[Legbreaker]

The Soviets have two armies on the front in west Poland/east Germany, plus a number of less reliable divisions. Looking north we have the entirety of what's left of the Polish military (less a handful of units, most of which have gone rogue). It is my believe that these two Soviet armies were intended to be the main assault force of their planned offensive with one attacking around the north of Berlin and the other around the south.

Nato jumped first however resulting in the planned Pact offensive never getting off the ground to any significant degree. Plans had to be rapidly adjusted from an offensive to counter offensive. The penetration of the Polish sector by the US 5th and 8th IDs meant that Pact commanders could no longer rely on the Poles to secure this area - they had to swing the northern arm of their planned offensive around and attack to the north and north west instead of the probable westerly axis they'd intended (at least in the opening stages).

It wasn't all bad though. The German III Army had effectively opened the door to the Soviets. They'd left their positions, strengthened and fortified over the previous year or two and were now exposed. One might even compare it to WWI - the intial stages of WWIII were mobile as in 1914, then as fuel ran out everyone dug in, just like in 1915-18. The III German Army's move can be equated with leaving the trenches and, although in the attack, exposing themselves (it's not an exact analogy but you get the idea).

The 4th GTA, even running on petroleum, is unlikely to have been immediately in fighting condition upon reaching the front. They would need at least several days to allow straggling units to catch up, reorganise, rest and carry out maintenance after their rapid move across Poland. The value of suprise while not eliminated, would be degraded and Nato commanders could begin redeploying reserves, or strengthen already strong bunkers, minefields and other defensive belts.

Admittedly the units already there preparing for the offensive would probably have rung a few alarm bells, however their increased activity could have been misinterpreted by Nato as a response to their own preparations. The arrival of the 4th GTA would have radically altered Nato plans and expectations.