10 November 1942 Part 8

10 November 1942 Island alert and precautions against airborne attack

Date note: Army-level instruction supplementing the naval diaries’ local readiness entries. An alert is not evidence of an attack.

Seventh Army Ia No. 5024/42, secret command matter. To XXV and LXXXIV Army Corps; SS Panzer Corps for information. 10 November 1942; receipt 18:50. Highest priority.

1. The situation remains unclear. Enemy operations against the coast, including airborne operations, must be expected.

2. Weather during the night of 10/11 November: wind force 1–2, very slight seas. Visibility frequently moderate to very hazy. Conditions exceptionally favourable for enemy operations of every kind.

3. From 19:00 on the night of 10/11 November, Alert Level I along the entire coastal front including islands for all armed-forces elements employed in land defence, but excluding auxiliaries and personnel on combat-duty rosters, and without fuel expenditure. Army Group reserves not moving remain at heightened readiness in their quarters.

Particular attention is drawn to active and passive air defence and suitable precautions against air attacks at all assembly areas. Watch for parachutists throughout the army area.

4. At daybreak on 11 November Army Headquarters will request Commander-in-Chief West to cancel Alert Level I.

By order: signed Brücker. After despatch: Senior Quartermaster, Ic, Ia war diary. Certified by lieutenant.

German Seventh Army records, T-312 Roll 1548. T312 Roll 1548 English translation REVIEWED EDITION 4.docx. Local source scans: 0957.jpg.