1 July 1944 Part 1

1 July 1944 Part 1 Battery Blücher on Alderney supports the fighting near Jobourg

Date note: 1 July 1944.

Secret. Teletype. 1 July. Seventh Army Headquarters, Ia, to Army Group B Headquarters; information to Panzer Group West and Achilles II. Supplement to Ia daily report of 30 June 1944.

1. LXXXVI Army Corps. Slight unloading at La Brèche during the night of 29–30 June. During the night and day, enemy land and naval artillery harassing fire on the coastal road at Houlgate and westwards. The newly reported convoy of thirteen transports and three cruisers could not be observed owing to smoke screening. Four enemy gunboats, after bombarding Houlgate, were forced to turn away by our coastal batteries. Landings at La Brèche screened by smoke during the day. Landings engaged by harassing fire; hits observed on enemy destroyers and transports. Construction of a runway detected between the Orne and Saint-Aubin-d’Arquenay. Two strong assault-patrol thrusts in company strength successfully repulsed.

2. I SS Panzer Corps. No significant combat actions.

3. II SS Panzer Corps. After our attack ceased, enemy drumfire on Hill 112 and the area at and north of Gavrus. In 9th SS Panzer Division’s sector, our assembly for attack between 20:00 and 20:10 was frustrated by a concentrated attack by one hundred four-engined bombers and twenty to thirty fighter-bombers, together with concentrated destructive enemy fire. Strong enemy counter-attacks on the Grainville–Rauray line successfully repulsed, although our artillery could provide little support owing to supply difficulties and poor observation.

4. XXXXVII Panzer Corps. An enemy tank attack from Fontenay against the northern edge of the wood 1 km south was broken up by our artillery. Enemy patrol thrusts everywhere repulsed with heavy enemy losses. Throughout Panzer Group West’s sector, strong enemy fighter-bomber attacks on all roads and tracks.

5. II Parachute Corps. Throughout the day, enemy attacks up to battalion strength, supported by tanks and strong artillery, were repeatedly repulsed with heavy losses in the Saint-Georges–Villiers-Fossard sector. Nineteen enemy tanks destroyed. Despite stubborn resistance by 353rd Infantry Division’s Fusilier Battalion, a strong enemy attack caused a penetration 1.5 km deep and 1 km wide around Villiers-Fossard; it was contained.

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Countermeasures to eliminate the penetration are in progress.

6. Group von Schlieben. Since 21:30, Army Coastal Battery Blücher on Alderney has intervened in the fighting in cooperation with the battle group, successfully engaging the leading enemy assault troops around Jobourg and Herqueville.

At 21:30 the battle group reports: “Command post surrounded; we can no longer get out. Resistance is probably about to collapse. Last report.” Nevertheless, with the forces available, the battle group continues the heroic struggle in accordance with the Führer’s orders.

7. XXV Army Corps. During a clearance operation near Pleuray, 15 km southeast of Carhaix, seven trucks with resistance weapons, ammunition and equipment were captured [source calls resistance members terrorists].

8. II SS Panzer Corps command post from the evening of 30 June: 500 m northwest of Campandré-Valcongrain [source spelling Campaudré Valcongrain].

9. Intentions. Relieve 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division in the main battle sector at Carentan with 353rd Infantry Division, excluding Battle Group Böhm. Replace 353rd Infantry Division in the Le Plessis–Saint-Germain-sur-Ay position with Battle Group 77th Infantry Division as a receiving and supporting position. Assemble 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division as Army reserve northeast of Périers for counter-attack eastwards, northeastwards and northwards. Relieve 352nd Infantry Division with elements of 243rd Infantry Division, to which the already deployed Battle Group 266th Infantry Division will be subordinated.

10. Special matters. Propaganda by members of Georgian Battalion 797 who defected to the Americans influenced Volga Tatar Battalion 627. The commander of Volga Tatar Battalion 627 was wounded in an ambush by his own men. Sixty men defected to the Americans together. Volga Tatar Battalion 627 is being withdrawn immediately; all unreliable personnel are being disarmed.

Seventh Army Headquarters, Ia No. 2000/44 Secret, second issue. Signed Helmdach [Pemsel deleted]. Certified correct: [signature indistinct], Major, General Staff. After dispatch: Ic; Senior Quartermaster; Air Force Liaison Officer, two copies; Ia/war diary; O1.

German Seventh Army Headquarters (AOK 7), NARA T-312 Roll 1565. Roll 1565 Jersey and Channel Islands English translations.docx, reference 71. Scan extracts: img120_07_12036_14023.jpg, img120_08_14023_16004.jpg. Extract filenames identify the original image strip, section number and horizontal pixel boundaries; these are not archival frame numbers.