13 May 1944 Part 2

13 May 1944 Part 2 Commander’s visit of 10–12 May: Alderney and the invasion approaches

Date note: 13 May 1944.

Ia No. 2528/44 Secret Command Matter. Army headquarters, 13 May 1944.

Four copies; first copy. Two annexes.

Report on the Commander in Chief’s visit to the area of LXXXIV Army Corps, 10–12 May 1944.

10 May 1944

1. Discussion with Commander in Chief, Army Group B.

The Führer’s assessment of the situation is that the British intend the limited Cotentin operation, with Cherbourg as their objective, to achieve an initial success. In the event of an attack on Cotentin, Army Group intends to send as additional reinforcements the 12th SS Panzer Division and a Nebelwerfer rocket-launcher brigade.

Artillery Regiment 621 remains on Cotentin. After a few days it is to return to positions on the east coast; an application is required for this.

Clear command arrangements are to be settled later. For the time being, the units deployed on the coast remain there even after reinforcements arrive. The 243rd Division remains responsible for coastal defence even if the situation changes.

The Commander in Chief, Seventh Army, states: LXXXIV Army Corps is fully occupied with command on Cotentin. An additional corps headquarters should be employed for the Calvados area in the event of fighting. As preparation, employment of LXXIV Corps is envisaged in the radio exercise. Taking over the 711th Infantry Division is not intended, either for this or for battle. General Field Marshal Rommel agrees.

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The reinforcing divisions and units for Cotentin must be stocked like the coastal defence divisions. Caves at La Meauffe (7 km north of Saint-Lô) and Bretteville are suitable for bombproof storage of ammunition and rations. A transfer from XXV Army Corps will be requested.

Following a briefing on incorporating supply troops within the divisional position areas, it is decided that all supply installations are to be placed between the coast and the landward front, or within the position areas of divisions deployed against airborne forces. This is to shorten transport routes and provide denser occupation within the defensive area against airborne troops. The supply installations of the whole 243rd Infantry Division also belong within its position area.

LXXXIV Army Corps headquarters is to be moved into the centre of the peninsula. If enemy airborne landings occur in the area previously occupied by supply installations echeloned to the rear, the panzer divisions will be available to oppose them.

The Commanding General, LXXXIV Army Corps, describes Alderney as a source of concern. The enemy may succeed in smashing the island with his air force and eliminating its long-range fire effect. In attacking the northwestern part of Cotentin’s west coast, the enemy has at least two routes available: the Raz Blanchard and the passage between Guernsey and Alderney. After neutralising the island batteries not protected by casemates, the route between Jersey and Guernsey can also be chosen for the approach. Consequently, the coastal strip northwards from Portbail is most endangered.

In assessing the possible timing of an enemy landing, account must be taken of the likelihood that the enemy will land before or after the highest high-water level, rather than at that level.

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The period of heightened danger therefore extends to about two periods of ten days per month, during dawn. The airborne troops’ exercises in moonlight may also indicate that the enemy will exploit moonlight.

General Field Marshal Rommel further remarks that, apart from railway installations, no main focus has yet been discernible in enemy air attacks.

2. Journey to Cotentin’s north coast west of Cherbourg and west coast (Vauville and Sciotot bays), inspecting individual resistance nests and Army coastal batteries (1st and 3rd Batteries, Regiment 1262).

3rd Battery, Regiment 1262, a railway battery, is in an open firing position and easily vulnerable. In Vauville Bay, coastal foreshore obstacles are continuous, though shallow in depth; in Sciotot Bay they are still entirely absent.

When the 243rd Infantry Division occupies the coast, mines must be lifted in places. Lifting must be restricted as far as possible (application by 709th Division).

11 May 1944

1. Inspection of the western part of Cherbourg’s landward front. Strongpoint Südpfeiler, on the Valognes road, has permanent fortifications and completed obstacles; communication trenches and dummy installations are lacking. Resistance nests 458, 459 and 467 have field fortifications. Inundations are partly effective and partly in preparation.

