UASSLEI ED.

MS

'p7

C-020

LIBRARY

COPATCSSIO I

ACCESSI'
P~O REGI

THE

-- f

GERMAN WEHRMACHT IN THE

LAST DAYS OF THE WAR

(1JANUARY --1 MAY 1945)

Propex'ty of

PART I
Chapters 1 to 4
~Jt1-YFE

Off toe

of the

&Y'r
Ffi7tH.-T

rT

.C ie$

ilitary History
'htfldrai Ref oreiou B i b

Retrioted Classification

Removed Pew~

Executivye Order 1IQ2

HISTORICAL DIVISION
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES ARMY, EUROPE
FOREIGN MILITARY STUDIES BRANCH

MS1
II C-020

THE

GENOAN WEIMkCIIT

IN. THE lAST

(1J
3a.7

Professor Dr. Percy Ernst

PART I

DAYS

OF THE

WAR

7 MY1945)

Sclkramn Maor

der Reserve

Chapters 1 to 4

Translators
Editrs

Revier

Historical Divisica

HEADQUART
UNIh

a.D.

STATES ARE, EUROPE

G. Weber'

z R. Itw
* G. C.. YTaderedt

a Col.- V.

3s

40

d
hosnvc , thin
No' officiwl Germ acout of W 'rldVritI xit;
The ririon
suh a rorw*
tomn aprbtst
wardiay o th flr
o the last five month'
presentd in tV
study is a day by c ay rart
nd, it was rprmd
of the war as vieaed from' the Whrnoaht fligh
keeper ot the diary, ttier otrutnce viih
by!r. Sohnm, offiil

be ewlainn In the prefao.

Depit. repe tto

e adliusbi.

and errors,, the nterlal is

, emnttndiotion,

as a course. A few obvious istakes, espeotefy In

aorcted bor the
th desiv.tien of som fTite States wits hae been
editor or poied ou in footnotes The serios researcher sh l,
haover, cheek daa ot this kid against other soswcesp for it is
belie that othr errons reah. in the nauript. Fe c ags have
heen made in the orrninaton or methe of twreuting th. matrial. A
mr rigorous editing might he nd certain portions clearer but would
s
of notes taken day bd'cly under th
the
'izpzes
hove UCrcitLCt
pressure of evets.

Tb. underscoringt of dates in th

not for purpos of supsesis, but to e
selct

first half

of the aunorit was

quiekly to

thas rsrr

mterial perta iin to a particular date.

The

Review

tR .
r,~tn
S99S909S
?VY~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A
csx{Rr$t smrcra
...
WA!77YZ!IflMY

,
r~a f9712( aa qv{,wsc"

i+rtr:

CtA~R14

***.*.***

**

*.

Gee I . . . . . * * * * 4 * . . . . . . . * .
o Intqertefl.........
nahrZe
tha
2.w=
.....
UPU.'"
Ccadftenefntt..
m1
"
Taken in the t."t atd on the Yoraltte
4. ~aes
*a.***
Coast (up to I 1awch)...

I.

6.
7.

.
The Oerall Orgaition..
flhvbsion of 13emin Area Into

Southern Part$.*

* * * * .

.4

th#eret

II. Sttureof9

. .

. .

North

* 12
* 12
21

21

*.*.....cuo
400t*"

actal War

NO Units

...

*....

...

....

It.

tt#

a *4

o4

4*

44i

*4*

454944

.Arzmeat and Amwnitlon

5.

rtor1'nI.
7a Rroad .

N8,
Food.

.a

a*

fsmtonad

46
48

"*

49045.

* . ..
.
*

. .

f.

a.

* .

.
.

44*44"
.

49
57

45944

*4i
4*404.
46094a

4.6

99

2.

49*4a

"

60

61

Sam,.
#

44.i

*444444*

. . . ..
...
2.RSatenwith Newurls.
3. ttflUoaI tveatn the Yalta Coutoronoe.

-1

ii.

.
9.9

72
72
7,

rr

Z2P~~ 2.
Section 1.

2.

tv44r

A:'

t9

InttaAOtu'to

0____
9 5

2.

tt'

i-

k'..tx14F

,tt-

to

Wtt'hdraw.1

..

9 4
*

**

&rmebtein Navifin

Se

Fiitoi"

7.

Lasses, Polays,* sit Pe4m)Cis.

9,

hvm1

h an

iteot

Qttio

"

*1 .

oS

tG

o Forces...

speetee

.*

. *

".
.

Yebrar

PiztrI atm

the t ynge n-O tmiton.

3.
4.

~?aztio.t

~ s..

*."+
." .

tOfth
.9w.

.C

2.
3.T

foegt

Section

nA

x:

*
Theater Oownr'atrO
.
ne Attaok end $abotag*.

.
1 5. Tnsfro

CflR3.o

Cas

z.

. . . . . . . ..

2...

"

.......

89
90
90

*.e.

k....

i.s..1

ani
T .""".".."

r".

>

Qmnttes lCli A1 KUI (16 PDwibe 4-1 am)

2Opati RQWRD(1ttOmbr a*13 Jsr)..
3. Sh
t h
lui
(U -w28 Jsxmy).. .,,
4
uswtn the Weststnhe
one Islands
1.

92
10
122
1
13
169

4.Trnster .of Tow to te Zstrn Fot,....

5. The
aStt1attt
Ii
on te Wetr frot..
6, The ?terle1 Sitmtioe o.n the W4stern frot.
..
s""
7.
Oontruteo?Prtfiftn m
...
...
, u1o
tof oet'tniei
9.
znsoi1a..pt0Ur
*....e.....*
.
-

IT

1*7
18
192
190

1",
194

394

CR

rwte 4.

fli SO!

1.

2.

""

*'

sttin

n Jeu"

*.

g of

aM 7ony
...

..

...

the Tear.

....

..

......

f#

ite
5.i ThCrbieatWArtaeU

0rptm ta
fo wprto
...
(oenlnL~l~lL.

6,

2,

Seery*4
2. R

vk

0~n

*A

S
285

2%5

295

302

O.

....

* .

302

30)
232%

tgr

i
.

++

mry.,.............

. .

280
280

. . . . .

..

.......

tuatinbn

The t

.9

***

."

"....

the 1~gin

n oabatt,.
ug -s g.m

,,

+.

"1...........

at

?tnMntttal ttuation.
4.

.!

2,47

a c

Z
trgcStuation.

T mSOYflS&S.

vsnonn"

*g

Oeetc

n.tc Abr

Otangesin
Onere Sittntio

. Th. Inta
5.
.
6

! Tr S

vots

oreo'

Vi

1C

* .

4
347

1.-

(it'd)

350
I
394

casg rtr

39'

iwn ten Est Apardia to thesi...

Carlosme

396

r i
es~ j= MB
I lD
w

4.

medof

the
Up, tom

The+'ie

he. ( 12

20 J a u a.

reiningia of lhtn
Of
2
3sf in(21jo
n of

J*
.2

397

. .

. .

inthe Zone

atmv. (1

5.

the Ruian"

1402

fItro
).

Lire
Odor athe
o
Athe
*.
.
Jad
ary - 1 Fruary) ..
Couirsei of FightingAite the Fane of Budaper
(12 28 Febiay) . . . . . " * . . . * , .
7.TheOUs
0 figb tingmoAf0 t 9o 6IL
0f
Dart

Sigtin

".

4,.

7S. Tho Fighting inpfl.

CHYE AIR R

(Wit

."

..........

Niote on tin

va

426

478

"0

Wa)
591

~r

J~1

90090'

6a

U.
*

Wivi

*00999

CT

rfA,

'r

Seo t

%M

"'

'

I.

nrttnn

(cont'd)

(2 Arl - I May 1945)

fM :vr"s

ot thQ

.*

*..

28

Stan

aoLrfio"tl
O

62~

tn %n tont 3s "4t.

ehr

*oy
*

A.

..

01t 9

3.Losses In Persone and Vartel. of the W*bnaot

co (to 31 Jsrnary 19k5)

'i

".

.X *

651
65

al

F
M&

At

of

the haquarters

'situstion enternco

took

the ' ehrcht

Operations

place ever mimoing

tion Staf,

mber

of eprs,

neal

all

of

officers randg asssors, lieutenant ooes,

therrpective spheres of activity, At the
given concerning imprtant
to questions askdb

The

were Oew

o ool

Staff

reported

on

reports were

am tie,

anid

answers were

the deputy chef.

certain ofiT

the Wehrscht &reratton $tf,

fueter revorts.

whtn

arind new p1"n ne,

direc*tiv

Yefllowing this eonerens,

of

between 110an 1200

!Tnder the leership of the detuty chief o'the bWehrwAcht Cpera-

hmurs.

give

3taff aL eo-t-11e

went to

BOO

the chief

(lenralobert Sod]., eM submitted

chief, together with

the

deut chief,

the naval

seialist, and one general offier then went to the Thhrrs ha-

qnartes

for

the rrnnttin

aprmiatel

of the

sitwationt reprt, vich began at

130 hours.

$bttef repored there wer sbtantially the ease as to

at the erlier sitution corifrace.
'headquarters

discused

Inportent decisions made at the

wr rePorted at the situtionm conferenceaon th

followin day.

Tb.
thr

principal tRie

e rnhs

at these disnsdcmsas

.f the Wre.

