CENTAG wartime structure in 1989

The Central Army Group (CENTAG) was a NATO military formation comprising four Army Corps from two NATO member nations comprising troops from Canada, Germany and the United States. During the Cold War, CENTAG was NATO's forward defence in the southern half of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). The northern half of the FRG was defended by the four Army Corps of NATO's Northern Army Group (NORTHAG). During wartime, CENTAG would command four frontline corps (II German, III German, V US, and VII US). Air support was provided by Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force.

In addition to these forces, the French Forces in Germany (made up of the I Corps and II Corps) were associated with the Army Group. In 1966, France had withdrawn from the NATO Command Structure, but it still wished to take part in the defence of Western Europe. A series of secret US-French agreements made between NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and the French Chief of the Defence Staff detailed how French forces would reintegrate into the NATO Command Structure in case of war. At the outbreak of hostilities, the French First Army would be placed directly under the command of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), which would employ the three corps' of First Army as needed. Three armored divisions of the First Army were based within Germany and held yearly maneuvers with their allies to train for the moment French units would be committed to CENTAG (see also: Structure of the French Army in 1989).

The complete wartime structure of CENTAG in the fall of 1989 at the end of the Cold War follows below:

56th Field Artillery Command

The 56th Field Artillery Command was organized to always report directly to the highest commander in Europe at the time. Therefore, during peacetime, they reported to the United States Army, Europe, whereas, during heightened tension or war, command passed to NATO, with Allied Air Forces Central Europe as the next higher headquarters.[1]

HQ CENTAG

18th Engineer Brigade

1st Canadian Division

note 1: In case of war approximately 1,400 men from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group would have been sent to Germany to bring 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group to full wartime strength.
note 2: Each of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group's mechanized battalions fielded the following equipment: 2x M577, 65x M113, 11x Lynx, 18x M113 TUA with TOW, 24x M125 with a 81mm mortar.

III German Corps

Structure of the III German Corps in 1989 (click to enlarge)
4 PzGren.
5 PzGren.
6 Panzer
2 Art.
13 PzGren.
14 Panzer
15 Panzer
34 Panzer
5 Art.
35 PzGren.
36 Panzer
12 Art.
3 Aviation
Location of III German Corps and its units in 1989

2nd Panzergrenadier Division

5th Panzer Division

A Leopard 1 tank of 1st Platoon, 4th Company, 153rd Panzer Battalion during REFORGER '83 near Effolderbach

12th Panzer Division

26th Airborne Brigade

V US Corps

Structure of the V US Corps in 1989 (click to enlarge)
1/3 Armor
2/3 Armor
3/3 Armor
4/3 Armor
1/8 Inf.
2/8 Inf.
3/8 Inf.
4/8 Inf.
12 Aviation
41 Artillery
42 Artillery
Location of V US Corps and units in 1989
American M110A2 203mm self-propelled howitzers during REFORGER '85 near Weitershain

3rd Armored Division

4th Infantry Division

8th Infantry Division

A M60A3 TTS of 2nd Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment of the, 8th Infantry Division during REFORGER '82

194th Armored Brigade

197th Infantry Brigade

11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

VII US Corps

Structure of the VII US Corps in 1989 (click to enlarge)
1/1 Armor
2/1 Armor
3/1 Armor
4/1 Armor
3/1 Inf.
1/3 Inf.
2/3 Inf.
3/3 Inf.
4/3 Inf.
11 Aviation
17 Artillery
72 Artillery
210 Artillery
Location of VII US Corps and its units in 1989

1st Armored Division

1st Infantry Division

3rd Infantry Division

A M2 Bradley from 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division during REFORGER '85

2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment

II German Corps

Structure of the II German Corps in 1989 (click to enlarge)
28 Panzer
II DE
4 PzGren.
10 PzGren.
11 PzGren.
12 Panzer
4 Artillery
10 Panzer
29 Panzer
30 PzGren.
10 Artillery
1 GebJg.
22 PzGren.
23 GebJg
24 Panzer
8 Artillery
1 Airborne
25 FschJg
2 Aviation

4th Panzergrenadier Division

1st Mountain Division

1st Airborne Division

note 3: during peacetime the 1st Airborne Division had oversight over the 25th, 26th and 27th Airborne brigades, which during wartime fell under the command of the three corps' of the Bundeswehr.
note 4: the 1st Airborne Division kept a fully functional and equipped general staff ready to be deployed with ACE Mobile Force (Land) (AMF(L).

10th Panzer Division

25th Airborne Brigade

Notes

  1. ↑ "Pershing Keeps Soviet Bear at Bay" (PDF). Pershing Cable. 25 (1). 1986. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  2. ↑ Challenge and Commitment - A Defence Policy for Canada (PDF). Ottawa: Ministry of Defence Canada. June 1987. Retrieved 14 October 2016.

Sources

Further reading

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