29 June 1944 Part 3

29 June 1944 Part 3 Loss of two vessels south of Jersey

Date note: 29 June 1944.

Copy. Secret. Teletype. Seventh Army Headquarters, Ia, to Army Group B Headquarters; information to Panzer Group West and Achilles 2. 29 June 1944. Ia daily report, 29 June.

1. Situation. The enemy continued his large-scale attack in the Caen area on 29 June on a front of approximately 25 km. He attempted to expand his deep penetration around Baron by ruthless expenditure of men and material but was repulsed everywhere. The attack by II SS Panzer Corps on the Évrecy–Vendes line, substantially supported by our air attacks, struggled forward through difficult hedgerow terrain but was withdrawn to its starting position in the face of superior enemy counter-attack and the heaviest artillery fire.

In II Parachute Corps’ sector the enemy attacked between Saint-Georges and Villiers-Fossard after heavy artillery preparation. Penetrations on both sides of Villiers-Fossard were contained by counter-attack. Reinforcements and movements of enemy forces indicate intended attacks on LXXXIV Army Corps’ left flank on the Cotentin west coast. West of Cherbourg the enemy launched the expected attack against Group Keil across the whole front.

2. Details.

(a) Panzer Group West. After containing a British attack on I SS Panzer Corps, in which numerous enemy tanks were destroyed, II SS Panzer Corps attacked at 14:30 and took Gavrus with substantial Luftwaffe support. The withdrawal was to the line northern edge of Bougy–western edge of Grainville–southern edge of Bretteville. Further details will follow.

(b) II Parachute Corps. An enemy attack on a broad front, supported by tanks on both sides of the Moon-sur-Elle–Saint-Lô road, achieved a minor penetration. Counter-attack contained it on the line northern edge of Bretel–bend in track 300 m southwest–southern edge of La Forge–height 300 m south of Villiers-Fossard church–La Nicollerie. Four enemy tanks destroyed. Thirty enemy tanks assembled at Les Foulons have not yet intervened. The elements of 352nd Infantry Division, exhausted by continual heavy fighting, can no longer withstand a concentrated enemy attack after the commitment of the last reserves of 3rd Parachute Division.

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The danger of a breakthrough deep into LXXXIV Army Corps’ flank cannot be ruled out. A tank battalion of 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich has therefore been subordinated to II Parachute Corps for use north of Saint-Lô.

(c) LXXXIV Army Corps. Lively fighter-bomber activity throughout the sector; heavy artillery fire at night, heavier by day. In 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division’s right-hand sector, enemy patrol thrusts repulsed with losses. Heavy enemy harassing fire on 91st Infantry Division’s rear communications. One enemy strongpoint captured; enemy truck columns south of La Bastille effectively engaged by observed artillery fire.

(d) Group Keil. An enemy attack concentrated on both sides of the Beaumont-Hague road penetrated 1 km west of Branville; the penetration was contained. From 17:00 enemy preparations to attack Vauville were detected and engaged. Despite heavy bombing, our artillery supported the infantry outstandingly, preventing decisive enemy penetrations so far. Enemy vessels attempting to enter Cherbourg harbour were forced to turn away by the Landemer batteries and batteries still intact within the fortress area. Three tanks and one aircraft destroyed.

(e) LXXIV Army Corps. Numerous enemy flights into and through the area. Lively fighter-bomber attacks on road traffic in Coastal Defence Sector A1. Supplementary report on the naval engagement south of Jersey on 28 June: two of our vessels lost.

(f) XXV Army Corps. In an operation against resistance camps south and southeast of Baud, northwest of Lorient, several resistance members [source: terrorists] were shot and extensive war material captured. A low-level attack on Savenay station destroyed four locomotives, two tank wagons and two ammunition wagons.

3. Changes of forward line: see II Parachute Corps.

4. LXXXVI Army Corps’ command post from 23:00 on 29 June: Brafit, 3.5 km east of Cambremer [source spelling].

5. During the heavy defensive fighting west of Caen on 27 June, Lieutenant Schenk with a platoon of Panzer Regiment 3, 2nd Panzer Division, advanced 3 km north against greatly superior forces and destroyed twelve enemy tanks in a very short time. Mention in the Armed Forces communiqué is requested.

Seventh Army Headquarters, Ia No. 1965/44 Secret. Signed Pemsel. Certified correct: [signature indistinct], Major, General Staff. Distribution: Senior Quartermaster; Ic; Air Force Liaison Officer, two copies; O1; war diary.

German Seventh Army Headquarters (AOK 7), NARA T-312 Roll 1565. Roll 1565 Jersey and Channel Islands English translations.docx, reference 65. Scan extracts: img117_04_6047_8081.jpg, img117_05_8081_10124.jpg. Extract filenames identify the original image strip, section number and horizontal pixel boundaries; these are not archival frame numbers.