Qreat imprtance

th situation in

we give to

conernW the nvmaur*s zxdintentions of the eney.

the

informtion

5hort reports were

_n

p1

on

delivred

1, organisrticrt,
aurrly

i
P"'iinx, th dbs

copy atfm

and

ai9 thyn itmezitty ,'fterwtrs

cnd nokr,

t hei the mint kportat facts tiat were ditesd. After

dicittdf
a

urtw

natty had

file sertey

been

rep

to

aeoording

,&,I

had each

the %.Ama.

wa plaed in the g
reclassifiod it in fie "H-77."
Naturoally the

nmot es

inol

coswqu of the Wbnoht.

an items which were

of

deopnt

inter tion

intonntion,

to

Main insight

into

the

aerarate notebook for

ehrwcht (3po ms taff.

whidt

wersred to diseotim

those of A,
ary
a

anl I orier

the sitution, I kept

began inD

prpetion of later studes

29 Jn

at teluio

pemitted tob rublihd..

smething btwomasenen

were

daili:

Ushd i n te
mbti

hin.

hich I receive from time totime thcrawh thd <ity chief

or specialists on th
in

A ugnt 1945 1

YFcnve r, myentries are umrevise

the citation bok,

Apat fro

broader

not

eft

A per of thi

%-. 7.'"

file "8-o," brtto

t wyj

Tis

uar."

containing the records wich

whiehvwerenrkod

teeia

'nut

sanarate item ct

"theatrr ofT

"tore~ ad

the origin of the sc-cled situation book,

Igaw t

and vwar econom.

. mistrtier,

9 ?ebruar

and

and pove

Unoasly

at

att*d

were otit

m tho

of obta 1aw

developedas tin v*at on, na

and itri.w,

thsprtin.O
*rit

This

The

ut. sa

the

lmitble

begiwirig

only yotes
epntly

to t heSitution Book

of

for th

1945

do after thbat
11.,
(s-fl).

and, of

rel1

umto

to xns^iV

the orriginni

down in

thator

rq

Iotfli

ti

rebrtzr

During

the

tionsStaff

h reeed

with

the

those

oet t

the eaitulihtion

Wram th

aboe, it follows

tr-iceng,

May,

of In

ar)for January-.

19A5,

I continued

to

mke

aoth9 and partly with the'

to t

ia.1y

that 1I tAPB

with

Coh

IaussbtbternRIcO

but at the

the !t extracts of records."

beiow as

may hve

to fipu'es

regard

vitiation book givea

th

prhowev,

ao

entriesi were"

which were burneldner mysupervision a short

nrior to

or dictati.n.,

of

fate of that hfl1f of the Wehrct C(tea-

which bad been transferred

abstracts of

writing

to

final. days (20 April

rartly concee

totes,

tic

will

tt

This was the origin

what they prer.

1945, whic

ab

to na

cotained in the t e notebook (-War

sipei mstea

a13 of

1,rt
This work t 4tivided between my:l

wordim ;.

37 ollaboraters, cli of whoa had receive4. acaei

sus

notetook

certain thatt all. irnpott

andbi

.in,

the aaotrzt

di iontitu

M
topieot

according to

J
the bpratftY

set

ictd t

MAInbee

As

no

M''arlli

exact

durig

describes the o eattcn1 directives isue

the

occurred durn; the

Por the nost

description of the. ptitk

st mnthe of

in the

thewar.

impotat ase

repr re eiv.
!Jfotitey , both the vi

n A copye
e e

these

author in 1945,

bieen lost.

elt~

ote

aswnmt

a oor copy

iio

book. and th extract of

efor- the
a4
l -r istorioal
n

recors are

Pttm .viw
icm
bm
b7bathe
dr o e
was inte. in rt')s after the first copyhd

d~a ly to the

--tr

5owet , the oris

oft

off the

dsttomy ?rneh

were

_1.b

rs end

rrind to F

rrUf

at 7rhteagaden i rtor to

twn

the war.

The

AOr

aitratton

book

erod zi!'n

a..

fram

inlau~ only th

tnrlJ

bath

?scnrae include:

!ok: 25 Yemerry - I trh

Fxtraoteof t cords
The

b.

1Marhest.My.

st

itattat
Awust

19/i.

)iortherr Area,
SLtuatto

22

A.cxnr,; myth other

Wehrmaeht.

I - 312. 4uary ('A.e

!ok

1945); 25 'Pebrnry
!trat

note filed

user

Mreb

of Reeor:

14re

e.

j7

The $otthvest.

a.

SituatIon

Do*0k:

25 ?.beur

lxtrats of tooda:

I Mreb

"I

Marah

- S

The Southeast.

4.

$tm
Extnt

..

woks

of

25 Ven

flw%8

tae

Ma

.{&rO

Th.ast.
Sitwtiou Yook# .251Y1r

- 1

)anb

Swrims (See Chapter 6, Seetient

f.

uftnftta

fltation F
xtraat

I)

Mroh

a.

VA

Navy.
so

25

ofReore

f'roh

eb rya7
1

ac

Ma2y

(hre

is

little

atrki

in ti s secotiton, t'linc the 'hr

for joint atft re of the

off,

motes rertaing

"1 y

frametary

in~

to

doet r ryTed
.Ilter

facts rather than

sep

t ho fiw

inmoowite

dy
4t 'r

of
o cz

coarcte

other

w~r (frvr

2"' AprU) are

*xtunttOnS svntlablo4

3till

In

titmnoe of

each neoto

vJ~ua nota ,

sour*e atri~l

thexiustsn

task which wnuV tie been

ae

c!resce sthen in

hate been simplIer to

uv's have

It is clear that this metalhasi

Volu

b
the

ftd.Wnthln
#

mesthod thrua

W:,,eta,

wouls
f!o-

of the material has been

be mere coule. than others, th reditng will be mr

Main

Filitary

even, though it

disavantages:

in. eamotion of mtarial, tad

more succsfl had not th

tsen rete,

oxenfr

thog

tozetber it-

..'eimeetily of Ettler, xZriwQr, Coe

evr, in this way the ttrirsto

or

rotes Wers sw kple~ed

T have tried to torn a moaic by piecin

a

determned

Pethto
.rg of

slalified working netbod- bees intr toed on I Zanwtry 194.5.

vii , be

vas

the wnthd

by whbat was lsermed later or what etne to-my nowledg

sources .

titles

phce

too.

inform tion, r actd as acollector of

iaking was added; none of the origin

mow

the

I took cmrcsrnin: th:un.

tho notes which

an ar h istoria.

and cig

rzonsibie
e?

three .>rarchaa of the ~?hrt.)

In capiling the followtn

by the

f w

Thrths~

Stat Sf.
out, riat.outgiont orf the situatin

Oheration,

bu

.h

to

rnoht

a sction
dif iott,

will

there

pertinent tnfontion vii

the writer has felt it awe ispertant to ratai

ut -the study.

The

Author

~vnthe
- fina

1.

ttnie

zhs b

hrced

?ltler'e atteapt to retain the reins irml1 in his own bands.

illustrated

by a !ehrr

directiv

oonwnden ac~ to *wl incluin

reports en ineni

actin

front by

ore then

a ctt

sender of a oetiio,

t
Ofesv

operto al

base, or fortresa.

enelmen of fa.ts was ftrbididenune

irrpted sips1

aiocs vin his

Bjh

'a

is Been, 1

al

the ?uererIs heo

tb

responible for siutainspeio

bndqinrtrst

At thbbegnig @f th Ards

ednree

16 Peaabr

a cabm

The unnarnished, truth wen

de w- pesnll

Te

on

ithdrawl orretreat orthe

Itwery

severe penlties.

2,

evary decision regardin a

t ptrol, ant any

tded inall ports, -w

lag un

division level reetentble for snbmitting

an attck by a division orlarger unit, an attack

Mt,

di

isud on 19 Jarrry uwkiug all

wptly enough for a oontr-orer to be

Th. der applie to

issud.

This was

cmht

strs weshifte

Operation 5taft w

m
nvs

d into

In' tathe e)OR#sow ten NUnA orhEst of Sad ahim. tis

meego concrete structure denolishod by the Allies aft
was thbe fe
eit. - tdiltor.
th war uner the terms of the 'Potsdam Ag

.EL:

a'rV

trrackza

nmtr

7uehrrt

hs

sitiation

in

nn2r 1~ d rl

riedbr,
qurtr

had bar t r
The

th 7-at.

fThbrr,

T1

n
'Fterrd

the

_:ehreaht =itgh Cor-Anr

theremainder of .

Cam)

the ch.e

Bich,

th

atf

'

he

the party

of

wiale the chef

rt tlern.T-A hem.

4thrict Opertio

otff

The deputy chief and

noted to Zoen

.(ryah

nerTrin

Trot 140t

150

heru

gao
the Zos=e camp~ wan

on 16

escorted Wfighter

675 bomber r;1an

6,000 high nxplosive bombs,

taff was billeted

g

to the euker

co caictions.
ightly wounded

psegr

tgo to R un

together
arriw

with

rdio,
325

tons of

A mubr of tnnrtry bamke were burne,

ns not serita

therea

but since

no interruption in signal

Th. chief of the Operation i'ranoh, Ceetrl reb, was

bit ntwad to duty

Operatio

truols sa

e re ktld
T at
h rMaylac
h Camp Iels

on the following day.

