8 October 1943 Part 5

8 October 1943 Guernsey signals depot radio defects and Enigma communications

Date note: Part of the Guernsey inspection journey of 6–12 October recorded in the monthly report dated 15 November 1943, scan 00089. Shared source sheets are reproduced with each relevant extract for reference; they are not separate incidents.

Report on the inspection of the signals equipment of the 319th Infantry Division

Reported to the divisional signals commander, Captain Thielmann.

Inspection of the signals equipment depot: an improvised light signals column, with two sets of telephone equipment for a field long-distance cable party held as the island reserve, allocated by special order. Storage and care of the signals equipment are satisfactory.

The troops frequently hand in Torn.Fu.Ger. d portable radio sets for repair. According to the signals battalion, these are sets manufactured in 1942. After prolonged operation they develop marked frequency drift, which cannot be rectified by the battalion. Arrangements will be made to include the defect in the report on faults in signals equipment under ANF (V), Az. 78a, No. 58/43 of 6 February 1943. The division needs at least two Torn.Fu.Ger. d sets as replacements.

About 8,000 British broadcast receivers, both battery and mains sets, are stored at the field commandant’s office in G. [Guernsey]. The field commandant’s office has reported this to the Military Commander in France. As some troops in the strongpoints have insufficient broadcast receivers, distribution of these sets to the troops appears necessary once ownership has been clarified.

Inspection of the teleprinter office and telephone exchange: the Schlüsselzusatz 40 is not operating because the line to the corps is reportedly defective; it is connected through WT [voice-frequency telegraphy]. Moreover, bringing it into operation is not expedient because a special cipher key applies to the islands. For communication with the 319th Infantry Division, the corps would have to set its cipher attachment to this special key. That takes longer than encryption with the cipher machine. All secret command telegrams are therefore encrypted by the corps and decrypted by the division using Enigma.

In an alarm, all telephone exchange lines can be switched to a fortress drop-shutter switchboard installed in the cellar of the same building.

Editorial note: “G.” is expanded from the Guernsey context. The depot abbreviations are rendered by function; they do not establish a precise equipment model. The receiver passage proposes distribution subject to ownership clarification; it does not report distribution already completed.

Original source image 00107.jpg — T-312 Roll 1563. Guernsey signals depot radio defects and Enigma communications.

German Seventh Army records, NARA T-312 Roll 1563. T312_R1563_Jersey_and_Channel_Islands_English_Translation.docx. File 41703/36 • Scan 00107 • Annex 4 • Translation. Local scan references identify the supplied image filenames, not substituted microfilm frame numbers.