18 October 1941 Part 5

18 October 1941 Proposed reinforcements for the 319th Infantry Division on the Channel Islands

[Scan 1101.jpg] Army teleprinter network. Received 18 October at 23:59; transmitted 18 October 1941 at 23:30, GHMEX 01065. To Army High Command, Operations Branch. Top secret command matter. Operations Branch receipt stamp: 19 October 1941. No. 38067/41 [suffix partly unclear]. Handwritten: Organization Branch receives a copy.

Reference: telephone conversation of the Operations Branch (Captain on the General Staff Giese) with Army Group D headquarters, Ia, on 18 October 1941. As ordered, Commander-in-Chief West proposes the following transfers to reinforce the 319th Infantry Division on the Channel Islands:

1. As IV Battalion, Artillery Regiment 319: Light Artillery Battalion 652 of the 712th Infantry Division (three batteries of light field howitzer 16), under First Army. Re-equip this battalion with light field howitzer 14/19 (t).

2. To bring I–III Battalions, Artillery Regiment 319, to full strength: one battery of Light Artillery Battalion 651 of the 711th Infantry Division (light field howitzer 16), under Fifteenth Army; one battery of Artillery Regiment 246 of the 246th Infantry Division (light field howitzer 16), under Seventh Army; one battery of Light Artillery Battalion 671 of the 715th Infantry Division (light field howitzer 16), under Seventh Army.

Re-equip these three batteries as follows: one battery with 8 cm field guns (t); two batteries with 10 cm light field howitzers 14/19 (t). Commander-in-Chief West proposes that the artillery re-equipment under 1 and 2 be carried out in the present command area, and that transfer take place only after the equipment has been issued.

[Scan 1102.jpg] 3. To bring Antitank Battalion 319 to full strength of the 319th Infantry Division, the following is proposed: a) transfer the antitank company of Antitank and Reconnaissance Battalion 225 of the 225th Infantry Division (Fifteenth Army); b) the antitank company of Antitank and Reconnaissance Battalion 216 of the 216th Infantry Division (Fifteenth Army).

Commander-in-Chief West reports that, with the further reinforcements also envisaged by Army High Command, the Channel Islands will now really possess sufficient defensive strength, in his responsible assessment. Particular attention is drawn to the increased supply tasks resulting from the rising numbers of men and horses. Furthermore, additional transfers from his own area for these islands would diminish the other coastal defences and readiness for special missions.

Commander-in-Chief West, Army Group D headquarters, Ia, no. 1470/41, top secret command matter. Closing transmission: 23:59, GHMEX 01065, von Zahn, GANNA.

German Army High Command records, T-78 Roll 317. Supplied English translation T78_Roll_317_English_Translation.docx. Source images: 1101.jpg, 1102.jpg.