6 September 1943 Part 1

6 September 1943 Lessons from the Ouessant raid patrols reporting and island inspections

Secret telegram, corps headquarters, 6 September 1943. To 716th, 709th, 319th and 389th Divisions.

After midnight on 4 September the enemy raided Ouessant, probably targeting a resistance nest equipped with radar. Its garrison was at heightened readiness and drove off the attackers by fire. No immediate reconnaissance established their whereabouts; inquiries began only in the morning. An 80-cm gap had been cut through the 6-metre-wide obstacle. Rubber-heel footprints led to a small cove with a cliff about 30 metres high. Cut wire ends had been carefully bent back. Cutting went unnoticed because the spot was invisible from a sentry roughly 40 metres away and nearby heavy surf drowned the noise. Lack of foreground illumination was detrimental. Enemy phosphorus grenades briefly illuminated only the inside of the nest.

Although reserves familiar with the ground and partly bicycle-equipped were available, no pursuit or further reconnaissance was undertaken until daylight. Despite telephone, radio and pigeon links, the action was reported only after seven hours, contrary to Commander-in-Chief West’s repeated orders for immediate reports of combat. The Commanding Admiral Atlantic Coast is asked what action has been taken against the responsible company commander.

Inform troops and draw these lessons: renew sentry vigilance, inspect and strengthen alarms such as warning charges on obstacles, and implement ordered foreground illumination. Require active reconnaissance, security and defence by all nest/strongpoint garrisons and reserves. Every enemy contact or observation must be reported immediately by telephone, pigeon or messenger. Radio may be used only after radio readiness has been established under the cited army orders.

Check telephone lines not continually in use every hour under the field telephone regulation; nests with small garrisons check every two hours at sentry relief. Determine who must notify radio stations to establish radio readiness when telephones fail, for example the signals commander or switchboard leader. Reporting failures can have the gravest consequences for coastal defence; every case will be investigated and responsible personnel brought before a court-martial. Inspect all unoccupied islands regularly at shorter intervals, every eight to ten days. Corps Operations Section, 7518/43 secret.

Translation note: A handwritten annotation refers to a subsequent amendment of the telephone-check rule on 16 September.

T-314 Roll 1604, T314_R1604_English_Translation.docx. 6 September 1943 | Source PDF pages 900–902. Selected island-related text; document or report date governs placement.