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In may 1989 a group of Russian "Hard liners" make a succesful attempt to remove Mikhail Sergeevic Gorbachev from power. These hardlined communist are aided by several high ranking officers of the Red Army and the leadership of the KGB and GRU who consider Gorbachev's "Perestroika" a threat to the State, insult of the Party and Politburo and an economic mismanagement resulting in general poverty among the Russian population.
Shcherbitsky, who was about to be removed from Politburo in the next big meeting in September 1989 is installed as the new 'President'.
The coup comes at a time when Sibirian Coal miners are at strike and people are protesting in Baltic States for independence. General unrest started in Georgia and Ukraine early that year.According to foreign Intelligence Agencies, the coup was triggered after the Ukrainian demand for Independence.
The coup and return of power to the conservative Communists causes the USA to disband the treaty signed during the top Summit with President Reagan in Moscow, May 1988. This treaty called for an end of the Cold War and general reduction and retreat of Soviet and American Forces in Europe.
The USA drafted a plan that include closure of bases in Europe during the 90s such as Upper Heyford (UK), Torrejon (Spain), Hahn (Germany), Zweibrucken (Germany), Rhein Main (Germany), Sembach (Germany) and Soesterberg/Camp New Amsterdam (the Netherlands) in accordance with Russian base closures in Eastern Germany and Poland.
Immediately after the coup, the USA announces to cancel the base closures and reduction of US Armed Forces in Europe.
The new Russian President, Shcherbitsky, fears a general collapse of the loyal regimes in the DDR and Poland under the pressure of mass demonstrations for more freedom and democracy. To counter the fall of these regimes, Shcherbitsky sends vast numbers of troops into the DDR to Poland to supress these demonstrations.
After violent clashes between demonstrators and Russian troops in Berlin and Warschau, in November 1989, Russia sends more troops into the DDR and Poland.
The USA responds with a massive REFORGER (Return Forces to Germany) excersize, hoping to show the new Russian leadership that the USA will not accept such oppression any longer. However the Russians claim that the DDR is threatened by the "aggressive and intimidating show of force by the USA" and announces to move the entire 4th Soviet Air Force from Poland to their war-time bases in the DDR, and sending 6 Guard Regiments from their bases around Moscow to Poland.
The USA and West Germany protest against the now almost double ammount of aircraft in the DDR and feel specially threatened by the 2 Su-27 regiments and extra 4 Su-24 regiments now based within 100 km of the West - East German border. Also the extra 6 MiG-29 regiments in Poland makes the USA feel very uneasy.
The new Russian Communist Leadership keeps the Soviet "satellite" states of Hungaria, Poland, DDR, Bulgaria, Roemania and Yugoslavia under renewed tight control. After the death of Tito, a new Soviet Loyal regime is installed in Yugoslavia and with the aid of Russian troops the "Croation freedom struggle" is swiftly oppressed, at the cost several hundred lives.
During that same year the Russian Leadership learns of Iraqi plans to invade Kuwait. Expecting direct American reaction and not eager to invite US Troops into the Mid-East which would surely undermine Soviet influence in the Mid-East, the Soviet Union manages to "pursuade" the Iraqi 'goverment' to give up their invasion plans. The CIA suspects that renewed political ties between Moscow and Iran and the threat to donate Iraq's entire order of 120 MiG-29, 20 Tu-22, 60 MiG-31 aircraft and 1800 T-80 and 2500 refurbished T-72 tanks to Iran instead greatly helped in the effort to 'convince' the Iraqi's to give up their invasion plans.
Meanwhile the renewed "Cold War" continues but seems to intensify as the years progress. As a reaction to the increasd supply of East German and Soviet MiG-29s in the DDR, the USAF updates and increases it's forces in Germany:
1993: 48th FW at RAF Lakenheath (UK) trades in their F-111Fs for F-15Es.
1994: 26th RW at Zweibrucken (Germany) trades in their RF-4C's and receives two squadrons of F-16C's, becoming the 26th FW.
1994: 52nd FW at Spangdahlem (Germany) phases their last F-4G's out, receiving a squadron of A-10A and F-16C's in return.
1995: 50th FW at Hahn (Germany) receives the first new F-16C Block 30/40 aircraft. By Mid 1995 the 26th FW, 52nd FW and 86th FW (Ramstein) are operating the new block 30/40.
1996: The 81st FW at RAF Bentwaters receives an additional A-10 squadron.
1997: The 16th Air Force at Torrejon, Spain receives an additional F-16 squadron.
1998: F-16C Block 30/40 are being replaced by the new Block 50/52 aircraft. By August 1998 all European based F-16C's are block 50/52.
During the 90s political unrest in Poland and the DDR continues. On the 6th of January 1999 the "Berlin Bloodbath" takes place. East German riot police officers refuse to take action against their fellow countrymen. Many lay off their uniforms and join in what progresses from a peaceful march into a 'people's revolution'. On direct order from Moscow, Russian soldiers open fire at the peaceful march that now exceeds 300.000 people that come together at thhe Branderburger Tor square. There are over 180 casulties and thousand wounded but the people refuse to squatter and fighting breaks out between East German police officers and Soviet soldiers. The commander of the Soviet Armed Forces in the DDR, a ruthless Afghanistan veteran, orders the attack by Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters to oppress this revolution with an iron first. Casulties exceed 1200 and the West is utterly shocked by the "Berlin Bloodbath".
In a reaction of the violent bloodbath, the USAF orders their UK and Spanish based squadrons to deploy to Germany. Also the 8th Carrier Air Group aboard the USS Nimitz which steams up to Wittmundhafen deploy to German bases. Two F-14D, two F/A-18C and one EA-6B squadron deploy to the German Navy base of Eggebeck. Two additional USMC F/A-18D squadrons deploy to Jever Air Base.
The 48th FW with 3 Squadrons of F-15Es deploy to Buchel Air Base. The 20th FW deploys with it's F-111 to Norvenich Air Base, their EF-111 Squadron deploys to Sembach Air Base. The 16th Air Force deploys its F-16 Squadrons to Pferdsfeld Air Base.
US Army units at Hanau, Budingen, Wiesbaden, Landstuhl and Heidelberg all phase out their OH-58s and the units there are joined by Air Cav units from Fort Rucker and Fort Hood, each deploying their AH-64 and UH-60 helicopters to Germany.
The tension rising and the stage is set for a Cold War turning hot!
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Well this is all I could come up with for now. Any good?
[This message has been edited by Tazz (edited January 02, 2001).]
