Map of the events of Day One. On the left, the advance of 20th Guards Division causes the US Cavalry units to withdraw. On the right, 39th Guards Division, advancing from the direction of Kassel meet resistance near Ellinghausen (centre) and Fuldabruck (right). Click on this image to enlarge (Warning: this image is large!)

Once the sun is up, the Soviet Union vies with NATO for control of the air and the lead elements of the Soviet 39th Guards Division meet growing resistance.

In the centre, the 117th Mechanised Regiment, 39th Guards Division attempts to cut the Kassel - Fulda Autobahn west of Bad Hersfeld. The regiment runs into resistance at Ellinghausen, and are held. Further west (right), the 39th Guards Tank Regiment is decimated near Fuldabruck.

Fuldabruck 9:30 Hours

Beggining of the Battle of Fuldabruck. Initial Russian attack by the 3 motor rifle battalions of 120th Regiment 39th Guards Division. Two West German battalions are dug in, one panzer and one mixed. A company of panzers on the Soviet left flank attacks but gets pinned down in the open. A gas attack on the town results in no casualties.

Fuldabruck, the Soviet 39th Tank Regiment arrives. A NATO gas attack on the Soviet left flank proves ineffective. Soviet Hind Helicoptors damage West German armour in the open, before leaving the field. While causing problems for the West Germans, the Hinds do not prove to be a deciding factor in this battle.

Middle of the Battle of Fuldabruck. Soviet forces are held on their left and centre. The Germans counter attack with a reinforcing panzer battalion on the Soviet right. The Russian second wave - the 39th Tank Regiment of the 39th Guards Division - attempts to flank the town, also to the right. West German TOWs and tanks firing from cover effectively wipe out the Tank Regiment.

End of the Battle of Fuldabruck. Final moves. Russians retreat in the centre having taken heavy losses. German Panzer company on the Soviet left breaks. All German forces are weakened, but the Russians have been decimated and are too weak to continue the attack. Result: A draw.

The Soviet 120th Mechanised Regiment, 39th Guards Division, and the 39th Tank Regiment, 39th Guards Division are stopped and decimated in their attack south of Fuldabruck, by elements of the West German 2nd Jaeger (Light) Divison. Most of the armour in both Soviet formations is stripped by TOWs, and the Soviet attack is stalled.

Soviet forces dig in and are unable to advance.

Ellinghausen 11:30 Hours

The central battle is for Ellinghausen, and this topographic map shows clearly the extremely hilly terrain of the Fulda Gap region. Map has north to the top, and so is inverted with respect to other maps and images on this page. Visible is the village of Ellinghausen and the Kassel to Fulda autobahn. Here the Soviet 117th Mechanised Regiment attacks south via Hainrode in attempt to cut the autobahn.

Topographic Map of the Ellinghausen area. North to top of map. (Note: This means this map is upside down with respect to all other maps on this site).

Initial Moments in the Ellinghausen assault. On the left, Soviet recon units have encountered West German mechanised Jaeger forces. A non-persistant gas attack is brought down on the West Germans, who quickly button up inside their Marder APCs, taking light casualties. On the road past Hainrode the 1st and 3rd battalions of the 117th/39th Guards advance. On the right a flanking attack by 2nd battalion is developing, but this too will meet with disaster.

The 117th Motor Rifle Regiment Attacks! With the aid of Hind ground attack helicoptors, an attempt is made to dislodge the NATO forces. However, the US 11th Cavalry has arrived, bringing with it Huey Cobra attack helicopters. These perform pop-up attacks while directed by the Loach helicopter near Ellinghausen. The Loach is later shot down, but the Soviet armour proves no match for the A1 Abrams tanks of the US Cavalry.

Ellinghausen. Marders and Leopard I's of 51st Mechanised and 56th Tank Battalion of West German 2nd Jager Division hold off the Soviet 117th Regiment of 39th Guards Division, until US 11th Cavalry can arrive.

The 1st Battalion, 117th Mechanised Regiment, 39th Guards Division strikes down the road from Hainrode towards Ellinghausen. Leopard I's from 56th Tank Battalion, 2nd Jaeger Division decimate the battalion's armour, and the remains of the unit seeks cover in the nearby forests. The 2nd Battalion swings west past the village of Nausis and also suffers casualties. The unit withdraws to cover. At this point, K Reconnaisance Company and M Tank Company, both of 3rd Battalion, 11th Cavalry Regiment, arrive to reinforce. The cavalry has arrived! The Soviet 3rd Battalion makes a second attempt to force the Hainrode - Ellinghausen route, and is also driven to ground. The autobahn cannot be reached. The Soviets dig in.

Afternoon, Day One

In the afternoon of Day One, US Cavalry and 2nd Jaeger units withdraw south west towards Frankfurt, and solidify their defence on a line from Lohr to Frankenburg Eder. The Soviet forces follow up, with 57th Guards Division and 79th Guards Division arriving to reinforce the assault. As the sun goes down, the Soviets press the US and West German forces closely.

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