5 September 1942 Part 6

5 September 1942 Remote island posts warned against raids and deception

Secret command matter. Seventh Army Headquarters, Operations Section, to XXV and LXXXIV Army Corps headquarters. 5 September 1942.

Reference: Commander-in-Chief West, Army Group D, Ia No. 2649/42, secret command matter, dated 5 September 1942.

The raid on the naval post on the small island of Casquets, west of Alderney, shows that the islands, especially the small islands of Alderney and Sark, and above all somewhat isolated strongpoints on them, must always expect raids and must therefore be doubly vigilant.

Posts in such remote places must also expect every kind of ruse: for example, English sailing vessels disguised as fishing boats, calls in German from such vessels, or fast attack craft approaching at night with their engines stopped.

All superiors must exercise their supervisory duties over such remote strongpoints and posts far beyond the normal extent. They bear responsibility.

The responsible superior must again examine all such remote or isolated posts and strongpoints carefully, both for their necessity and for their ability to defend themselves against raids of this kind.

Seventh Army Headquarters, Ia No. 3933/42, secret command matter. After dispatch: Operations Section war diary. [Handwritten signatures are not confidently deciphered.]

German Seventh Army records, T-312 Roll 1548. T312 Roll 1548 English translation REVIEWED EDITION 4.docx. Local source scans: 0135.jpg.