31 December 1942 Part 8

31 December 1942 Coastal patrol measures following the Sark raid

Commander in Chief West considers the increase in sabotage and other indications evidence of greater British infiltration, chiefly by sea, into and behind coastal defences. Local reserves must form mobile, sufficiently strong and equipped patrols, checking changing routes and terrain at irregular times, especially concealed ground. Coordinate neighbouring sectors and use good dogs where available. Army directs cooperation with navy, Luftwaffe, SD, customs border guards and police, particularly at submarine bases and Channel ports.

Corps requires coastal patrols to examine suitable landing and hiding places, even apparently difficult landing points, citing Sark on 4 October. In the coastal rear, reserve battalions, alarm units and other services guard attractive targets such as ports, airfields, ammunition and food stores and Luftwaffe signals equipment. Give definite tasks, adequate strength to search woods or surround buildings, bicycles if needed, light machine guns and some submachine guns. Use a planned but irregular pattern because not every site can be searched daily. Inform regular inter-strongpoint patrols to prevent friendly fire; leaders of night patrols must reconnoitre by day. Coordinate corps boundaries. Local military administrations arrange patrols in the security zone. Divisions report action and boundary agreements by 10 January.

T-314 Roll 1603, expanded reading edition T314_R1603_English_Translation.docx. 31 December 1942 | Source PDF pages 791–792. Supplement to material retained from earlier editions.