17 June 1941

17 June 1941 Assignment of the Inspector of Western Fortifications and construction units

[Scan 1194.jpg] Army High Command, Army General Staff/Operations Branch/General of Engineers and Fortresses I I no. 722/41, top secret, 17 June 1941. Fourth of five copies. To Commander-in-Chief West and Inspector of Western Fortifications; for information Inspectorate of Fortresses. Reference: Army General Staff/Operations Branch IIa no. 1175/41, top secret. Subject: protection of the Channel Islands. Received 18 June.

1) To carry out the tasks under the referenced order, the Inspector of Western Fortifications is made available to Commander-in-Chief West. He is to report to Commander-in-Chief West immediately and move his office from Metz to a place designated by that commander. 2) Beyond the referenced order, the following are subordinated to the Inspector for his new task: Fortress Engineer Staff 19 immediately; Fortress Engineer Staff 14 upon replacement, probably on 1 July; Fortress Construction Battalion 152 probably on 1 July; Construction Battalion 158 probably on 1 July. The Inspectorate of Fortresses will expedite the replacement of Construction Battalion 158 by two convalescent companies.

3) The Army fortress engineer offices and construction troops employed in the Commanding Admiral in France’s area remain subordinate to the Inspector for unit administration. 4) The Inspector and Fortress Engineer Staff 19 are to send advance parties into the new area immediately. 5) Requirements for construction materials and equipment are to be submitted to the Inspectorate of Fortresses as soon as possible. By order, [Jacob, signature reading uncertain]. After dispatch: Operations Branch.

German Army High Command records, T-78 Roll 317. Supplied English translation T78_Roll_317_English_Translation.docx. Source images: 1194.jpg.