The Northern Army Group (NORTHAG) was a NATO military formation comprising five Army Corps from five NATO member nations. During the Cold War NORTHAG was NATO's forward defence in the Northern half of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). The Southern half of the Federal Republic of Germany was to be defended by the four Army Corps of NATO's Central Army Group (CENTAG). During wartime NORTHAG would command four frontline corps (I Dutch, I German, I British, I Belgian) and one reserve corps (III US). Air support was provided by Second Allied Tactical Air Force.
There were two additional French corps (III Corps, Force d'action Rapide ) associated with the Army Group. In 1966, France had withdrawn from the NATO Command Structure, but still wished to take part in the defence of Western Europe. A series of secret agreements made between NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and the French Chief of the Defence Staff detailed how French forces would reintegrate into the NATO Command Structure in case of war. At the outbreak of hostilities the French First Army would be placed directly under the command of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), which would employ the three corps of First Army as needed (see also: Structure of the French Army in 1989).
The complete wartime structure of NORTHAG in fall of 1989 at the end of the Cold War follows below: