25 June 1944 Part 5

25 June 1944 Part 5 Enemy vessels near the Channel Islands

Date note: 25 June 1944.

Secret. 25 June. Seventh Army Headquarters, Ia, to Army Group B Headquarters, reporting post Polo I. Ia daily report, 25 June 1944.

1. Situation. East of the Orne the enemy probed the front with stronger forces and conducted extensive aerial reconnaissance. At Tilly the enemy attacked in the morning and penetrated southwards across the Fontenay-le-Pesnel–Juvigny road. Countermeasures are in progress. At Cherbourg the enemy has entered the town.

2. Details.

LXXXVI Army Corps. Following the defeat of stronger reconnaissance thrusts early on 25 June, no substantial combat during the day.

I SS Panzer Corps. Through heavy artillery fire and ruthless expenditure of men, supported by low-level attacks, the enemy broke into the front at Tilly and by about 14:00 reached the Bretteville–Roesel–Vendes road. All available forces, with the remainder of the front held only by the barest minimum, and elements of 12th SS Panzer Division and Panzer Lehr Division, have been launched in counter-attack. Counter-attacks are still in progress and will continue into the night; details are still lacking. The enemy has suffered heavy bloody losses through the concentrated fire of artillery and anti-aircraft guns of III Flak Corps.

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XXXXVII Panzer Corps. Compared with previous days, strikingly little mortar and artillery harassing fire. Enemy movements observed south and southwest from the Catagnolles area suggest a possible enemy attack against the right flank towards Villers-Bocage.

II Parachute Corps. Patrol activity on both sides and slight enemy artillery harassing fire. Otherwise nothing special to report.

LXXXIV Army Corps. Situation of 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division unchanged and quiet. Northwest and east of Montmartin-en-Graignes, ground units observed enemy airborne resupply by landing transport aircraft. Heavy observation battery engaged in reconnaissance and counter-battery fire against the landing place. In Group König’s Prétot–Varenguebec sector, lively patrol activity, heavy artillery harassing fire and mortar concentrations.

17th SS Panzergrenadier Division reports the first appearance of a new type of shell with a double fuze, producing a strong trail of fire in the air and then detonating on impact with high-explosive and smoke effects. The smoke has an oily smell.

Battle Group von Schlieben. After the heaviest artillery bombardment, supported by naval artillery and aircraft, the enemy entered the town with tanks. Fighting for the arsenal and command post of the headquarters. Lieutenant General von Schlieben twice indignantly rejected an American general’s demand for surrender and is fighting at the head of the troops, weapon in hand. About 20:00 all radio communications ceased.

LXXIV Army Corps. Enemy vessels detected near the Channel Islands; bombardment without observed effect. Otherwise vessels detected north of Perros on varying courses. Air situation: in the last 36 hours, reconnaissance concentrated over the Avranches–Saint-Malo area.

XXV Army Corps. At 19:45 low-level air attack on Plumelec, 21 km northeast of Vannes.

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3. Assessment. The enemy is expected to continue attacks in the Tilly area to advance farther south and southeast. Extension of fighting to other parts of I SS Panzer Corps’ front and the right flank of XXXXVII Panzer Corps is to be expected. In Cherbourg fortress resistance will probably cease during the night. Battle Group Keil and the troops holding the Jobourg peninsula will continue fighting.

Seventh Army Headquarters, Ia No. 1817/44 Secret [number softened]. Signed Pemsel. Certified correct: [signature indistinct], First Lieutenant. After dispatch: Senior Quartermaster; Ic; Air Force Liaison Officer; O1; reporting post; Ia/war diary.

German Seventh Army Headquarters (AOK 7), NARA T-312 Roll 1565. Roll 1565 Jersey and Channel Islands English translations.docx, reference 59. Scan extracts: img108_08_13939_15952.jpg, img108_09_15952_17975.jpg, img108_10_17975_19986.jpg. Extract filenames identify the original image strip, section number and horizontal pixel boundaries; these are not archival frame numbers.