Toaw Scenario: Berlin Crisis 1961

Briefing
Berlin Crisis 1961 "Who fired the first shot?" 1. NOTE This scenario requires the modified V104ACOW300.exe (included in the zipped file) to work properly. Also, back-up the Borders.bmp, Numbers.bmp, and Tiles_road.bmp files in your \TOAW-CW\Graphics subdirectory and replace them with the equivalent .bmp files included in the zipped file. 2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Of the many disputes that occurred during the Cold War, few brought NATO and the Warsaw Pact as close to real military confrontation as the Berlin crisis of 1958-1962. Any number of false moves, on either side, could have touched off a shooting war on several occasions during that tension-filled period. This scenario attempts to simulate the strategic and operational levels in a potential outbreak of hostilities between the two great alliances during a particularly sensitive phase of the Berlin Crisis. Construction of the Berlin Wall by East German authorities (12-13 August 1961) marked the beginning of this period. As some 67,500 Soviet and East German troops surrounded the approximately 8,000 American, British and French military personnel in Berlin, tensions rose dramatically. In response, U.S. President John F. Kennedy eventually decided to reinforce the Berlin garrison, demonstrating Allied resolve to maintain their access rights to West Berlin. On 20 August 1961, 1st Battle Group, 18th Infantry, 8th Division, sent 1,500 troops to Berlin along the Helmstedt-Berlin autobahn with orders to use force if their passage was blocked. All NATO forces in Europe were placed on full war alert. Historically, the Soviets allowed the U.S. Battle Group through to West Berlin and we all lived to tell the tale. Instead, what if the Soviets misinterpreted an Allied probe as the leading elements of an invasion force and unleashed a counter-attack? 3. FULL SCENARIO BRIEFING Please see Berlin Crisis 1961 Briefing.doc (enclosed in zipped file) for full scenario briefing. This document contains critical information and must be read before playing the scenario. This scenario is dedicated to the millions of mostly anonymous heroes who served during the Cold War. We're still here because of their sacrifices. Steven E. Stevens

Of the many disputes that occurred during the Cold War, few brought NATO and the Warsaw Pact as close to real military confrontation as the Berlin crisis of 1958-1962. Any number of false moves, on either side, could have touched off a shooting war on several occasions during that tension-filled period.

This scenario attempts to simulate the strategic and operational levels in a potential outbreak of hostilities between the two great alliances during a particularly sensitive phase of the Berlin Crisis. Construction of the Berlin Wall by East German authorities (12-13 August 1961) marked the beginning of this period. As some 67,500 Soviet and East German troops surrounded the approximately 8,000 American, British and French military personnel in Berlin, tensions rose dramatically.

In response, U.S. President John F. Kennedy eventually decided to reinforce the Berlin garrison, demonstrating Allied resolve to maintain their access rights to West Berlin. On 20 August 1961, 1st Battle Group, 18th Infantry, 8th Division, sent 1,500 troops to Berlin along the Helmstedt-Berlin autobahn with orders to use force if their passage was blocked. All NATO forces in Europe were placed on full war alert.

Historically, the Soviets allowed the U.S. Battle Group through to West Berlin and we all lived to tell the tale. Instead, what if the Soviets misinterpreted an Allied probe as the leading elements of an invasion force and unleashed a counter-attack?

Please see Berlin Crisis 1961 Briefing.doc (enclosed in zipped file) for full scenario briefing. This document contains critical information and must be read before playing the scenario.

This scenario is dedicated to the millions of mostly anonymous heroes who served during the Cold War. We're still here because of their sacrifices.

Berlin Crisis 1961

"Who fired the first shot?"