These qnr.tt were retained ati

iihnb

attac

According to the ena

ewightng 2,300 pount's an

incendiary ebombs were

l dropped.
hl
i hrgt
The

Tr22x boe

his chiief aide,

thti

.Jsanur

the chie Of the Wehrmtct rnpenton

an

Staf? ratured to tknfr offis

to

~e?

Chaneery
e
etc. imoved. to the CbenoellIery at
Of

.iddle of

the

Staff accompnie

that day a nart of, the

Ar9jj*J.

by th

dopt chief, departed in

vehicles. -O 22 Tarur Etle finily hd decided

Reain

their chief

eleet
and

the

of tin
Chief -of t

at M$uervik on 2*Iy (so Chafte

8).

ceht OTWratoUs statt,

Woht

Righ C

e 1d

?rot.. were faiing ba

4nrrs ostr

aused by the fact

operatinn

a,

ra

that it 'be 4ver cntro'l

tr0

but this was

. lin ptio,

as

in centr eltin

"'

at

tip

nd U1 for

for thbe

alsc be
;did

th

prepentio

nt

chane the cathority

or

tower

rc..

stMn

directive in

off

of plarw for the covalct

ot

Xlt.

the

i n Whkrdis*

of

batte

arnm ntority he4

The

al

ftmetiom

a anbe of' distert

The now Oryi a.ete an& ationl

ii

were

Sub-

to the Ary
d. with rpc
ma*

the fsEfwiug flewe

taend the Opwatton 3Qf

schet dtrett on 10 Decebr

a.

lu fief

fltatff was 4ive

requested taOr UehrkreiaeI 111#l

On

Ganesi

tCthe P.-100

occtruatten of fil~d forttflcations.

On 18
cwiute

Ceea

aeh threatened

emer

the dear to spre the

from the stIJJnd9.B of lend

nta'a

thAy

1e2~

'The

to

lng &sopUsible

4. ~&aw7
1?U
hrkre$se

on.e of int rio bscre

the

ec ttons drawing closer to the frnt.

ad Jneent

Staff

Ar y (teral
9

that certain rect torn of

, tz'et dtrrtcultios wre

the

Coat, whih bad recein

1944

Opeton S'taff, et

forttfiatam awl

defence stonetThirty kioter

s.t

of the )w

fiast

um ra

for cndut of

dep.

ib2

faonsrut

battle inits natal

ems

b.For

nonora1
Esat

4 h'.".seto

eerenne Binrv xol1

or t

'tsft, the Pmranian awl

%emast ws ler entent for diretives

e
autho
rity we*to be

ir tni

th to

acco-anoe.

Om2aur

in Wtrkis. I

th

tinun
nhes,

ordered

ort the Army

by

the

by

Arm

tir

Ste

_s~~w

ttnvt.

eiwwxcht

Cb ngea

"tff.

F#t hsrizaw in

situa'ton.
Wormwht High Coffimn sbrdna teA the co=nders

th

and U

the tonery

to

!IJaRWCIt.

In W~brkreis

anne vith a

decree issued

Olreup Gotr, Osnraloberet

the sham of ocmnad we rognird i

18 Janm

on

to interfere vrith the co wattent

units stationed in a ~ihrkroiu

r.

.n

Army

qnartering

without

Group

accord-

not allowd

Center iam

trijsnIxg

of remtaent

the, apoval of- the coaner

of

the

R~1aent 7&nifl Rrmy.

On 4jj~wfl
oflatala
2Group

On 30

etni

U, wes subordinated

4ermaht fltgb Coz$

the

in all resecets

to

Any

a onlirtted the oocnander

of ierkrets VIII to An row Center ocamanded tq oealoberst tchoerner,

tnaining wdtn stto
For the aemuitamt al quartering of renae
isW ekts tlt

th

apon1 of. the cnder

ofthe 1~p. aw

trdintn

An bad to ho obtined

Osi..frkur
in

out

itsa propoeslof thellelrneht

bacrdan

an Pofl,

on

sulited

26

Jaury, the thief of

0ig1 Coast: defir the spee of respontbilit

and

of

This was

done in view

2 onwrs organiaatt

in the Reih

of condition developin in

of commnd

in

Werkrets I.

'Weaaoht

Any Group Onter

the :eermebt rezwentatire for 1obemia and MorA.i

MinIstry.

th

th

rotcorte.

F--- ____ -

-1

!43 AZ-02t
O
&orsnd

to the chairn

b.

be

of

con

authority

The

of b~ tt

the corruct

the

in

t;,-izn3 vrtr: ily

a.

to

chiet or thea >ehrnehbt

b:zthe-

.S.lra

ragaE!

SIJ)..

Gtaa

tfigh

nLafwith

4V

cor tdr of ehxri i TT ith regard

of th

1* v s to bet e

bl

rid

thin

oniar of IL

anry.

tri of Wehrkeis EU was directly reaponf3bl

The

troop nnitt, headquatrs, tuti

All

hie

hadn been tranaerrod to the iWehrkns

to the

iehrkri

The Webnh

oranzt tons of

to

were

fo other tass

o.

4.

the

i n 4ehrkreis 1t

for the defs e, of the Ueioh eit.l.

aiind h hb the my Ooel Staf.

attahsA

eat

wIIritin+.g (eUs~5

Wrr

foreer

t ho

to

field

iore to berionl

onter.

as cuoreas regionl

otmnd

to- asume responsiblity for nl

counper, ws

miltar rights ant obllvte

deiving.

herefrom in respect to other units of the Werioht and the Wfoen Z134,
e.

Rienl

ssst traini g

its

an

af newy activated elements

of the ?eple eont Training Lm within the Workris were to rennin suboowdr
of the

affeotiug tas* focs

ware tobe itsded throh the dopat

th

Rieps

twi

iin;T

Amy

atoeltat of coibt unte

Ula

Orde

ordinate. to the

Th

b t

.at

An.*

of

towShor reysrat
algtmyert

0*5th fteplaaot Tranin

bthe: Ay GOneral Stff and the

4 ?mnigg

=nite

of

Arm as to bel-e

AnthRa

thergy
directly

f'.

ivision

to

Thrt

th4i

subordin-mte to
to

of' Uerkr . s

crrsner

erli

-fne .aDo3

for growa

hk

remniDn uodnaethe

u~~g
cz to

defene
a
?or sir

corabst.

s'.< tn~

wou
O

in

the dioin

was

Lurtwjto.

the cwindrof '14hreisa

directives from

7'Xt vofl reeiv

G eerl $taff/Arq High COmww~ with regenr

toeof

divts

;thcxw 7.t liy

Th V5

th

?:7k

Nny

th

all preartons for theo

the flelines

Oper.6atSins
Cmu
15Thrw
norinat
t the Army" bnem1 tft.
the

4 taff

5?
Zes Go

vats tcifysub-

Orequest of thbe

lg~f

nttHuh Cos te.

betv~

the

lf~hrkri

ZUb M$

e astrn, nrthaetern,

In newer to

an

the

111 vas

are$ southaatern

incpiry 17the

aters4t

cocrnn

of Srli*
resonib
with

inv

The

Cane

the

bovzy

of ondof

coincide vth

5tn

the

'.tf the flw

sotton, reored

of road blooks in h a

the c atrutio

0p

south

vo a

ctldt, wse

obstace~s "*aro or m,

in aeordtae

of %Jhris U,

from -A ry Oru

the Nfehr-

seettcnoa of the mjor highvay

cu~at Opn

for the cocstrtioan of

to

of

in

Army flroip Victa . The sphere

.
Gemil Staff Oraisattn Brach Home Tortifiotn

!I

chief

a slight shit

ordered

iomnter of Vehxtret

ehrmct

ebrket

off {W

ooaer

lt

Constnetion seaeaniM out

the

authority of

(but only that irt

On25

sulatte
fliht .are

in ehrkrnia ") an

aixi ttliinn,

Ytetr nstadt,

a aeomrawm conerning
of

stabri

to au

of te

ot twil,

Gai,
Ca
r.

rte

stet?

rehnnot Oprtin

the UeloluMd

of oprtonsi

ouuit

enmy attack. Lafense was sontraliwad by the

an

of anOeation 3taff North

&Adn

Coast.

Subordiamte to

Opera-

Ptaft rorth (oast nti parallel toeach other were the NayConnd

to

North tS n a

corps staff to he cntitute

qiarten of ICoams

Sine, the

the Reicabrer S3,

bed

Ar

roup Vistda,

the

deuty chief

of

already

of

Operations

f~at

North Coast,

been appointed bytheWuerrt

quetion of antbariy haA to

the 9Wehrot

ofa fomer a'

be r-t

~aakc~ia&

Regulatimon

this arathe

Operation Staff proposed

te as comd

6.

y,.

VWo

ga.An

of

dIat

ta

aserise by the

jurisdioticn
itor

The

the Zon

the apotutnont

Stf North Coast.

area'

a deis

by

of Interior

only over militry

afte

ip to bat otlui

ea the Reich Defense

ith direetives receivenf

e wn

Knibtr of the Inter or.

