26 September 1943 Part 2

26 September 1943 Marcks s artillery exercise hypothetical Allied Cotentin assault

Editorial note: Exercise scenario describing hypothetical enemy operations; these are not reported historical landings or attacks.

Top secret draft, Commanding General, LXXXIV Army Corps, operations number 1786/43. Letter to Captain Hennecke. Dear Herr Hennecke: the artillery commander’s recent firing exercise raised questions about artillery employment during enemy landings which I wish to examine further in an artillery map exercise. New experience of British and American landings permits a more precise picture of their course. I would like an expert to evaluate this so that our measures rest on a sound understanding of enemy conduct, and request your help.

I recently played through an operation in outline with my staff, based on the enclosed Red intentions. I consider such an operation entirely possible. Please place yourself in the British naval commander’s position and provide a basis for how the proposed assault against the northern west coast and western north coast of the Cotentin would be conducted tactically at sea. My particular questions are in the final paragraph of Red’s situation. The naval commander would presumably also decide which targets the air force must render ready for assault. I intend the artillery exercise in the week after next and would appreciate your response beforehand. I hope it will not cause too much work. [Conventional closing.]

EXERCISE SCENARIO—RED SITUATION. The Allies have decided to deliver a decisive attack against the French Channel coast during autumn while the Russian offensive continues. First open Cherbourg and Le Havre. Concentrate against the Cotentin, capture Cherbourg and establish a bridgehead beyond the Douve–Taute lowlands for a southeastward advance. Then support the Cotentin forces by landings either side of Caen. Once the Seine’s southern bank is taken, attack Le Havre through another landing from the north. Extend landings northward while feeding further forces through Cherbourg and Le Havre. The first operational objective is Paris.

For the first phase, the Allied commander in Britain directs the combined fleet commander to seize the Cotentin through simultaneous sea and air deployment of the strongest possible forces and secure a bridgehead east of the Vire and south of the flooding between Carentan and Lessay. Allocate four infantry divisions, one airborne division, sufficient bomber and fighter-bomber forces, all available Allied naval elements and landing craft sufficient to land each of the four divisions in one voyage.

Careful naval and air preparation is to destroy infantry and artillery anti-landing defences and paralyse enemy command and supply. The main effort, neutralizing and later capturing Alderney, attacks Cherbourg’s western front from north and west, supported by a later landing east of Cherbourg. Simultaneously the airborne division lands around Carentan–Lessay–Saint-Jean-de-Daye–Isigny, while another infantry division lands west of the Vire mouth and links with it.

Detailed missions: against Alderney, one parachute brigade and three seaborne commandos. First Division lands by surprise before daylight over a broad front from Surtainville to the northern edge of Vauville Bay; initial objective Flottemanville–Sainte-Croix-Hague. Second Division lands at daylight between Saint-Martin Bay and Querqueville; initial objective Sainte-Croix-Hague–Querqueville. On reaching their first objectives, reinforce both with heavy artillery and tanks for the attack on Cherbourg from the west. Third Division lands on the next tide between Cosqueville and Gatteville; initial objective Saint-Pierre-Église. After disembarkation and reinforcement with heavy artillery and tanks, it advances on Cherbourg from the east. Fourth Division lands as far into the Vire mouth as possible, extending its right wing approximately to Ravenoville, and links quickly with the airborne division around Isigny–Saint-Jean-de-Daye–Carentan.

The naval commander holds overall command until the first objectives are reached; thereafter land-force command passes to Second Army headquarters, embarked on the naval flagship. Prepare a subsequent landing by one airborne, one infantry and one armoured division in the Arromanches–Caen–Dives-mouth area, executable no earlier than two days after the Cotentin landing.

Please prepare the Cotentin landing plan, particularly: favourable days and hours according to tides; sequence and timing of landings with tidal conditions; and support from naval artillery and landing craft artillery/heavy weapons.

Translation note: This is a German staff exercise and request for naval planning advice, not a record of an actual Allied operation. The draft’s exact date is not legible; placed in late September from its file sequence.

Original source image | Source PDF page 950 | Entry dated 26 September 1943

T-314 Roll 1604, T314_R1604_English_Translation.docx. 26 September 1943 | Source PDF pages 950–953. Selected island-related text; document or report date governs placement.