As the second day dawns, Soviet armoured spearheads are subjected to intense air attack. The US Cavalry forces form up on high ground and resist Soviet pressure. Reinforcements from US Fifth Corps - Third Armoured and 4th Mechanised Divisions - are now passing throguh the suburbs of Frankfurt, intent on counterattacking the Russian assault. On the Soviet right, West German 5th Panzer Division enters the line, sealing off the Soviet attack.

In the afternoon, the Soviet Airforce wrests control of the air from NATO, and immediately air drop the 103rd Airborne Division east of Bad Nauheim, behind the defensive line held by the West Germans.

Afternoon, Day Two

Map of the events of Day Two. On the left, US resistance firms up in the rough terrain between Bad Orb and Lonr. In the centre and right West German formations have formed a solid defensive line, closely pressed by advancing Soviet spearheads. To the south, US Fifth Corps reinforcements arrive. Suddenly the West German defence is thrown into chaos by the landing of the 103rd Soviet Airborne Divison north east of Bad Neuheim. Click on this image to enlarge (Warning: this image is large!)

In response, NATO forces recoil and seal the Soviet Para units into a large salient. Taking advantage of the retreat, 220th Tank Regiment, 79th Guards Division penetrates into the valley of the Rhine River as far as Gelnhausen, where they are stopped by elements of US 3rd Armoured Division. Meanwhile, NATO forces attempt to pinch off the Soviet salient by attacking at the shoulder, near the town of Schotten.

Evening, Day Two

US forces consolidate round the Soviet paratroop units. A single Soviet unit penetrates into the Rhine Valley. A large battle develops on the right shoulder of the Soviet attack, with NATO forces attacking from the direction of Schotten.

Map of the situation, evening of day two. In pulling back to enclose the Soviet Paratroops in their lines, NATO produce a large salient. Taking advantage of this, a Soviet rifle regiment presses on into the Rhine Valley (red arrow). US forces mass around the base of the salient to seal it off, and crush paratroop units closest to Frankfurt. Meanwhile, both NATO and the Warsaw Pact feed forces into the right shoulder of the salient, where a huge battle develops (ringed in red). Click on this image to enlarge (Warning: this image is large!).

Battle of the Shoulder - Defence of Schotten

Three Soviet paratroop battalions have landed on the road-net, north east of Schotten (red dot). From the direction of Schotten pour four West German Battalions - 152nd, 153rd, 154th and 156th, all of the 5th Panzer Division. Later the Soviet 79th Regiment, 57th Guards Division and 174th Regiment, 79th Guards Division arrive. Later still, the US 3rd Battalion, 33rd Regiment and 3rd Battalion, 36th Regiment, both of 3rd Armoured Division, are thrown into battle. These are followed by 2nd Battalion, 33rd Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 36th Regiment, both of 3rd Armoured Division. In the middle of the night, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Regiment, 3rd Armoured arrives. Finally, towards dawn on the third day of the campaign, the Soviet 227th Regiment, 79th Guards Division, arrives to support the threatened paradrop, and finally stabilises the situation in the shoulder.

The Defence of Schotten. The paras have dug into three villages. West German Battalions arrive and deploy into the wooded hills. With the aid of a gas attack, the Mechanised 152nd Battalion, 5th Panzer division, capture the village of Wingerhausen.

As the gas attack dissipates, the remaining soviet paratroops are overwhelmed by the counterattacking West German mechanised forces. Wingerhausen is recaptured.

The Defence of Schotten. 15:00 Hours. The West German 152nd Mechanised Battalion is repulsed in an attack on the village of Eichelsachsen. Six Soviet Motorised Battalions - making up 174/57G and 79/79G Regiments arrive and take up defensive positions on the heights above the valley.