Opention

"operatioa

ithi
Ocist
ct
9041
di

tat cotrol vetet

aran

wmmor

by the deputy corps 1xn4

also aroe* froa the Nav over claims of leaderhip.

ttteultis

Are

d it

th

L'aloning

h deuty raet

retur

na

to rinba Cku

er In The ~et brtrA&

it

thtrt
ul

e in

the Party Chmanooflry an The

Zn the emntn zone (amot twenty klomt rs

ha

*6 1102
ths ,Whncht on rebie'

ini de'r)
the

The' r

aich

aW the

nalaitr

1 t~bip bwen

benr

*dz ittion

r etfonse

ea bIFThec

area

opeticm1

area

the Zone of

withi

bvr

:chco

The

';meuethe =gd

apoim

tin thi

b.
Zone of It

of

the,

im

ai.tafl

g-h

betnent

aders

e.,

tta

othe '

ado?~

of the

by

;, tels

rna

t Tiltn

Axt,

or mni defe

"cmuaore

in th

North Sn anti the Rato

a
y
Zn,' Lzwones

The Ibi in wtd* he copt x

A Ith us

pttnt

e.

Se, adthee

an

bd tvo dtsti

et

Special authority exercise

S... cst

OR

A Seond orxer,
ina

autrty

the

ehraeht

rior.

a.*
se,

the

theater

hWoon
cf

AuthodWt

date

of Thsm

wih thy exrise

thaoe arasi

or the F~esr,

Interior.

of atuthority

sihr

civil

the Zon of Interio

with

Wthia the %zotof Interir the A

a.

Party, &nd the

co.operatton between

dm-0a1944,

.h3 wmris

Ccnatnr.

t he leohrtaeht, the

19 Setber 1944, oonoria

PttyU an

e-rn@ mathorty ovem

wn

etan-ogr

incte

ivil 4WOtVautoft

tm, a statemet weastse OUmuI

4th*the Rseh at

Tevautonf
o

k (Ormrtions
(1)

4A'

ralattnulti

leam1

7 orth Ooast)s

e The

(Yrt. 1 Zu2
OemnreOKWWFT/Q
tn.

referencos as in fron

erof the leplaemm twing Army

r.
r.

0116#4 g.7.v. P,.4.

(Ti

"U..

YCQO4I

was

als3o

co rndc or' %r ntione

Thrth Coasts a: duai re

:ta'r

The staff was tacti o i y sWarint to

t a f, regiocnally ettncl&

Operations

the l

hrt

TII_

=cht

e of

o09uc

t th

Training Arrsy, z.ad subsrdLnate to theWtrah

in

snortity.

ComardA e4hrmtchlt

the

caortnce

nt

tepl

with uhrer

flere ?(o. 43.

.J

left

anth border;

(Operations Staf Wr

(G

maer

in CW wet)

squert . acenma

oat$):

k)

right Cki

9on
(a)bloafightareat

3isa

ltwmreo
'4 nAireea

point

insectio

abcout six kilnetens south of ?iolmn; the line than

followe the

vest

niopa aMrua districts of frets Oernbrac,

nis i to

is

Oata

aska

.Sfllis

lefn C

ina

thn.

of

bory

ndr Damnk): ernm..r nsh

(9)

~ : )
A4flr&,t/O/

(4.
tion

'X,

HeeL..

W-ittlag, xa

Rltie area: right (Wehrree it):

(h)
wase

excluding the

souh boundarie of Qsu Weaz emz,

tn

1r.001325/44 g.K4u.II.,

Not provtAed for,

Aloa

bat aeto was p =ne tr the

with t'.t+cios from th. Party O lUry.
in a..eof

kg(itm Gesal stat).

()The followng areas were fully subrdnte

Army (lnea 3tIaff:

Whrknie

I,

flU, XX; Wehkreis

to the

t: Pomoflnia;

t O.020

"'ehrkcroie

-5

ajntnistrattve dtrio+t

I:

Angormsnde; Welireis 17

(OThe
areas

not listtd

(o)

Kraiso Vhlsnzt2ehnbr ,

, and:

Frit

isfn,Atau,

a!Jytrnwerda.

L~wt,so,Pa' taenz,

(tbase

of' 1ranktrt -the-C

remaining

above) wer

Te

areas

of t ebrkreise I,

ITT, and1

sibordtn ate to

tacticall

the Axrty

WJreis lBohptl~a4ovia was

trof

subordinate to Army Grup Cent for .11

=tters

pertaining to the conduct

of bzttle.
(4)

the Army Generl

flb

The

Staf?

oomadr
of lvhrcroi XI was subin ae to

for om, attans parazn to preparation

of

the

defense line

(2)

e,

Ritght

ttisbourdry
c

of

nsrin

hief Southea st; the roar bouwary7 wes withn the Zone of Xntoror, for us.
onl
of

as billetingarea, erending along

Low Danubeo

th* V=au

iver,

the ten buary of Vrkris XYU.

the southern end

t.

floin
+

Lofs- tb

Nt., 001093/45 gJ. "v. 1.2,45.

01299/45 g~.v. 22.2.5.

western boundaries

the DueRmto

hii

80n

7 tMmozo

-XE-

(z) 2

itn~o

it tho ~Vchz uwhrer

ts

etiowla. ,rsintno~ in
The C

dir*cttvr.

order

for evition.

ttcl

eatw tion,

pent

the

the

Chie?

er

of tfle t'ra( vae

acording to

their

to give the initial

We~apona were to he supkplid .in acoran with the

lunls lade
tlo approval of toet ihafuhr $ap
es smu

actiocn

for

thhnaa

it, end

cerd

co the faehrer Zor oraiz.n

-five

ne
or in Chef

(I)0
to

prent'

wa~s

fe ror ibxilt

nne'.

T= were

Webh$UWIR Xv:: .

of the Repl

at' 'ainin

for the Southwnst and fotet

An.y.

The

suberdilste

full
C

wri

bad nc **=an authority in te

area.*

(a)
(ml~twg)noldin
watculd he

Southnt: Werkrois
tla

and fouth Styriw.

tferred to Wohoia

Wbrkniy TVIU; Oat Upper

VIZ

(ntoh)g Wer-l

In urgent

cses

XI

the Luft-

VII.

ab. (y

that vtfl

ot

of the Thumbs) i

%)etrkrois
Zt .

vwo to6:

rrtie

urteig aresou$ b authorit rt

and

*et"t
al otahst to

frt the

OdChef Southeast

outhin.

(3)Aubr,~ OlATS t/t

Ang,

tor

th

amr

v.

12.9. u. 30.10./4,

(a)

Nlr.

0al1/

g.:t. uIi,

V
p~%

47..

(a)
U opntionildirect tve
ehrtht !!igh Co

OOI

Ci
tnyGeea

tS~f

fmaotton
were

r~texrctt Oper'tiorn Staff,

pnotin~ the

torg aia tio

to be

eisdb

ttirectives osrtdz n

above v3Aoriginte wihth

Stt was esponsible

for sapl, trains

of the serrios arms, All Ord eaffect tag oparational

mn

lastew ith Joint approval of the Thhaht tttghCa

WOmh ta

xta.t.

(2)

a0

v.

7.9.

0=1700/44 go4.

v.

29.9. 44

aawo/u4 g..

(tu. TV,

S*nat

Notooimn)

fr
a

bondr

bolb

Wiht

""

Lee

09159/44 g.v.

Ant.) v. 9,.10,

(Pant

nt

of lter

(adtltne

a Dotaot

(betwen l'lrknlee

.r

isle

*Rottzwoog

zrMLV
ain disre

b~s*f
e

fl2

(i)

gJ.

(3

tsint

(oxtss/o,

Owcwfu/wvtqa(wt

?tV '317t/

ln)40

eet

Vset

V t

U)

Herb Ro

oi 'fltt n e

ma
f ne14t

ituet Ambo)a

flera pow
Rhim
a

Onbetsa wta

OUl!y beve 1Sain and Tzrtttbr

.w

sotl

20,10,44 and

atr

east oYeebg

VS 0e2w.O""i-

onstcance)

(Lake

h rust, Uhrolue 7,

Fox

tor tder in Chie

_
ain 4;{j4ust

were

"t

wa

br2..

o:litnrs

the

.ttnn to

to

te

t-he

oMuot or

air land1 ng,

alleent

Orp~mn~tion Td, nfroercd and rd

sueodntdt

the 4brreahaquartera.

,t 0021700/44 g.4. i. 17. Aug. v. 29.9., .10.,,

2 (Vaost)

QS/'t/Q

Sertic,

MVolers

er1a

defense agains't enem

police, Reih Lbor

olic,

'+,

:aden

for all ztters

~at

To prepare fr

battlie.
of the

boundary betten

,. Gai

-.

2040./,4, v.20.2.45.
(4

alita and the laic Defense

in the

from th !'arty Ghenclle'ry

di.rective
'ro

teeiblity was etntered

"WO0t(f Of??POI

Comssiouers inaccordance vith

Any further plan

the Red and rem 3oeos ws forbidden., (ci

exp

eacuatin

anein ofths

Local

tent n Cr/WTtQ 2 (Net) .r', ooms/u4 g.W v. 1..4.)

cobat action was permitted, hower, ad the chief of-

e"tcittof duo

th ?arty Chaner va esensed

r.

=5wo/45 g.X. v.

Ja
sivzttts

to the chief of the Wbmh

to it4t

conduct or batte.~

Comn

a .

