Draft:Shield 72

Shield 72 was a war game held by the Warsaw Pact from 4 to 16 September 1972. Soviet, Czechoslovak, Hungarian, Polish, and East German armies conducted maneuvers in Czechoslovakia.

Background

In 1968, the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia. The exercise showed that the Warsaw Pact was ready to do the same if its states got out of line.[1]

Exercise

Around 100,000 troops took place in the exercise.[1] Its motto was "Warsaw Pact–The Shield of Socialism".[2]

Preparatory phase

The first and main phase of the exercise was preparatory activity. Units from the participating countries met in Czechoslovakia and deployed to their various exercise areas. It was for units to become familiar with the area and to rehearse more tactical things. It was also used to propagandize the friendship between the Czech population and the visiting soldiers.[2]

Tactical phase

This was the main phase of the exercise. It was partly an opposed force maneuver of red (friendly) and blue (enemy) forces.[2]

12

Czechoslovak, East German, and Soviet officers in 1970

In response to an attack in the general direction of Bratislava, ground forces countered the invasion under Czechoslovak air cover. Polish artillery engaged in preparatory fire before Polish tanks attacked the invaders. They were likely deployed from southern Poland. Hungarian and Czech units launched another attack with Hungarian artillery as support.[2]

Tactical aircraft struck back while Czech and Hungarian motorized rifle divisions and tanks moved over rugged terrain. Bridge-laying tanks were used to get over barriers. Czech motor rifle units were air landed along with their equipment, transported by Soviet aircraft. Reconnaissance units deployed ahead of advancing forces in conjunction with artillery and airstrikes. Helicopters used air to surface rockets to clear lanes for troop advances. Mine-clearing operations were also conducted. Hungarian troops were put ahead in helicopters to put an emphasis on overcoming natural barriers and mobility.[2]

After nightfall, Soviet and Czech units launched an attack with artillery and air support. They used infrared equipment. They represented the second level of Warsaw Pact troops hoping to exploit their earlier successes.[2]

13

The battle moved to Central and Western Czechoslovakia at the beginning of 13 September. Most fighting was in context of an attack on northwestern Bohemia with the goal of taking Prague. The attack was repulsed and Warsaw Pact forces subsequently broke through the enemy defenses. A NATO counterattack was met with a Soviet motorized rifle unit and a German tank unit. Czechs and Germans launched airstrikes and stopped the assault.[2]

Engineers helped Polish and German tanks and motor rifles cross the Elbe River or the Vltava River. Soviet planes then dropped Czech paratroopers behind NATO lines; it was preceded by ground missions against antiaircraft weapons. Soviets landed vehicles after an airhead was secured. Czech units then attacked the enemy's rear and met up with other forces preparing to cross the riverbank. [2]

Artillery and air support began firing across the river. The Germans and Poles used tank snorkeling, ferries, amphibious vehicles, and pontoon bridges to cross. Light tanks and engineers reconnaissance the bank and began to clear mines. The engineers built pontoon bridges while the vehicles crossed through water. The bridgehead was secured and widened by Czech helicopters and German antiaircraft artillery. That night, Hungarians and Czechs pursued retreating enemy troops in southern Slovakia. It covered tens and hundreds of kilometers.[2]

14

NATO units took up hasty defense forces in the Bohemian Forest. They were hard-pressed by the speed and force of the Warsaw Pact. Hungarians defined the enemy positions and gave way to a combined Czech and Hungarian attack which crashed through NATO defenses. Despite reserves from NATO, it was forced to withdrawal. Anti tank and rocket missiles greatly helped the Warsaw Pact forces. Hungarian and Polish troops attacked a strongly fortified enemy post when committing the first level of Warsaw Pact forces. It consisted of tanks and motorized riflemen, attacking in conjunction with sappers who removed and wrecked obstacles. The enemy post was taken when the second level was committed.[2]

German and Polish forces continued their attack from the previous day in the north in an attempt to penetrate NATO defenses. Czech paratroopers and equipment were dropped behind enemy lines to assist this attack. They included 37-39 old reservists who performed well.[2]

15

The night of the 14th had a pause in combat activity. Czech and Soviet units operated in wooded and mountains terrain in northwest Bohemia to attack NATO forces. Some Warsaw Pact forces landed in An-12s in a nearby field. The attack began after artillery bombings and was led by tank and motorized rifle units. This used live ammunition and represented the defeat of NATO. These attacks were supported by tactical airstrikes. The enemy was presumed routed and a pursuit carried by APCs. Motorized riflemen destroyed all enemy resistance. The exercise ended before midday.[2]

A ceremony and reception to celebrate the end of the tactical phase was held in Prague. [2]

16

It officially ended on 16 September. There was a parade in Prague. Selected units went through Letenska Square before Soviet and Warsaw Pact officials. The Czechoslovak Army was commended for its performance by Marshal Andrei Grechko.[2]

Reactions

Baroness Tweedsmuir of Belhelvie said that the exercise was inconsistent with their advocacy for the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.[3]

NATO held its own counter exercise, dubbed Strong Express. They assembled 64,000 men, 300 warships, and 700 aircraft off the European coast from Portugal to Norway. It was to demonstrate NATO's efficiency in coming to its allies aid.[1]

References

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP93T01468R000100080005-6.pdf

https://www.proquest.com/openview/a32426a4cdd4ecb7afa7cb6fd345ff8e/1?cbl=1817043&pq-origsite=gscholar

https://www.jstor.org/stable/45347043

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/A229656_-_NATO_-_Warsaw_Pact_Forces_Mobilization_%281990%29.pdf

  1. ^ a b c "International Notes: War Games". Time. 25 September 1972. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Turbiville, Graham H. (July 1973). "Warsaw Pact Exercise Shield '72". Military Review. LIII (7): 17–24 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Strong Express". www.usslittlerock.org. Retrieved 2025-12-19.

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