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The commander of II Battalion, Grenadier Regiment 921, requests clarification about making the battalion mobile and withdrawing it. The Commander in Chief orders that movements must not take place at present.

Westeck is fully constructed, with strong obstacles. The anti-tank ditch is effectively swept by embrasures. Installing this very small one-man embrasure position is absolutely necessary to engage infantry, which could otherwise use the anti-tank ditch as a covered approach.

Battery Landemer is partly completed; two guns ready to fire. Resistance nest 229, with two anti-tank guns in a cavern, is very well constructed, with good fields of fire.

Bastion Battery, Cherbourg Arsenal: four 10.5 cm submarine guns. Casemates complete, but earth covering and camouflage of the position still required. Battery Roule likewise complete except for earth covering and camouflage.

East of Cherbourg: resistance nests 209, 204 and Osteck. Resistance nest 403b near Fermanville, forming the connection with the eastern landward front, has good field fortifications and is occupied by Eastern Battalion 649. The boundary between Cherbourg Fortress and Coastal Defence Group Barfleur is well protected by inundation.

Inspection of individual resistance nests of the eastern landward front. The troops deployed, I Battalion, Grenadier Regiment 922, have developed the position well. Construction of the important six-embrasure turret at resistance nest 418 on the Cherbourg–Théville road is stopped for lack of cement.

2. Individual matters.

(a) Artillery is lacking on the landward front, since the casemated guns can fire only seawards. Eastern Battalion 649 could man an equipment battery in the eastern part of the landward front. Clarification and order by the Staff Officer for Artillery.

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(b) The fortress commandant reports that Corps has allocated no concrete for infantry defence. The Fortress Engineer Commander must submit the corps’ concrete allocation. The fortress needs 3,000 cubic metres for small combat installations. Supply from Army reserves is currently impossible because of transport difficulties.

(c) Excavators for anti-tank ditches stand idle at several places for lack of fuel. The area engineer has been instructed to remedy this by borrowing fuel from fortress engineer offices or troops.

12 May 1944

1. Inspection of La Pernelle height. Bombs of particularly large calibre have been dropped there. 9th Battery, Regiment 1261: five guns in casemates and ready to fire; sixth gun to be ready by 14 May. At 6th Battery, Regiment 1261 (Morsalines), the northern part of the battery was caught by carpet bombing. Two guns out of action; fire-control post damaged. Four guns ready to fire, but not as an anti-shipping battery. 4th Battery, Regiment 1261, near Quinéville, complete except for camouflage.

Naval Battery Marcouf: five bombing attacks with 700 bombs; no equipment losses or casualties. Earth covering and camouflage not yet complete. Anti-airborne obstacles are absent in the meadows near the battery.

2. Individual matters. Once the coastal foreshore obstacles are completed in considerable depth, the barrage areas will change. In general the barrage will then have to lie in front of, on the seaward side of, the obstacles.

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Artillery Commander 118 must be able to intervene directly in matters concerning employment of Artillery Regiment 621. Clarification necessary.

Army coastal artillery is short of about 50 men per battalion. Requests for personnel to man searchlights and 3.7 cm anti-aircraft guns are urgent. The constant turnover of Army coastal artillery officers is intolerable. Personnel changes must stop, since transfers out and constant turnover already leave Army coastal artillery behind naval artillery in quality.

Organisation Todt, Luftwaffe and Navy vehicles are not dug in. At many places there are still huts within the positions, some even still being built and painted.

The 709th Infantry Division has formed a special column from supply troops to manufacture dummy installations in series and set them up in the terrain. All divisions should adopt this procedure.

3. Inspection in Coastal Defence Sector H2 (352nd Infantry Division).

Resistance nest 92 near Géfosse-Fontenay has reinforced field fortifications. Aircraft bombs at an open entrance caused two casualties inside the emplacement. Conclusion: temporarily close open entrances with sandbags or timber walls.