=and

a rqet bthe Any

envre S

a4

the

V ,gr

sr

regard to cntsctien, o%fortification ei

The Arw gral Staff already bat pi

i n Xerkrise U and III with r egard tothese timctraim,

of--

si in th bat

In each Wt

and, Vest. T1is mabase

Up,and Ut

(1)

Stf

the depty chicf ofteWenotpntis

of the Pepi

a2,4.45)

srelaanitoushipe

sle

special authority (OKW/Wt/Qa

it" directivet
'r,i34f

the chief of the '-ehrtseht

:Tlih

Co~tat

to i.so now regultions

ts

for Xlebrkrese Ti an yil

on i.L

Jawi

the chief of the Wehrcht !fg COcnad subordinate

to teAyOenenal Staff in all

of ehrkrise 11 and lit

the oenner

nttra mrtaintng to conduct of bottle and construction of fortificatonsi.

For

ostal deene Webtreis It weg

ubrite

Limtations.! authority it

hrrisL

Cast.

speial order

(see 19 anar).

of

ebt

in WbrkreisI

and alit

Training ?An wore subject toapproval of

eceet

Staff

wore prvided for br a

Orders issued

to the eonoentration and owttaet

and

tin eandr.

of

the flepla

t*U

to Operations Staff

units
the

peran
of

the

Army General

Thee reorgains-

frming Army.

*thcrity al femotions of th. galiter

adthe Reich Def ese Cniseues
feidanur, Qrtelsbrg, aw ERnburg vote removed
rese
f= Tn
On 2f8

floe oe

did not etfbot

the

from the cosaud area

of Wehrris

I aw Wis

from the

of Webkris

XX,

e%
rea

tlpse

to be subordinated t

betmg

This resulted in mar a nanwm are st

Cntr

flippen, and Strssborg

r

ru
h

suboriaet

onsatr of th. Iteplesseut Training fl

41 the ozd of 'r* he ste

in nt

of

em

In th. last bad, dovlognd

soy that th. acua authqrtty 4MN not eomrp

with the rgom

athority,iettwwreas in the West

tide Va not th, ease. Arq'
Group
asindi.ow era. " p~an to s lt up the tir Reh'bete the
or in Chef leat and the Arw Genrl Staff was agai
eO
tta
~e

ith srevous

asgnpb,

Tditor.

abaned

,cthoe re

n inc

ewould
o

-nyct

hn
ve mbleen, ct oaot iri eyxne asn t i o nts eto3 at hre ru, l
e . s sTho
e

f o

Instead, it was now planna to change the bondaries3 of the

supplies.

correspond with

territorial sutzlivimito

?ield 1{rshfl

On
nder

of

Operations

ehsh

Stat? North

of wandK.

the actua.l ptter

15 as

suooede@ the flichsftehrar

The

Coast.

nov oramnder was direct

was-

to oepeate, ciloely with Operations Staff Baltic. Coast, which

ott byeOenraloberst l

ntf the end of Janis,

nen

then b

with the Cortder in Chief Wet.

the northwestern corner of' Gemay wore occpied

Generalobert Strauss, and

Holstein

an

t he

'Division.

archb

approrintoly

the

48Mt

In~nty Uflision and the 2danal

panser repisomeat brigades

hersn nfleO were incourse .f bein

(coer name for a

On fl'3

reserve

Coast and

m 23

arh .

the Co

On 13-

test.

the astaest

ws transpote

the

areas

of

The Ucorib3o

Operations Staff

Coast was

betsee Operatirn Staff

cnZnl
s alerten.

the bukof

the 430t

tho th

Infatry Division band

fiavtr.

by rail to the anearea,. The

The 490

araafter bating started mvemet on 2

earh

(sic).

Inantry lvys ion bad. crosse the ?ci Fives.

Infant ry

94th I.nfantry title4

sam wiich ws toJoin AryGroup!, bdreached -the Aurich

84th

alarted

ws established btwteen fopnber g end Vrda.

raced Oldanbrg a rote to the. uS

Dith ica

U.Pc34.

The 325th Infantry flivision

was withdrawn frocm fleuri.

ofr in Chief

The area west ofthe Weser Itver

otl

and

activated.

division)

Nort Coast and An Orcmp

By apv

rossdutscbland"

"

the bouwYkry wen fixed between,

Noth

on

Znthe

lborst

matime, the

afl.e

VS
#/t020

O.about

iri

T re

of ri

Niaval

already advuneod to the

ivision departe

(in view

r f
the

of .the diffiulties

upydmnsr
, fto. Ths headquarters
iost
were
in

Rteplaceet TrininAy
A sD 7

ti

while the

s t
2

and g: lthen Part-;

ad) for the

to b

eSgnal
cob
r tnd With
t
those
Ch e o

as to form the banes

such a wy

(northern and southern

two "outer" h aquatrs

eneutered bythe central

o Officer

tion Staffs

Int'antry

join Army Group H.,

ordered the orbaiztio of

Fuobr

~s ltvr were retined,

Rratnv Arenttn Nther

Rom

7.~~~
Pii

,flajrflthe

to

"lortli Cst"aaete

stf

Those olent of the$

along the lower Woper Pivor,

which had

to

areas,

of

Opera-0

the stbismt

fish bad already bee ordrd

12.LDr the

task of etablsbu

Operation Gru

B(outhern ae)

was asige to Genrl flitter von Oiter.

OF TWM WHAACD

STRUT

ti.

Tb. bsti Shifting.! (foe

a.
set

of rein!

.ftter

the

By.10
transerred

the

the brbthog

to 9001o th

northeat.

noerthrnI

fl

lamtr=rnte

4t

ha aledy bees

Tfaar fhiisa ad

tsube fronvt end transfe*rre

1%tb 1'snzrsim'ton,

at Ramne.

igtInstry fhvUo

The 20th Ptee Difli

21 anary by the

on th

been

shife

bee vitbrnwn from

. time Sfia,

foflove

frm lvakia the 10Mt

to

th
afts

Ight

The foflowing asetonal, ieldsm here beenso its significance, ws

souce mteria descrid in the Prefwc, and is therefore
incaplts aid shouldb suppleeted (Author)

compled from

'7-320

~22-22-

7I2thfa
tnan

in t tho aidebroc

ca mve

tntjtnr rvtston

' riztan, which

adcomle

had

The

Its moncoent.

been

20th

ttkoen. trnm the lower

jeuse

gnantry rivis in,

int

of Utntent Azty, wsmoved to Col In 'i1.sia, to whic

tion the L05Th lolknrttleria Corras &.also being tasf re.

rart

*CorringC

wa

Were

slowly

"

desia

torr

tei

4 to

in prgess from Coial

of being

s &sUo in cuse

which had been wtidanfo

on~ iat'
(Army

of urits from the ?ifth

was I

tMVt tim

into the area west of Ltsnntadt,

The 24th Paiot)Iieio,

RWW7i ns

Vrrt,

for

vhf, ase 00wa Wop n*

transferred.

The

are. in Zilesia.

~Ar

Other moveen

rut.

Grorp tHorth) to taag

to )hnjry

bad

The

transfer

also bsgim.

ffeot

34t

Tant'

rivlinin

711th Inanr flvsi

(from the West)

712th Infanty Divisi

(arr'e is Ci+ws
rmtcuer.t

1t49 aniy

i$-a

it8

flute

Cnp (s,

12th $S

anr

frot Enotomtt Any)

tzunr Dtrtd).

int Vae Corps (21st Panzer flvison,

flovment of latter division torlstod (Autho).

P5h
nme riviiont

YN 7 0-020

91Ei

Vu hr Tor.t rigade
nineer units

Artillery, mota,

*an

401st, .42

45h,/th

43

7o1kr*A ril

Corpo

17th, 19 th Yolk reieotor !1riv de

wosecia engineer staffs

Six fortress otnntio

atr gude btatlion

One aswmAt boat oommnny

'?u bridge eolum
?olioe (7omw StaIT

3Specia1 ld

The

are.

$Stgh

picture wes

as

follows (up to 29

Janur):

tnar Army. (from the Vest),# erpisis

tan

corps

356th Iufantr Pivi.ionfrm the Soutwet), elmetof

To the ar7nft
srtct
Iib

ztcoahe-e

-otbwp:i

Brgd

Futw Infant Rrtade

21st Nnn
25th.

s,

fli! tic
air

(hrers
rivisia

as *f 31 Jasr)

MA

fC.20Ok

-2t,

163d,

T.'fi
vLen (en rs t tovh

i~~r

169th Infantry tirion

tmr.rS

(en rout*)

Fouar divtrttons

had

fly 9 Febrary th following vit

been withdnawn trom fPe

tanse Pittton 'Qiostt.in

!4ajor elments of the 232
Twongient

t tanssr Reserv

tik

ofthe 166th tfnr

The vreasn

units to the Xttt during the pariod

tranfe ri

j ~~(break--throuh at tkrnv

recorded in t

followin,

It wsplanted to

7'ivisi

vr)
as Indicated y the

Situation !aook "mdr4$4oh

tnzse

fortyot wo units to the Uastorn Wiot,

with adfttonsl transfers after 1 Vreh (see elow),

,,
by _~,j,,
three units had been trnfere
(I)
4th

Pansw

iv iin,

33 Ps"W

ridsovnn,

Inftz7

ivii,

Airw Cru lst*1

3ad Infantry ri

mio,

83C

I$ls
tnnr

iiin,94lfar

23t Infantry
~

Infantry Pittston,

277th Inanr DAivso-

03 Vener Diviio

(a)~~

rtsnm

Cro(oi

Of then, thirty-

'Nederlm,"

Dvso

alt

lo).
-Division (to Ater
~Inatyflrsm
n
~ ~ ~1 ~1) zDczj~fh

(forely lot IarI Infntry Pivistzd

Division, 37th

(5)rr

1.irt~iens
ordersd
1 ?4ercht

11rsark, "

on 11

ri1visiot '(latter

Carlr

'erlin'

tobit,

Pasw Diso
t

ftshrer $soort Division, 29th

flstaa) let, 2,
bion, 16th(7T
23

Chp

10th 53 ?zo

9t,

ranr Pk esou.
Pot

'.oiet

711th

Ran

'iflflo n,

eder Division,

(afl toAw3ru

(to fly Oroq, SontJ4.

