Re: NATO - Warsaw Pact conflict
CHAPTER 7
16 November 1964 – 22 November 1964
Snow has fallen across Scandinavia and much of the northern part of Soviet Union. The cold weather in these countries were also felt in many other countries in Europe. Even though the weather is cool, heat fueled by the tense atmosphere of war in Europe gave more lasting impression to the soldiers of NATO and Warsaw Pact. For them, World War Three had occurred more than one month ago. For nearly ten thousands Norwegian soldiers on Varanger Peninsula and close to the Norwegian-Soviet border, snowstorm and cold weather seemed like miracle with the breakdown of many Soviet war machines. The miracle was short-lived however, and the heat of the battle intensified with the approaching Soviet soldiers from the west and east of Kirkenes. From the west, around 20,000 desperate Soviet soldiers tried to return to their country, and from the east another 11,000 Soviet soldiers would attempt "to clean" the area near the border from the Norwegian soldiers. On the Barents Sea, Soviet submarines persistently attack NATO vessels, preventing any naval support. The Norwegians have strong air support and they were able to hold themselves, for a while. After five days, Soviet superior numbers ensured the defeat of the Norwegians and as many as 2,000 Norwegian soldiers were captured. Another 3,000 Norwegian troops on Varanger Peninsula, near Vadsø, were not able to give much assistance to their companions. Later, the Soviets established defensive perimeter near the border.
Poland, even though was still considered as an ally by the Soviet Union, has now became military target for the Soviet troops attempting to restore order and rescue thousands of their comrades trapped inside the country. Over 100 Soviet strategic bombers like the Tu-95 bomber, with several fighter squadrons escort, conducted massive bombardments of known anti-communist locations and concentrations within Poland. Nearly all eastern part of Poland experienced total blackout due to the destruction of many power plants inside the country. The blackout caused great havoc within the country, and immediately three main offensive were launched by the Soviet ground forces. On northern Poland, Soviet forces near the border south of Kaliningrad, moved toward Gdańsk. After several bitter engagements with the anti-communist Polish forces, Soviet troops broke Polish defense perimeter at Vistula River and they faced large number of anti-communist forces near the city. On eastern Poland, after overwhelming several border guard units, Soviet forces advanced and encircled the city of Warsaw. The city of Warsaw itself has been heavily bombarded by Soviet Air Force, and signs of resistance against Soviet troops spread unevenly within the city. While on the southeast of Poland, divisions of Soviet Army advanced rapidly and were stopped on a river east of Kraków due to fortifications constructed and strong resistance given by Polish anti-communist forces. Meanwhile, two Soviet divisions which were previously trapped in northwest Poland were able to continue their move after the arrival of air support and conducted their own offensive toward Szczecin (Stettin). One Soviet division is still trapped inside Poland, however.
East of Paris, nearly 40,000 Warsaw Pact troops were surrounded by French soldiers and their allies numbering more than 90,000. The French High Command has decided not to attack the surrounded troops directly but instead, relentless artillery barrages and bombs dropped by NATO aircraft were unleashed. Several Soviets and Czechoslovaks attempted to give sporadic resistance but were immediately beaten back by French forces. After five hours of bombardments, French authority gave pronouncement to the remnants of the surrounded Warsaw Pact troops to surrender. Only few hundreds soldiers chose to surrender and after the time limit given by the French, the bombardments continue for the next 48 hours until virtually Warsaw Pact forces were decimated. At the same time, Warsaw Pact troops on other parts of France began their retreat onto West Germany, on their way east, they also conducted scorched earth policy. Cities like Metz and Nancy were seen burning. 2,000 French prisoners-of-war were also reportedly executed by the Soviets. French soldiers and their allies tried to make a large encirclement from Besancon and south of Belgium. The large scale retreat conducted by the Soviet and Czechoslovak forces avoided most of them from the encirclement, however as many as 3,700 troops couldn't escape in time and were encircled. In the southern part of France, several thousands French troops attempted to restore order at Toulouse and Spanish Army brigades began to enter France. Later, Soviet forces launched dozens of medium-range and long-range missiles aimed at Belgian, Dutch, and French military installations, some missed their target, some which did caused devastating impact, particularly in Belgium.