2nd Battery, Regiment 1261 (Pointe du Hoc): hit by 160 bombs; three guns ready to fire.

Demonstration of the mine-shell device on the cliff near Vierville (see attached sketch, first copy only). Great effect, including on morale. The Army Engineer Commander/Ia is to send all divisions details of manufacture and installation. Use on cliffs in other sectors, in Brittany, is advisable.

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4. Briefing by the Commanding General, LXXXIV Army Corps.

(a) Enemy situation. Enemy air activity increased sharply from 23 April. Coastal batteries are the main bombing targets. Apparently only trial drops have been made on transport routes; these too have caused interruptions. Air reconnaissance over Cotentin suggests that the enemy may intend the larger operation. No definite conclusions can be drawn. Since 1 May there has been lively reconnaissance over the islands without discernible focal points.

(b) Reorganisation. The 243rd Infantry Division assumes command on the afternoon of 12 May. Its main concentration is on the right. Mobile Panzer Battalion 206 is intended for operations against airborne troops on the Nachrichten peninsula [German source designation]. Engineer Battalion 243, hitherto in Coastal Defence Group Granville, is being returned to the division. In its place, 1st Company, Engineer Battalion 319, goes to Special-Purpose Regiment 752.

Parachute Regiment 6 and Panzer Replacement and Training Battalion 100 are placed under 91st Infantry Division. Parachute Regiment 6 is inexperienced in combat; officers and NCOs have little training. The Commander in Chief orders that the assault battalion be used for training.

The 12th SS Panzer Division is to be brought into the area south of Saint-Lô. According to General Field Marshal Rommel’s revised view, the 21st Panzer Division is no longer to be used on the coast. An advance detachment is to be moved into the area south of Montebourg.

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Composition: panzer reconnaissance battalion; one panzergrenadier battalion; one self-propelled artillery battalion; one assault-gun battery; one engineer company. Commander: commanding officer of Panzergrenadier Regiment 125.

For the Corps’ proposal to reinforce Cotentin, see attached map, first copy only.

5. Afternoon inspection of resistance nest 68 (Saint-Laurent): one double-embrasure emplacement complete; one 8.8 cm embrasure under construction. Cement lacking for this and four further embrasure emplacements.

Resistance nest 81 (Colleville): 8.8 cm embrasure emplacement complete.

At resistance nest 38 (Asnelles), construction progress also unsatisfactory. Cement particularly urgent for one anti-tank emplacement for which steel and other building materials are available.

Supply of cement and steel to LXXXIV Army Corps Headquarters is especially urgent for: (a) foreshore obstacles; (b) gaps in construction between Courseulles and Asnelles; (c) all embrasure emplacements whose formwork is ready.

[Signature: reading appears Hellmich; uncertain. Handwritten distribution: Fortress Engineers VII; Senior Quartermaster; Army Engineer Commander/Area Engineer/Staff Officer for Artillery; Ia.]

Annex note: the accompanying operational map is reproduced below. The other annex is a technical sketch for a mine-shell device, not a map; it is not reproduced as a picture under the requested maps-only rule.

Original map annex to the May inspection report. Cotentin mainland dispositions. KVA means coastal defence sector; GR means Grenadier Regiment. Source: img058.jpg, section 10, horizontal pixels 18816–22052.

German Seventh Army Headquarters (AOK 7), NARA T-312 Roll 1565. Roll 1565 Jersey and Channel Islands English translations.docx, reference 32. Scan extracts: img058_01_0_2011.jpg, img058_02_2011_4023.jpg, img058_03_4023_6036.jpg, img058_04_6036_8033.jpg, img058_05_8033_10015.jpg, img058_06_10015_11986.jpg, img058_07_11986_13957.jpg, img058_08_13957_15941.jpg. Extract filenames identify the original image strip, section number and horizontal pixel boundaries; these are not archival frame numbers.