Cold War: Operation "Vigilance"

By late 1989, Europe stood on a knife’s edge. A political crisis inside the Eastern Bloc spiraled out of control when a border clash between Soviet and West German troops near Hof resulted in casualties on both sides. Diplomatic channels froze; mobilization orders were issued before either side fully understood what had happened. NATO believed it was witnessing a prelude to a Soviet crackdown in Central Europe. The Warsaw Pact believed NATO was preparing a first strike under the cover of exercises. Within days, tense stand-offs turned into fire exchanges. Within hours, the largest land war since 1945 had erupted across Germany. The first missiles fell before dawn. By noon, entire army groups were in motion.