In Italy, unlike in other fronts, apart from the continued Soviet bombardments of Verona, no large scale battle took place. The "Italian Socialist Republic" has set up a headquarter at Bologna and continued to broadcast appeal to the Italian people to join their cause. The Yugoslavs also broadcasted similar appeal. In addition, the Italian Revolutionary Front established their own council and issued an edict of surrender to all Italian troops within Warsaw Pact territory. Although signs of capitulation from Italian troops remain to be seen, the chaos in Genoa and Milan finally grew into large and open rebellion against the Italian authority, and street battle became common scenes. On the city of Verona, which is now smoldered in ruins, most of the civilian populations have been evacuated west, however several thousands Italian troops remain inside the city and continue to construct more fortifications. On the mountain at northeast Italy, Italian Alpini mountain brigades began to conduct guerilla warfare and harass Warsaw Pact troops in the area.
Southern Bulgaria has now turned into site of several battles between NATO and Warsaw Pact forces, while Bulgaria as a whole has been targeted by American strategic bombers. In contrast to previous weeks, Soviet and Bulgarian aircraft patrol the sky day and night, and night bombing tactic employed by American bombers on Bulgarian airfields was less successful. Many Bulgarian and Soviet fighters within the country avoided being bombed. On southwest Bulgaria, Italian troops attempted to capture the city of Blagoevgrad but were repeatedly repelled by the Bulgarians. After days of inconclusive battle, Yugoslav forces struck from west and pushed Greek forces out of Bulgaria. Italian forces south of Blagoevgrad face the danger of being trapped by both Yugoslav and Bulgarian forces, in which a Bulgarian battalion has recently arrived east of the city. Greek forces around the town of Gotse Dalchev also face similar danger. On southeast Bulgaria, sometimes referred as "Eastern Thrace", the battles swung on NATO's favor, particularly along the Black Sea coast. Largely due to combined air and naval support, Turkish forces met little opposition along the way and captured the port city of Burgas which has been subjected to constant aerial and naval bombardments for five days. Near Svilengrad, however, NATO forces encountered stiff resistance. The area was a stalemate until American B-52 bombers opened the path for NATO offensive and pushed Soviet and Bulgarian forces. The city of Svilengrad was captured by NATO troops. At the end of the week, American B-52 strategic bombers attacked Romanian oil installations while several other B-52 bombers conducted a raid on Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. Oil rigs, refineries, and many government and communication infrastructures were heavily damaged, while the fate of Romanian leader is uncertain.
Caucasus front appears to have become stalemate, but only for few days. Soviet forces launched dozens of Scud and other conventional cruise missiles aimed toward Batumi. The result was very devastating. Over five thousands Turkish soldiers, thousands of anti-Soviet resistance fighters, and many civilians on the area died as a result, while many others were badly injured.
Decisions
…will affect the events from 23 November 1964 to 29 November 1964…
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Re: NATO - Warsaw Pact conflict
- for "On this day in History"
Originally Posted by King Kurt
The Italian military commenced “Operation Julius”, a series of offensives to recapture occupied Italian territory and cut off Warsaw Pact supply lines from Yugoslavia. Some 4,000 Italian Marines conducted amphibious assault near Venice, backed by Italian naval bombardments, while some 3,000-men strong airborne troops parachuted north of Venice. The Warsaw Pact garrisons near Venice were forced to retreat into Treviso and the battle between Italian troops and Warsaw Pact forces with the support of communist sympathizers continued within the city. On the other parts of Italy, Italian tanks and other armored fighting vehicles rolled from Rimini into Ferrara. The scattered communist garrisons, primarily the Soviets, made their last stand in the city of Ferrara. While other Italian armored columns moved toward Bologna through Forli, and joint by Italian infantry battalions. At Parma, units of the Italian Army, supported by reinforcements arrived from the south, moved toward Modena. It is clear that if the city of Ferrara was taken by the Italian military, communist forces in the city of Bologna will be isolated from the rest of Warsaw Pact forces in Italy. Near Austrian border in northeast Italy, Italian Alpini mountain units continue to harass Warsaw Pact forces and disrupt logistic support on the mountain. 
In respond to the uprisings at Genoa and Milan, Italian government finally deployed large numbers of troops to destroy the communist sympathizers. Infantry battalions of the Italian Army and pro-government paramilitary engaged the communist supporters in heavy street battles at Milan. At Genoa, several battalions of an Italian mechanized division entered Genoa and battled communist supporters. Large numbers of communist were executed in both cities.
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