Pise
ifn

12 53

71Mt Infantry'

27th Thwhrer tIfantry a

olteer Viiio

1ivision,

3otarbogK and "Etieste. After

and the

~~~h
ie

tnfantry

r from Flensburg

die tDivisionz, 25th 1'enswr

76t
olks,

21st ?anzer ri ision,

anser yrndter d
Diitsion,,
iv i
715th
f
tInfantry
"is
36
Divisionf (all
n rY-m

to Army nnp $Soth,but the

Altogsther, forty*t-p

Ona

ivision

a rmy tGior oth).

275th

(t r

ueoebrr

(6)~ th
~ C
~

avtsous

ln

Mh1ctst~anr

rebriry), raner

DriisIen,

unit to

latter d~vso

not

until

aftr

1 March).

4iiion
l
were transferred byI Marth and three

after that dt,

roiately
c

the toflovie

10&n

snVtsrtfler

uits

wie tnfnnw

to

Cowp

Yd anlry !rigad

20th Nnsr tifli

Th.

24th aor

(frtym

Dvision wa en route,

20th Pazr rt vtsion

within

the

Este

tris

ary

and asto be ex'e

guot.

arrive)
d pith the

On

2iL

r4

b. The

hiny

~"tr

uitr

Viom -urea

fro

it lrw

were

~ner

th

r)

Tlorth

(1
forc

int~ittn
$r-our outh (cnot

7vi

Ft4
?ian

of 1944

tv3o. fekw

19hInfantry 7i vtion
196th Ifantr Diison

2691tiIfantry JI'ito

560th

Volkegmnadie tivisiou

710th tn

Panzr
Aroma

Division

antry

Diflon

Di rision 'Z orwayr (pesone1Ali3)

wdo 194 the 24 *ntk

h a alaybeen orderd

also

Divsin1

frout, to th
It flbrtwy

ten

tht

for

withgas

to

'nanti~Division wes ordered

45 Infatr

The

to the Wstsrn fot.

were onrot

Infantry Phytiienwa

iito

be

6th aS Vmant

169th Infantry t4tisimn

transfer to the

ast.

Th. 163d

transferred tothe 3ast, an6 the

to Denrk tor

the

gintgOf

199t

rerznisation inate the

Hlan

this division

was alIso

!'rent
ffollowing unte

wr

still is the hirwfl

irs

14t Inatry tviio

2th(60oa) Inatry DivIVWs
230th Iantry tiuin
129th Infantry

ti dion)

27Otht Inrntry rii

(ne aoi

the withdrawn.

e27e0

C-020
6th Mounan

rivinion

The foflovjM units were being tnnsfhrrc! to southern 1'orway or

hd alndy arrived there

274th

Infantry fti sio

280

Inantry Division

7th ountai Dimiio

The machine-gn ski brigad.'

fThsr.
The

7th Moutain

"orwat

}lirae

Division

The

withdrawn, the foer

divie ion embarking on 20 Mao.

of tb.

Division was at Mo on7t Mrch.

194th Thftazty

(2)
withdnra

the

7.

S troy
to

been

th.a

olesnts

of the 232d

of Marc the 16t Ina

Wht wp to ful stremt after

Dt~isDsn wes witsn

5th

Resen

gnr

had been

vlrui

(without cadre prOnnel)

pannr

Reserve flivision

rgiments of the 16th Infantr ~~iov

tryfLio,

tin vitbdnwl

wntnafernd to Any Gnup N, with

'

following iits

avac

also

for trasfe to the *?*stt

PNser Division lolstein*

At

were

the 194th Infantry Uiviion

an

wes prerin

of tw wft

at teninte4 Wy 1 Apr1.

at fth saetne

for tresfer

wiic badom again

te

321th

The

(1)Thnanstoth
nfantry Oiason

by

nst

(lower teust) an the 269th

(ireeenth AnQ) bar! reeeivd eror

th

ksr

units

Dlivisio

~ir

far transfer to th

tefiin~ .fl

ad
~~tween'

712th

13 Jnwyth

Last.

receive

transfmr

ordcs
Sixt PaserArsy(tw raserreadlier headquarters staffs
an the 1st, 24, 9t and 12th S' Psurer iiviston)

fTehrer Escort

Brigsde

Fuobrer Infantry lrigwade

21t Panr PWVs io
transfer of

acdtion tothe obey., Volka

of speclel twit were

D7

tits

(or

i3,; ia

issue

on 51 January ar

the Panzer Loa'rDivision

baden

geleled).

artilley corps adari

also transjferred (See Chapter

tye

V.*

the .Coanmr inChief west had transferred

fourteen

to the t{actsrn frnt, ocrie for ten of which wer ismudb

22 Februaryt

24,

Wt,

9,

ard12th S' Panzer ?ivisions,

fl2th Infatry flvists, 269th Vokgren.der Olie

25th Pansergrenadfrr Diisiec, 21st lmar Dimt teon,

two

ebrer briade (nawhtle reorgsntzed into diflaatn),

27h id28 55 Voluter Dvtuiim (use ems).

Usaamt A
seafls ofthCstrFot.

Chf

Wt 414 tot transfer =nIts to other.

e29

#
A

Vtft
(~) rasC~e

t'he'

nth =

iL

ituntnirai .

ware trtnsferr&a, from'

nt4were en route byI 3an

Fot. 'tt

!,

'with mrient t-ermrntiv

d.

(2)

rirbk

reoeived (ron the

gf~~

ohSoutheast.

Somuet in Chief

Infntry ?ivrio,

was toretain

71th Infantr

Vr.Paht

'lapter

t~tali

Lastr

vexa

for .a

On10 Thbruary the

front.

noeire4 word to neoet the transfer of the

the fLLftvaffe Fiel

Sotbt

for

fit-taeatnuord division we also nt

is

Chief Sotes
Keutab- Disi.

the 7th 35 tVmai

Ioptent n

in t.

1h
Ot

Division, ..

and the 73

.DiO

asaign.4i
hi4.f

flir

4)

Aftar the bak -throgh at arar,

let; Wnntab

tthe Oasus~er in

.r o)

If ponsbe t3eO

Diiin
the

JauL

rrd to th

"outhast

on

Sfl9 -5.The

Weter Frnt (see

no units wee traf

aty

tr 2r

(Orders o I !emeury)

PIwision (orders

uin bad arrived from tenmrk by

Lih

ry.

Pivision (orders on 24 January)

715th Ifants

297th

the Wete

the tathet.

16th "nter

time

to

ct.

by I : hAI.

3.56th Ifantr

a.

aorwy

.,5

tmsterr& from t erk

The I6th tntrntry ~1jv stemo wae

Grou

?c51tonL n

.iTh

ivision

a.The thre

tha.tfor the

deene of Croti. "This disposition remained in stfot.

5..020
Ater t:.4
traf

ori

rrr& V.w tk

At

J&

F Rarh

-ocRidt

a~nz

(r

bc'tntdng of tail

the

Croatia at thr'ci

Lhht >fp~

yy y{tyLs
' tio

u;; South ), which wao- ~ing

T1he foflUwng CO-

iTtria.

3vio

krn

tereweestfLi

headqurters were

employed Us CroWt:-

li Mountain Corps (Thatee)

xxxx'r Corps

'(eastern area)

1CX Corpn
(eastern area)

17 (Cossack) Corps (Drava Itier)

With re.r to ro

raization of

co

on 10 Aprf, see Aptr

d~m

5 uu or

date of 11 Aril.

Te

11

Light Tnnrry tiviton , 7 with the exception

of two trains,

13 Aptfl.

had,dartdb

The follwf 0wnza-Ca" a tmtt were stil in the

3734 Thrtr

ate n

ivisien (em route -tof.lbe4

39tf h tr f
ti
D vri oc
ai (northwest
n a S roj tf
v)7th
W
aao)
The ffoig
2A Ctin

ttatry

nt were empoyed at. Cr t

Division,

1t

Croatian Rserv Divsio,

Corpet

the W's,

iictiswre not
a mistae by the author, tn es Gsrmn d
vtth Rlownn nirnla. lio ?d Light Infantry Pivielon in liited
Order off Battle, (&l1itor)

Apparently

esgae
the Garman

ra a

in

-1

MS
9C.a2O
?actb

Ghards, all in the

Croatian tnfantrr

area);

!tviziens

Croaton

TI

araiovo);

(all rre

14th Croatian inf'antry rvivi lion, .(al

7th an

Orocttan Infantr

Pivisites

Oorrs:

9th

5th ant

.T Croatian

G.orpa

and

near Pred); 12th

(near Pobo); 3d and 11th

rivisions (behind the anot in Pal tta). Al thes

Infantry

Croatian

units

15th

were of

lo

sfa

cobat value,

Reornntatinn of Ol

2.

ordered.

25

On aprottly

anur

of an antitank di1vision, condesting

emi :mits
Thi

against

the Fuebrer ordered the activation

of ntxr battalio ns, to beemployed in

enem taks rather than in a large closed

division wldbe sup

corps for the Eatern Frnt wRs

of two ne0w Yolk atiller

etinvtso

of New tits.

ottn

by the biyle detachents,

frot.
edy bprted

lntsrnte ad equipped with armorepiercing wepons, already in course

of actisatiosn.
by

the

At

end

of January

Division 'Thnrlin" ws

activated

