19 February 1942 Part 3

19 February 1942 Shipping capacity and difficulties supplying the islands

A letter was sent to Higher Command LX and to 319th Infantry Division concerning the supply of the Channel Islands.
At the conference held with Senior Quartermaster West on 12 February 1942, the following questions of island supply were discussed:
1. Increasing the shipping capacity currently available, in order to meet the extensive transport requirements. An increase of 10,000 tonnes in shipping capacity is planned.
2. The provision of new crane installations for the island harbours was promised.
3. Measures to accelerate the loading and unloading of ships.
4. Regulation of leave traffic by 319th Infantry Division during periods of bad weather is essential to prevent men on leave accumulating in the ports.
5. The deployment of a hospital ship has been requested from Army High Command.
The principal causes of the difficulties in supplying the islands are as follows:
a) The excessively slow increase in shipping capacity.
b) The excessively slow improvement of harbour facilities.
c) Friction within the Navy’s command organisation.
d) Inadequacy of the signals organisation.
e) Instability in the organisation.
Special Supply Instructions No. 12 and Special Instructions for the Supply Troops No. 12 were issued.

Editorial note: Complete diary entry for 19 February, including the continuation on the next written page. The conference described took place on 12 February; the diary entry is dated 19 February.

German Fifteenth Army Headquarters (AOK 15), NARA T-312 Roll 504. Supplied translation: Roll 504 Jersey and Channel Islands English translations.docx. Source microfilm strip references: 091.jpg, horizontal pixels 5010–5975 and 6938–7899. Original strip pixel ranges retained because individual frame digits are uncertain.