25 November 1943 Part 2

25 November 1943 Objections to incorporating foreign battalions into divisional establishments

Top secret. To Seventh Army. Retain the existing rule that two Eastern or Turk battalions replace one German battalion. Commander in Chief West’s proposal would weaken the divisions intolerably. No further reduction in German battalions can be considered.

The proposed organization cannot be imposed rigidly. Foreign battalions were distributed according to tactical requirements; their numbers in individual coastal defence areas do not correspond to the proposed organization. Organization must therefore adapt to the tactical situation. Within this corps, 319th Division has on Guernsey two battalions of Regiment 584, two of 583 and Turk Battalion 823; on Alderney, one battalion of 584; on Jersey, three battalions of 582, Machine Gun Battalion 16 and Eastern Battalion 643. The practicable arrangement is Regiment 583 with I/583, III/583 and 823, three battalions; Regiment 582 with I, II and III/582 and 643, four battalions.

709th Division’s practicable arrangement is Regiment 729 with its three German battalions and Eastern Battalion 649, and Regiment 739 with II and III/739 and Turk Battalions 795 and 797, four battalions each. 716th Division would have Regiment 726’s three German battalions plus Eastern Battalion 439, and Regiment 736’s three German battalions plus Eastern Battalion 642, again four each.

Thus the proposed three-battalion arrangement is possible here only in Regiment 583 unless the tactically determined deployment is fundamentally altered and extensive reorganization undertaken. For example, 709th Division currently has three regimental staffs, eight German and three foreign battalions. Four regiments, each with two German and one foreign battalion, would require another regimental staff with regimental troops and another foreign battalion. 716th Division, with two staffs, six German and two foreign battalions, would similarly require a new staff and another foreign battalion to form three such regiments.

Foreign battalions do not correspond to German battalions in organization, equipment or, above all, combat employment and reliability. They are suitable only for particular tasks. Incorporating them into regimental combat establishments would give regiments battalions of quite different kinds that cannot be used interchangeably, especially for special tasks. Their additional attachment to regiments for administration and care would be acceptable. Even then, the General of Eastern Troops must retain influence over personnel matters and their ideological and welfare supervision. An increase in German cadre personnel and standardization of armament are fully supported.

Translation note: “Turk battalion” reproduces the German document’s classification; other entries identify several of these units as Georgian.

T-314 Roll 1604, T314_R1604_English_Translation.docx. 25 November 1943 | Source PDF pages 1197–1199. Selected island-related text; document or report date governs placement.