In January 1985, the US Army conducted a cold-weather, multinational field training exercise (FTX) in West Germany - Central Guardian. This was part of the strategic mobility exercise REturn of FORces to GERmany 85 (REFORGER 85). The aim of REFORGER 85 and Central Guardian was to rehearse the capacity of US Army forces to reinforce Europe and to fight in adverse weather conditions. These operations were to be carried out in operational circumstances simulating wartime conditions as much as possible. FTX Central Guardian involved the participation of 72,521 troops, 6,938 tracked and 16,531 wheeled vehicles, and 611 helicopters.
This publication shows in great detail and with many action-packed hitherto unpublished photographs how a winter war between the NATO and the Warsaw Pact would have looked like!