19 June 1941 Part 2

19 June 1941 Commander-in-Chief West reports planned island reinforcements and requests

[Scan 1182.jpg] Army teleprinter network, received 19 June at 19:20; transmitted 18:55, HPRXMV France 883. To Army High Command, Army General Staff, Operations Branch; for information Sixteenth Army (T). Top secret. Reference: Operations Branch IIa no. 1101/41, top secret, commanders-only, 13 June 1941.

1) Planned deployment on the Channel Islands: a) Guernsey: one infantry regiment of the 319th Division, Machine-Gun Battalion 16, a regimental headquarters from Artillery Commander 141, eight captured tanks. Commander: infantry regimental commander. b) Jersey: one infantry regiment of the 319th Division. Commander: Commander of the British Channel Islands. Assignment of a battalion headquarters from Artillery Commander 141 for the heavy artillery has been requested. c) Alderney: unchanged. In addition, for a–c, existing light artillery and the promised heavy artillery. Distribution, including headquarters, is still being reviewed. The 716th Division will be employed in the 319th Division’s area as corps reserve.

[Scan 1183.jpg] 2) Reinforcements will be transported with air and sea protection. Infantry: beginning 19 June, ending 22 June. Captured tanks: 22 June. Army High Command can deliver heavy artillery to Granville at any time. 3) Personnel reinforcement of the captured-gun batteries has been carried out. 4) Air Fleet Command 3 cannot reinforce the existing antiaircraft batteries. 5) Strengthening existing field fortifications is under way; reconnaissance for permanent construction is being initiated. 6) Stocks initially for thirty days and four ammunition allocations are planned.

7) Requests: make one heavy battery, 21 cm, on each island mobile; supply at least one light antiaircraft battery per island; provide each battalion with an additional fixed-position establishment of six light mortars, six heavy mortars, two light infantry guns and two antitank guns through the Chief of Army Armaments and Commander of the Replacement Army. 8) From 22 June, details will be reported in Tuesday and Friday evening reports each week. A detailed report with maps will follow after completion of reconnaissance and reinforcement. Army Group A headquarters, Branch T, Ia no. 1003/41, top secret. Closing: 19:20, HPRXMV 883, for Operations Branch, Modregger, GHZPH.

German Army High Command records, T-78 Roll 317. Supplied English translation T78_Roll_317_English_Translation.docx. Source images: 1182.jpg, 1183.jpg.