PS to your post. Your said “tripwire”. That is exactly what units on the border were. We were THE early warning system if the Soviets came across. We were told our life expectancy was about 8-10 seconds if they decided to come. Just long enough to grab the quick phone to our higher HQ and scream “here they come” and then be blown to pieces by incoming.
FRiend, thanks for your service. Since you spent so much time over there you will know that the Germans have always been wobbly. Nothing new here. Putting a few American troops on the line to stiffen them up has always been required.