So, I always figured it'd be the Soviets who invaded Sweden, should they choose to do so.
Probably not a wise move, but in war, opponents don't always make the brightest moves.
Makes sense if/when attacking from the north, to seize Norway, and the upper reaches of Northern Sweden, though here, I imagine Sweden could be bypassed, without too much difficulty, or concern.
However, I see them making a stab across the Baltic, to seize Stockholm through envelopment. Gavle in the north, and Nykoping in the south, or thereabout for both.
Perhaps attacking at/near Harnosand as well, further north, in order to drive through to Ostersund, and over the border into Norway, splitting both countries in half.
Gotland would also be seized by a combined helo and amphibious attack, during the early hours of WWIII.
Additional forces would also attack the southern region of Sweden as well, in order to threaten the naval bases at Malmo and Karlskrona, and to neutralize them.
The Soviets/Warsaw Pact will do the same on the southern side of the Baltic, against West Germany, and Denmark, in order to try to seize control of the straits there to the North Sea. I imagine, without the use to tactical nukes, that taking the areas bordering the straits to be very difficult, if not impossible.
However, due to Reagan's strengthening of NATO, up to and including tactical nukes of their own, it is deemed unlikely that the Soviets/WP will actually use them in this scenario, since nobody wins if that happens.
So, my questions are, if the communists decide to attack, whose forces will they use for the amphibious landings, and helo attacks?
I suspect Soviets from mid-Sweden north, but am less sure about the southern tip of Sweden.
I seem to recall plans that perhaps the Poles would be involved in attacking there, on both sides of the Baltic, after the East Germans lead the way through West Germany, along the northern coast there. I imagine these forces would have to be backed up by the Soviets as well, in order to ensure their "loyalty" and the Soviet leadership's directives.
Not even sure either force would really go on the offensive vs. NATO and the Swedes, unless they were first attacked by NATO, which I find unlikely to occur.
So, any thoughts on which forces might/might not participate in an offensive during WWIII, started by the Soviets?
Of course, I suspect they might use misinformation/propaganda, and blame NATO for attacking them first, so they have to go to war, but still, not sure your average East Germans and Poles would really be game to go on the offensive in other countries, given some of the unrest from back then (especially in Poland).
Then again, perhaps I'm overthinking it, and shouldn't let "little things" like that get in the way of a good game. I suspect the Soviets could be very, very persuasive when needed, in order to get others to comply with their wishes.
Thoughts?
I think the mid-Swedish and northern attacks (only the latter if really needed to shore up the northern attack into Norway) by the Soviet forces are sound, but not sure about the others.
