flight of German Phantoms had just torn into a battalion of mobile guns。
〃Enemy fighters overhead；〃 the air defense officer said belatedly。 A few eyes looked apprehensively up at the log ceiling of the bunker。 Alekseyev's didn't join them。 A NATO smart…bomb would kill them all in a blink。 Much as he enjoyed his post as deputy mander of the theater； he wished himself back to the days when he had manded a fighting division。 Here he was only an observer； and he felt the need to have the reins in his own two hands。
〃Artillery reports heavy counterbattery fire and air attacks。 Our missiles are engaging enemy aircraft in the 57th Motor…Rifle Division's rear area；〃 the air defense officer went on。 〃Heavy air activity over the front。〃
〃Our fighters are engaging NATO aircraft；〃 the Frontal Aviation officer reported。 He looked up angrily。 〃Friendly SAMs are shooting down our fighters！〃
〃Air Defense Officer！〃 Alekseyev shouted。 〃Tell your units to identify their targets！〃
〃We have fifty aircraft over the front。 We can handle the NATO fighters alone！〃 the aviator insisted。
〃Tell all SAM batteries to hold fire on all targets above one thousand meters；〃 Alekseyev ordered。 He had discussed this with his Frontal Aviation mander the night before。 The MiG pilots were to stay high after making their own attack runs； leaving the missile and gun batteries free to engage only those NATO aircraft that were an immediate threat to ground units。 Why were his own planes getting hit？
Thirty thousand feet over the Rhein； two NATO E…3A radar aircraft fought for their fives。 A determined Soviet attack was under way； two regiments of MiG…23 interceptors rocketing through the sky toward them。 The on…board controllers were calling for help。 This both distracted them from countering the attack； and stripped fighters from other missions。 Heedless of their own safety； the Russians came west at over a thousand miles per hour with heavy jamming support。 American F…15 Eagles and French Mirage jets converged on the threat； filling the sky with missiles。 It was not enough。 When the MiGs got to within sixty miles； the AWACS aircraft shut down their radars and dove for the ground to evade the attack。 The NATO fighters over Bad Salzdetfurth were on their own。 For the first time the Soviets had achieved air superiority over a major battlefield。
〃Hundred…forty…third Guards Rifle Regiment reports they have broken through German lines；〃 a lieutenant said。 He didn't look up； but extended the arrow for which he was responsible。 〃Enemy units retreating in disarray。〃
〃Hundred…forty…fifth Guards checking in；〃 reported the plotting officer next to him。 〃The first line of German resistance has collapsed。 Proceeding south along the axis of the rail line 。 。 。 enemy units are on the run。 They are not regrouping； not attempting to turn。〃
The general manding 8th Guards Army gave Alekseyev a triumphant look。 〃Get that tank division moving！〃
The two understrength German brigades covering this sector had suffered too much； been called upon to stop too many attacks。 Their men spent； their weapons depleted； they had no choice but to run from the enemy； hoping to form a new line in the woods behind Highway 243。 At Hackenstedt； four kilometers away； 20th Guards Tank Division started moving down the road。 Its three hundred T…80 main battle tanks； supported by several hundred more infantry assault carriers； spread left and right of the secondary road and formed its attack formation in columns of regiments。 The 20th Tanks was the operation/maneuver group for 8th Guards Army。 Since the war had begun； the Soviet Army had been trying to break one of thes