The Defence of Schotten. Late afternoon. Reinforcing battalions of the US 3rd Armoured Division arrive. The Soviet paras in Eichelsachsen are overwhelemed by a whirlwind attack by the 3rd Tank Battalion, 33rd Regiment, US 3rd Armoured. On the other flank the US 3rd Battalion 36th Regiment, 3rd Armoured fails in their assault of the heights, and are repulsed bloodily. In the centre, a West German Tank battalion, unaccompanied by infantry, forces its way into the village of Eschenrod. The Soviet Paratroops flee. After the intervention of higher command, the paratroops rally, and return to the village. Using recoiless rifles and engineers, the paratroops rout the unescorted Leopard II's, which retire to their starting position.

NATO Advances! The US 3rd Battalion, 36th Regiment, 3rd Armoured streams through the village of Wingerhausen, and past the Leopard II's of a West German Panzer Battalion, as they prepare to assault Soviet paratroops (foreground) in the village of Eichelsachsen. In the background more West German Leopard II's cling to the hillside. Further in the distance can be seen an advancing US Mechanised battalion.

The Defence of Schotten. Dusk. On the Soviet right, the US 3/36/3A Mechanised Battalion arrives, seeks cover, then forms up in front of Busenborn before assaulting the Soviet Motorised Battalion on the high ground across the valley. The US unit is repulsed, but the Soviets are now so weakened they have to seek cover within the forest. The Village of Eschenrod suffers a double envelopment - a West German Tank Battalion on one side, and the newly arrived US 2/33/3A Tank Battalion on the other. The area behind the village is now swept by fire, and the village is isolated.

US 2/33 and 3/36 Mechanised Battalions form up to make a second assault on the Soviet Motorised Battalion (foreground). As a result of this assault, the US troops are repulsed, but the Soviets are so reduced, they have to retreat deep into the woods.

The battle of the shoulder of the Soviet salient rages for the entire afternoon and on into evening. It is essential for the Soviets that the position holds, otherwise the salient will be sealed into a pocket, and hopes of reaching Frankfurt will be dashed. Likewise, it is essential for the NATO forces to pinch off the Salient, now well into the Rhine Valley. This is a battle that must be won by both sides.

Throughout the afternoon battalion after battalion are fed into the battle by both sides. Two of the three villages are liberated, but the third village remains in the hands of the Soviets. Multiple attacks are made across the valley floor onto the Soviet heights on the other side. All are repulsed. As dusk falls, both sides have suffered significant casualties, and the Soviets stil hold the high ground and part of the valley.

The Night Assault

As night falls, the Soviet forces find themselves at a disadvantage. Their Infrared (IR) sights are not as effective as the NATO Light Intensification (LI) equipment. The NATO forces are able to creep forward under cover of darkness and monitor Soviet armour without being seen themselves. As the night progresses, more NATO assaults reach the Sovit held high ground, reducing the strength of the Soviet right flank to dangerous levels. NATO casualties are also significant.

The Defence of Schotten. The night assault. Exchanges of fire write down battalion strengths on both sides. On the Soviet right The US 3/36/3A Mechanised Battalion again assaults the Soviet right flank. Reaching the ridge tops, the US forces push through the woods and rout the Soviets. In turn the Soviet battalion recoils and then rallies. Soviet observers call down the divisional rocket artillery, the pattern falling on the APCs of the advancing US Mechanised battalion. The US Battalion routs in turn, and then dissolves, the terrified US troops streaming to the rear.

To the left, the newly arrived 2/32/3A Tank Battalion presses close to the Soviet lines, and writes down the motorised troops. Further left again, the West German tank battalion breaks into the Soviet position on the hilltops! There the Leopard II's run rampant, driving off various Soviet formations. Finally, the first battlaion of the incoming Soviet 227th Tank Regiment arrives to stop the Leopards from reaching the road to the rear.

By the end of the night, some 21 battalions have been fed into the battle of the shoulder, and the majority have suffered casualties. As the dawn comes, both sides struggle to control the high ground on the Soviet right flank.

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