Planowanie operacyjne NORTHAG w okresie zimnej wojny
The Operational Planning of NORTHAG during the Cold War

Summary/Abstract: In the event of the outbreak of war, the Northern Army Group (NORTHAG) was to defend the border areas on the North German Plain against attacks by Warsaw Pact (Układ Warszawski, UW) troops. The planning for which assumed a two-stage battle: the first required the four corps from the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain and Belgium to effectively defend themselves against the presumed massive, conventional first wave attack by UW forces. The second stage involved NORTHAG using its reserves to counterattack and destroy the fragmented enemy units. NATO air forces from the 2nd Tactical Air Fleet (2 ATAF) were to operate simultaneously in enemy territory to provide deep air support (Air Interdiction) against the enemy’s second-line operational and strategic echelons. If the conflict was to be conducted effectively, conventional forces and means were to be used for as long as possible to avoid nuclear escalation. Thanks to far-sighted and coordinated operational planning (General Defense Plans, GDP) at all levels during peacetime, it was possible to reliably deter the enemy, which contributed to the prevention of war. The lessons learned from NORTHAG planning during the Cold War are worthy of attention with regards to future NATO defense planning in Eastern Europe.

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