training school at Poeberits.

1reb rur
On"

(sight

ths

the following units were

divisions., tb rty'eo+m1

533d

Ifast

being

ve)s
flfaio

(1 Wsy)

264th InantryDviion (15 Wy)

8th Inftry tvisin (1 Jm)
16fth Inantry Division (1 im.)

361st
Pate aottvation ta

Infrtry Divizion

(~Ju.)

to be competed (Author).a

activated or reorganized

e32e

Ce.,
-OO

'Three

16 1 )t tnnr

1671d

infantry ?tviaslon,

tT't1
v

to bet

io

soor .s

ftoms

o rgnise

the 2d

?rtbu

tnnfere4v to t he Arm,

sr one.

ssea
tgve

a lthoug h

the

large

thy remnd

entufly there

wereto

to qmr units of the Ftptmnnt

2t065 mn during

Arm drop

&0tAV t0

Cavalr Division (26 :ay), aa

Aftr the eMd of Jaiua

it nnal regntzrts &rnl d

The mnbe of prsn

r?

by 25 VRebray

tfntry "tvisns.

from the ?ay ye

oC r:.or tnit ttofl

nt coawletion unortsin; 275th

ct

a ctivnted

to benewly ao tvtdar
Thabrer

coure
cr

1 untt' we.

aeditiao

the penal from I Juy 1944t

16 ebrar 1945, At the end of which the strnth w.e as followt

57,782

Thtwnrgr.rn te
?anser16,767

Tnzer 1econaisanoe

10,412

?aznorjngor (Antitank) 25,357

Total
Byr thetOU
ate

1246
t
Obmr

?0t

d n Dtvstof

sttne

apr Rtie, )md been reorganised into the 106th Infanty fttcten.

Th fll3r M.
w runtts &~
'a~ tht c
'Jppe

{ ,1.:

V~ie--.conT.Y trcjf.9Gp

hino
1

..

-dlv17ions

wvi. \?%.."Vr

dtvisicrn

UcilardI

Idvso

Denmark

adi on.

otal

ifa

in Ro1an4 anM two

One divisio

navni division in Uollamd

was

in V

divisio

itr were rehabiitted,

adition,tb
of

activated.

Jeoort !itgde and te ?ulrr Thfantry Fjiae were reoranise

tioa

i fantxtry 4iis

o e

a lette

wold not

receve

to $Utlorvs tlh

his ocvent,

thet, opinci

the two

into
actve-

to

tf

fnrsd

Auta,

1944

Not ai

bat the e

division. pndst

tint

Arm ight
d bytevitlidraisi

?rna

th Seilead flgh ara

Fuher

for assigiaft

the Rtpepia

19th- Inatry DiIsion in

ni

Stff ;rotaste
out

ordered the trrdite

beS Nrthrfer
dnrshaving airay be e n

this nat'
Mhef Wit.

Weh reis X (burg)

t the trsining Oact7y of

of b 18th a

Is

in

the

Hownver, the Wehrwroht Oerations

Are (map Vistel.

asa e

of

a a decree

On2 er

ware

128

+i}~
flit,3a

tmuld

atC is

frt

Vhrkrl 4

aide, the chief of the Wehnot Opeation

1e,

such onler shonl1d not heissed wit-

WI g,3

e34lte

_302

On aproxintel7

rch

the cern'fde

of tht
h

pacement Training

Any re lease siX field construcon divisions, $r

of which iwere assigned

s:tern Front and two to theBantamter

The number of releasable

to the

march

Front.

battalions was thereby reduced.

On 12 parch the activtion

of' a Division "Hamiburg" was authorized

utilizing already existing units.

The organization was to be comiteted

by 15 ?r*h.

.as the tebrer issued

On

a decree tbrowing all home forces

into

the front-Urise fighting (movements Wtgoten and ostgoten).

On
Front.

2i gh

the "Thuringia" unit had already departed for the Western

Panser unit "Franconi&' began leaving Stuttgart on 28 March, while

Panser unit Wes"tpslia

" was ready to depart on the B

dae .

n addition, three divisions e~oth were activated from the cadre

pesonnel of'

Dy 28

bad

the Reich labor s-ervic

March

forty-three trains had been dispatched, twelve of which

been assigned to the

72,000 san (without

96,0an

A Vt

the

tanks) wr

r'

umber
o

mved by

of s
b

foot to the

Eastemn

ly

as laned,

Western Frot and

front.

sent to both fgronts

wa
acivation of- uoarmieran divisions

of the six

From the training units.

eomander in Chief West.

ithout teas:) by foot to the

forees
c
the total

April

and from the training schools.

At

With the

otter

was over 2OO.

the begiing of

di

ew divisions as to be carried out with the g

speed, with the area around tuneburg provided for the

ComnA,
plebis

niu&

test possibli

purpose.

t4 c0

3.

r 'Ge"'

Y,.

TotWr,
.

ixa

e*34

q niifie

A.ebn

fil Cfr~r te
erit l

P nA
trin A9n ya.X
r

Ga144

et

'Ttro

t thy:

ien roJezseIfur ttiy

Teree
ot 10

tbca'

d&i

'~tanrs~ deresi

Sand poiee in thc

fkP
{z

%rZI1
x,'

ra

Oa l t etr

vgf

Te:e

14

;r

o- rcnrrt:

,>r'fJ-crT

tI"

t%

(t)

sit

front.

the cRn~t'm r I aT0n ~r

o1

to-nir

tt 1.'c*~

agt

thrre

1nvnt

0itk

o1, ths-o i ?4
1 oe hw
' "p lrz
1 i o te nt t u' r'

4 wedu

?r4cp ne
vt r -

M mn

4a

~6

(in

of

decreed that Lnltes

for

fraeeor

of the

worea to beoraidcred

abr Ser-vtoz

Webnncht.

anary the chie f of the Orgrisattot

On ?Z
chief

concerning

the ?eich

Zonfr.ii1

Ih

.' w$ i. etmht

cowbt in view of their rrefloua comtwtont vit n the

awflablo

deputy

by the chiet of t hi

an order

anw

of

Operations

the Wemrraoht

Staff a

3& sbmtate tc~ th

report dlat

a discuston at the 'Propaganda Ministry on the

January

23

subject

of total

tr, as fofor
The tuftwaffe

(1)

In

recent days, 42,80

men

AnM;

740

framework

of the

ithin

ora nizstonl~r

had

would
ees 112,000 men by 10
bean released for ooc ttrsnt 4ith

followed

the

later.

All

of these

troops

February.

the
rainedn

Luftwaffe.

tadition~5,300 air signl coestmtcatione perseonl from the West

had been transferred
also

activated 100
(2)

at

the Art.

clse

tropi

The t..eplaca

an in flS clawsU

190

Training

Este

and

ry

Arvs bad, recently

field

foros,

noral p

56,00 additienl
13,60 q ufe

en 1 Ztray

Jaur

transferred

Over and above the

n ot.

age classes vu4 bereleased for

of )trmh

it wes plannet

Of 33,00 umen *ae

the $e.laeunt training 4n

replcwnete

31

you

&t the begirmiqg

nt 13,60 urn

their

destroyer units.

and rehabilitetita of. the

rstransferred.

oosdmnt

Within a short period,. the Lnaftwffe

tank

bt

lenst 0,000 -n to the

tow slasset

to

release en edi

class 1906 qualiie

had released 30

percent

withouat

for eervtn

watting

for

tj

34

200

37

Since t ha n of 2Novenibr

(3)

trm-ero'to tbt field fo

in

t'uthr red uction

to

of men a ss i e

Thw Navy

(4

from

the forces under

repl

which

toea

of

Denmark,,

released

Gains though

economizing in accordance with

Secause of the

ni

Crtificates of

a Navy

btolione,

East

20,00

3,000 mn from

the Army's dinponl in

189W awl piuger) could

the Weraoht.

the ?trsq

1 ,000 men from two hyartillery

20 January 1945 (errtion of

class

al reay traferre

had been pla.odt at

(5)
of

ha

the Grand Admi.a,

t regtmet,

decree

were

an Mrch.

in Februarzy

am

Bylevying older age

two .Vuther groups of 20,E0 men each

chassea as rep1 ac ene,

ra ilrod

su

u nit , an a Mdttioal 20,-00 men were wtdo aniabo:h.

1,090

hd been

thc 10r 'xrzn re:Attion.9

s~ troug

nabr

tMx

mien

194, 10,00

and

PArwussa

the

Thebr r'

ndispeibi iybyth. branch~es

not yt e etmtd

urozua levies, only a mego? result

was expected.
(6)

the A aw
#,00a

160,000

to l

As

a result of

sute

to aceerate the

each, :already
de
duin

(7)

the total

var, negotiations were mde

with

remeise of tree month quots i

