Here are some of the advisors that will appear in the game.
Military Advisors- Chiefs of Staff
Marshal Segei Fyodorovich Akhromeyev: In the game serves as Chief of the General Staff of the Soviet Union, and is First Deputy under Defense Minister Sokolov. Renowned for his patriotism and professionalism, Akhromeyev served during the entire Great Patriotic War and had a serious commitment to Soviet defense that was shaped by the wartime experience. He was also known for being a serious and conscientious officer during a time when senior leadership was wracked by courruption and cronyism. In the scenario, he continues to hold his position and is a key figure in drafting the plan to win a rapid war before it escalates into the nuclear realm.
In real life, Akhromeyev helped Gorbachev draft proposals for total nuclear disarmament, and received great criticism for this course which was unexpected from such a deeply traditional leader. Eventually, he resigned in 1988 due to his disagreement with where the nation was headed, and specificlaly over the INF treaty and the disarmament of new theater ballistic missiles. After the failure of the 1991 coup, a despondent Akhromeyev committed suicide.
Général d'armée Maurice Schmitt: Chief of the Defense Staff (CEMA) of the French military. A career soldier, he served at both Diên Biên Phu and the Battle of Algiers. He was appointed to CEMA in 1987.
General Hans-Henning von Sandrart: Commander in Chief of Allied Forces Central Europe, and as such, is the NATO Commander directly in command of forces opposing the Warsaw Pact armies smashing into West Germany. Previously serving as Inspekteur des Heeres, the top spot in the Bundeswehr Heer, he was appointed CinC AFCENT in 1987. He reports directly to U.S. General John Galvin, the Supreme Commander (SACEUR) who commands all NATO forces in Europe, including Norway and the Med.
General Colin Powell: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States Armed Forces. After the Goldwaters-Nichols Act, the CJCS is no longer directly in the chain of command, but is the highest ranking military officer in the U.S. and advisor to the President. Powell served in the Viet Nam War, and later had been the National Security Advisor for President Reagan from 1987 to 1989. In the game, he is President Bush's senior military advisor in countering the Warsaw Pact attack and reinforcing Western Europe.
In the real world, Powell did not actually get appointed to CJCS until October of 1989. He was commander of FORSCOM during the first half of the year until Admiral Crowe's retirement. Powell would become known to the populace mostly due to his briefings with the media during the 1990-91 Persian Gulf conflict. Later, he would act as Secretary of State in the early 2000's. In our game, Adm Crowe retires early during the pre-war crisis over differences with the Bush cabinet, and Powell is in the position at the start of the game.
Foreign Advisors
Andrei Andreyevich Gromyko: A force in Soviet foreign policy for 50 years, Gromyko has seen it all. He has previously served as Ambassador to the U.S., U.K., and U.N., and has been Minister of Foreign Affairs since 1957. He is a member of the Defense Council and is one of the most powerful men in the country and a true member of the old guard of leadership. In the game, he still serves as Foreign Minster and is one of the opponents of nuclear action and the war in general, seeking to neutralize the Berlin Spring and prevent Western interference through fierce diplomacy. His energies are directed at weakening NATO resolve and forcing them to negotiate following early Soviet military victories.
In reality, Gromyko supported Gorbachev's appointment as General Secretary. Soon after, however, in 1985 he was removed from his position and made Chairman of the Presidium, an 'elephant's graveyard' post which had prestige but little real power. He would retire in 1989, writing his memoirs and died in July of 1989. In the game, his continued position of power has given him a lease on life through the dark days of August 1989.
Prince Saud bin Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz: The Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, appointed in 1975, and son of King Faisal. Educated at Princeton, Saud Al Faisal maintains Saudi Arabia's complex relationships with fellow Arab countries, the U.S. and the West. With the onslaught of war in Europe, the Middle East stands on the brink of chaos with conflicting national interests and rivalries. Powers may use the distraction of the major combatants to further their own agendas, and the shrewd player that chooses a Middle Eastern power must master both diplomacy and war.
In real life, Saud al Faisal remains in his position today, making him the world's longest standing Foreign Minister.
Hans-Dietrich Genscher: West Germany's longest serving Foreign Minister, the FDP politican is also Kohl's Vice-Chancellor. In the game, Genscher is a popular figure who publicly denounces the Soviet response to the Berlin Spring and calls for withdrawl of Soviet forces from Eastern Europe and open elections in East Germany and other Warsaw Pact states. The escalating crisis and tough rhetoric leads the Politburo to see a Western military intervention as imminent and sets in motion the plan for a preemptive attack on the West.
Genscher was a proponent of Ostpolitik, and would retain his position under the new Kohl government in 1982. He is most known for his outreach to eastern Europe in the late '80s during the collapse of communism.
James Baker: U.S. Secretary of State under President Bush in 1989. He previously worked under both Reagan and Ford, and supported the Bush presidential bid. In the game, he is at the forefront early in his appointment to deal with the developing crisis. He is also at odds with Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, and while he approves of the decision to mobilize reserve forces, he convinces to Bush to delay sending additional forces to Europe prior to the conflict in an attempt to prevent deliberate escalation. Thus, at the start of the game, U.S. REFORGER units are still stateside and must be deployed during the game, but National Guard and major Reserve forces are on the map at the beginning.
Work continues at a slow pace. I've been taking it easy since I've been on this project for a long time and need a break. Also have been doing some playtesting for Civ 3 games and doing the AOI PBEM thing, so not trying to spread things out too thin.
The game progresses, though.