5 June 1941

5 June 1941 Hitler’s concern that Britain might imitate Operation Merkur

[Scan 1210.jpg] Army Commander-in-Chief, First General Staff Officer, no. 554/41, top secret. Berlin W35, Bendlerstrasse 14, telephone 218191; currently Army headquarters, 5 June 1941. Second of three copies. To Adjutant to the Chief of the Army General Staff and Operations Branch. Received 6 June.

The Armed Forces Adjutant’s Office at the Führer has sent the following information to the Army Commander-in-Chief: “The Führer assumes that Operation Merkur will encourage the British to imitate it as soon as we are tied down by Barbarossa. He is therefore currently increasingly concerned again about Norway’s coastal fortifications and the defensive strength of the two Channel Islands. He has accordingly requested fresh information from Armed Forces High Command on both matters. Concerning the two Channel Islands, he particularly emphasizes three points: a) adequate garrison manpower; b) sufficient artillery against naval targets, antiaircraft artillery and tanks; c) adequate ammunition provision, dispersal and secure accommodation of ammunition stocks.” Signed von Gyldenfeldt. Handwritten: presented on 7 June; with maps to the Chief of the General Staff through IIa [final wording partly uncertain].

German Army High Command records, T-78 Roll 317. Supplied English translation T78_Roll_317_English_Translation.docx. Source images: 1210.jpg.