21 June 1944 Part 2

21 June 1944 Part 2 Weekly assessment of naval surveillance around the Channel Islands

Date note: 21 June 1944.

Top Secret Command Matter. Seventh Army Headquarters, Ia, to Army Group B Headquarters. 21 June 1944. Reference: Army Group B Ia No. 1996/44 Secret, 20 June. Weekly report for 11–17 June inclusive.

I. General assessment. Using approximately twenty-five divisions and strong Army troops, with almost unhindered support from powerful air and naval artillery forces, the enemy in Normandy established a continuous bridgehead from east of the Orne to Montebourg and broke through to the west coast at Barneville. Between the Orne and Vire, the enemy tried to break our defensive lines at two main points, on both sides of Tilly and of the Isigny–Saint-Lô road.

These breakthrough attacks, intended to envelop Caen and cut off the southern Cotentin, were repulsed in hard fighting, with local losses of ground. [Deleted wording: very costly to both sides.] The enemy appears to be using the pause to prepare renewed attacks at the same points, bringing up further forces; two new British divisions have already been identified.

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In the northern Cotentin, the American First Army will continue its attack on Cherbourg fortress while screening southwards. The achievements of all troops against a numerically and materially far superior enemy deserve particular emphasis. In Seventh Army’s area, over five hundred tanks and over one thousand aircraft have been destroyed.

II. Enemy situation and assessment.

(a) Land situation.

1. Between 11 and 17 June, the enemy landed the following additional forces by sea: five infantry divisions and four infantry brigades; three armoured divisions and three armoured brigades; one special-service brigade; Army and corps troops.

2. Enemy conduct. East of the Orne the enemy was generally passive, resisting our attacks stubbornly. Concentrations identified north of Caen did not produce the expected attack. Instead, the enemy shifted the main effort to both sides of Tilly, where the British Second Army attacked throughout the week with tank and strong artillery support. After the attempted envelopment towards Villers-Bocage was frustrated and our gap near Caumont closed by offensive action, enemy attacks diminished.

After joining the American V and VII Corps by land, and unsuccessful attacks at and east of Montebourg, the American First Army shifted its main efforts northeast of Saint-Lô and southwest of Sainte-Mère-Église.

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The intended capture of Saint-Lô failed. After taking Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, the enemy broke through to Barneville on the west coast, then turned north while screening southwards.

3. Assessment of enemy conduct. North of Tilly the enemy attempted to wear down our troops through mass employment of material, then break through and roll up the front west of Caen. Continuation of these attacks with the greatest expenditure of material is expected. Capturing Saint-Lô and a double thrust southwestwards west of the Vire to cut off southern Cotentin will remain the objective of American V Corps. The attack on Cherbourg to open the port will probably follow concentration and reinforcement.

(b) Naval situation. Since the invasion, the enemy has employed seven battleships, including two American; seventeen cruisers; one auxiliary cruiser; one monitor; and many destroyers and small naval combat craft. No figures are available for the tonnage of landing shipping employed. Heavy naval artillery continuously covered the whole landing area, intervening immediately at the main points of land fighting with high ammunition expenditure and inflicting heavy casualties on the ground troops. Numerous minesweeping formations and uninterrupted air and sea surveillance operated throughout the Channel, concentrating off Brittany, the Channel Islands and Cherbourg–Le Havre.

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Mine-free channels fifteen nautical miles wide were marked out: from Barfleur to the Isle of Wight; and from Le Havre to off Fécamp, across mid-Channel to Dover. Cruiser patrols have recently been observed off northern Brittany between Saint-Malo and Morlaix.

(c) Air situation. Throughout the week, day and night, continual incursions by very strong bomber and fighter formations, including 1,200–1,400 four-engined aircraft. For fighter escort and continuous fighter and fighter-bomber operations in the battle area, the number employed on 14 June reached approximately 4,500 aircraft. Our anti-aircraft and fighter defence carries little weight against this activity. The ground troops have suffered unprecedented strain through casualties, equipment and vehicle losses, disruption and delay to movements, assembly, supply, orders and reporting.

(d) Internal situation.

1. Normandy. In the combat area a change in mood in our favour is apparent, caused by the Anglo-Americans’ ruthless use of their air force. Leaflet propaganda dropped in large quantities is largely ineffective. Demand for German news is greater than during the preceding quiet period. In the hinterland the population has remained quiet everywhere, but opinion is divided. Most still expect early liberation by the Anglo-Americans.

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The high civilian losses from Anglo-American air attacks have not failed to affect opinion. The Défense passive has, in every case, cooperated harmoniously and well with German military units. The commencement of retaliation, which was no longer expected, has made a deep impression on the population.

2. Brittany. Terrorist activity [the source’s term for resistance activity] has increased substantially since the invasion began and has already necessitated the employment of troops. Since 6 June approximately 180 perpetrators have been shot. Formation of organised resistance groups is currently under way. Numerous cases of young men leaving home, with papers left behind, are observed. [Several intervening words are obscured by overtyping.] Local groups are joining larger armed bands and preparing themselves. Frequent flights by enemy aircraft continually supply existing and newly forming resistance groups.

III. Changes in the state of fortifications. Atlantic Wall construction.

1. Completed during 4–10 June: one permanent fortress work and seven field works. During 11–17 June: five permanent fortress works and two field works.

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2. Reinforced concrete placed, including foreshore obstacles: 865 cubic metres during 4–10 June; 3,740 cubic metres during 11–17 June. Total concrete completed under the special construction programme: 58,612 cubic metres.

3. In Fortress Engineer Staffs 9 and 17’s areas, progress is affected by the invasion, through the loss of local construction activity, withdrawal of Organisation Todt forces and redeployment of fortress engineer units.

4. Labour employed during 4–10 June: coastal front, 976 soldiers and 2,412 civilians; landward fronts, seventy soldiers and 215 civilians. During 11–17 June: coastal front, 595 soldiers and 2,002 civilians; landward fronts, 130 soldiers and 165 civilians.

IV. Personnel losses, killed and wounded: 162 officers and 3,508 NCOs and men. The report is incomplete because casualty reports, particularly from LXXXIV Army Corps, are not yet fully available.

Seventh Army Headquarters, Ia No. 3302/44 Top Secret Command Matter. [Signed.] After dispatch: Ic; Senior Quartermaster; war diary.

German Seventh Army Headquarters (AOK 7), NARA T-312 Roll 1565. Roll 1565 Jersey and Channel Islands English translations.docx, reference 53. Scan extracts: img102_03_3983_5982.jpg, img102_04_5982_7955.jpg, img102_05_7955_9896.jpg, img102_06_9896_11836.jpg, img102_07_11836_13784.jpg, img102_08_13784_15733.jpg. Extract filenames identify the original image strip, section number and horizontal pixel boundaries; these are not archival frame numbers.