Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting in 1975 below show President Ford's light-hearted comment about the Italian military.
http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v39/d355
Mr. Colby: Yes. There are some very delicate operations involved.
The preferred Pact organization for operations against NATO consists of the three “fronts”—a Soviet term for an army group charged with taking the main strategic objectives of the attack. In this scenario, the Central Front would make the main Pact effort, using the bulk of the Pact forces—five Soviet and two East German armies. The objectives of this force would be to overrun central Germany and Belgium, up to the French border. The Northern Front—a Polish expeditionary force of three armies—would have the mission of seizing the Jutland Peninsula and the Danish Islands.
Secretary Kissinger: Is that just your theory, or based on some information?
Mr. Colby: They have carried out a series of exercises along these lines, although there have been some variations.
Secretary Kissinger: Mr. President, that is essentially the German Schlieffen Plan of 40 years ago. It's the same theory—they swing around the sides and come through Belgium.
Mr. Colby: It's more like a punch through the middle, and then a swing around.
Secretary Schlesinger: Von Schlieffen would never have thought of the Poles as his strong right flank. (laughter)
President Ford: It's better than the Italians!
http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v39/d355
Mr. Colby: Yes. There are some very delicate operations involved.
The preferred Pact organization for operations against NATO consists of the three “fronts”—a Soviet term for an army group charged with taking the main strategic objectives of the attack. In this scenario, the Central Front would make the main Pact effort, using the bulk of the Pact forces—five Soviet and two East German armies. The objectives of this force would be to overrun central Germany and Belgium, up to the French border. The Northern Front—a Polish expeditionary force of three armies—would have the mission of seizing the Jutland Peninsula and the Danish Islands.
Secretary Kissinger: Is that just your theory, or based on some information?
Mr. Colby: They have carried out a series of exercises along these lines, although there have been some variations.
Secretary Kissinger: Mr. President, that is essentially the German Schlieffen Plan of 40 years ago. It's the same theory—they swing around the sides and come through Belgium.
Mr. Colby: It's more like a punch through the middle, and then a swing around.
Secretary Schlesinger: Von Schlieffen would never have thought of the Poles as his strong right flank. (laughter)
President Ford: It's better than the Italians!