ordered bythe luorer

in ordr treles

the ooue of ?'enr

The

proble of sieuring auffiotent

Vhich aos~e

with th,

?ropoeaA

r to be submitted by the

inorease in

M*1,

combat

dUgenera reduction in the ngmber

ainhr

we emn

ebnnaht Oporaiome

of e

assigned t

of

af

n,

by th Army.
taff

non-combat

dut

19%6 a&nd yo'mger qualified

C)z]s

Are
ftor

active

Age

C]has

19054'9c7 not

and/or

qualified

labor

pzr

onz o

for

2(l,OCx)

ser'doe)

190 and younger

qualifie

all

417,000

sntoie

active sarvtce (liite

Age C1ass

r.yths

nlr.nned for transfr' to the

ThrclUng norsonn

conition-'

for service in field

servic
( Aro:.)

.2 .0

950,00m
?roprtioml distribution was as tflo

26.3

Fot

Wester

porsent

4.7 percert

Norway
Italy
Esstern front

17.8

percent

Sotheast

7.3 pert

Courtan

3.7 percent

The Reich

On

2isn

(proper)

tb

We

33.5 pecent
tt

Tigh

implemntin

the

second

d aeoeooomg totti war (Wehvmeht vomatrilartee), datod

29 Rveber 1944, Fned

regultipn

with Amena

an

IV. Ann111

UT

wes issued cm 2. Yebnry end Annex It cci 16 ?eru'.

b
Jn MOrer isuem b th. Wehrnot .High
On 2~am
that plice an

in the rear ar e,

ecurity

forcs an duty

at

dcee4

the front, fighting partisans

or protecttn the Zone of Intirir were to he niered

1W
I

Ari

20e3c

a~bim', on active sordo03.

b.

2nomn

eornnmdor off the

in

In.

l r

Tdtip

eaaotet

Etihonmn4ordered!
ompl.oo

'e

the 6,YW)

ervioe

their? t.Ths, t

togth-vv with

by saea to the

t.transferryd, as soon as possible,

$Tnay
the Wehrmaoht

of the Paioh Mber

untreind men

I (Ao Cla 1928),

ehrkreis

J25

on

tr,

Ithe'
1.

remt

nt Training

ftola

Ar~.

the Wshtot
of

concerning tespyent

Ago

tefon of cobt-wvorthy units.

Is ease
Servic

of sta

HX..

Class 19fl6

Repwrar

ir 1andigs,

Age

tsrrdecree

issued

the

in

ias to be ensuae

tnin

Clis

activation and re tbl'

1928

pedr

of the beiob abor

ws to b release for coabat duty in aseorlance wit

an

ardor of

6r Yury.

on itU

anr

(in reference t

the

Wehmot Qpermtiono

Staff/Or~aation

1 fr4345/45 g.

am
Ch0K

ont~
.+s fficb that by

supply en .dltati

v,.l..4
Wider

twao

informd the !iaiiy

o the ?Nwbnr th

a's

shae in Age Class 192$ mUal be nLuc by 5,00 dnaftsa and 10,00

agreed

the C

loreoe,

wolFmtnn.t

dei

l0,0m usa In fvor

192$ tti1ed

10,000

em~r InChef of the

sa~re of voute
of

the Arm.

tint
Therefore, the
in

Nv

bad alrnfly

egr olas
avyt a share

an adiimZ

in A. Cls,;

MS fi t-020

-40aemradu
o to

wrertatunnse to Age Thasa 192

'rane

~to

hrnahtOnz~ttnstattf~ra
thn ffoliowtn:

inclwle

too,EOQ

1. 222trsa~h

45,000
Qualifie

or conditionally

qualified

for acttv'.

es.i

285,E0

waily unw.f14

3* 7

7,00
!fnrole4,
Not

Re

yet earollid
b the ArM

jv

3.3000
(tranafer

Luftt

(3s,ooo

r Fm
Prom the Nv

the

Lufwffe

rom the W.

30,E0 (0
550,E0

it tont fo

the

etch lt'

Erv t

29 aya

21

F*rUr

.10

Mar

21, Veary
10a2N

anhb

47530
3,0
8100

019 hkmf th chie of the Oratt

tics. Stf reotd

Clas 192#

as foflova

tat

22,x0)

, 0i,oo)

nS

Total
5. 4oig tp

from

and Navy)

the 1'uehr ad.

Rraaoh Whrmeht Operaew

chaned

the dstrLbutto

ofAg

edm

Prt

Of the mzbr &s l"n

to the !t7

CC)

237,500 were vsutr

Alln

assigne t the llavy Luft waf f e, nd Wtffeat $3 we

pe rmnel

e. The
ad
exp

Hih

'Votleetn.

On

volunteers

th chief of the Whrmcht

a0

laind to nbodit

at

rteatre

pipoe

of

the Volutrs

1On 02
nine

twenty-tw

olketnr btuansa from Ouiad nqlao.

from the Woatrk, and six from the losel. were comtted, The *hief

of the liebrwaht fligh

&. repart onthe

On l9

rele

a tmr

from thi

reqnto

u~wder In Ohio? West

o. Volkustuna bttalions,

the W

ot Operations Staff/Ognlain T!rn

of

directed that immdiately, at Vhsi aonluio

cmt

aotion,

1mwilts,

oebr
of the Volksttt wore to beretue to their or

the 1hret

,26

o
,02edb
fr

olkauturs, art,

suite at the f2

On1

Anq mid cat

sof

If
i

sa np~ma

aesbat stat

si

diint

brirdasio ens to lbe

the Vebmucht Operations. taf/

ordered that ale civlian workers

the Volksturm.

a dewr of the

Qprntton Stff isue

ther ccmthtaent a the YoVhsstiu.

dispersed

bate

rec

of the Wehnrtet were to be roldi

4 1- 00S~
A,

,rrr;..

msssql

matrnlttd a tdeyd

A to tire dvny chief of the

frc tr~y trc'

for

a
Wsrtmcbt Oprations 5taff regarin psiiitio

It ias

Volksett

that asecial gaops

snugote

rganised to cnuc vrtis r-no iartaro

eupied

UoSM

at

tomaer of Ay Gr
into

$lant of

enter

the Reic", as setit

fertiftia .
cool

also bec

against

the a

MW Gee

obert Cudria

district (ri)

to the

staff

Volknitursm ts
the.

De.

subso
V il

*f the fortUM1mor

of

th Party,

the

oul.

ftrt

eawipo

that an orginif?

of eash t

we be
o

a1echltca

ao,

pdsd that the rPair

clea

fsiel

rer

On

at

inadt

airat

ba wbit undor supwituio

advisor

vad

flns

that

be repired wNg to thesotgeo

re

within
&ntrritor

ofpfctfalnadthtte

the defasi.valu

o e

nt

potW out tothe chief ofthPay

$t#

C.sl*n# Rathleltr Znam

tomg

area,

in famar

Pertre.~es and 'Field Forifctions.

d.

che *

tte

ipobat. The

propoed toincorporate V7olkesum

fthtis

*When,

ccwritobit

Ginrl,3~,

asi twra arems, ow to construc

dette

OrcuV

by lw

Thi
nyfor uspleyMaet in~~

Wield

th

rnat.

cit 0Ortin staff

bad not prond ttub

tits

Vokt

of -the

fran the land

Vlkastun sent at10 ?enr

c*=d/Arw

Ar'q ugh

Ceflr tothe

eeny

in the

On the vase date the depat chef @f the 14

mntitted~s a etiate of th

eor tment

iiatma,

Coral.

which hat

to theanpts

offier be ansigned as
ct
the We

e20e3

-43..

it

In

be eiot'

wet

11i

theatervs.

Inacordance with an order

25 ianry,

the deputy chief of

that suppltes bebuilt

up 01n

of 'the Yehrmacht 'Nigh Comrxand, on

the

Wehracht %lerations;taff 'lirected

and in the

the tela

desisnted on 4 tocemaber

zones

194.1 b

naval tortifioations

the Weacht O

ntions Staff/

unto? supervision

Orgnisation 1noh. Thi directiv e wa to be eecuted

of

the

Army Onerl
On

reguation

or utrongpoints.

Area;

ares, fort ie

places,

frress;

of fortress

rortres C

not fuly cons

would personally designate certin

defe.

tb prpsals.?f

and wo

.mapint

the -var theater

Staff 'in the 1!s,

m the C111

the ton of the Zterir.

Special

orders ro

iln

and

rder;

trutd or develope,

fortress

the

,bae

into effect, incse

r Qnn

elceat_ Trainin%

b Fsrr would also detean

R~egulatioms should beput

defenserreratione.

of

ty,

arms asfortresses

eenrs, the chief of tl

a

local

was Inluded:s

The. following

Case

rd authority

rder of a detfinse area; 'Local Stronpoint (teded

Pubr

to hesrnl

fortress

to the

previous

all

Definition of tam t

skeial

the a

'Th

a ane

r4 ismue

The nnex Aoo.rtd.

(1)

under

iplementing th ruebrer decree regardin

fortresses, Isand fortresses,

Dofense

n Administration !ranh.

Staff, 3upy

Jaa- th Wehrnot flub

of cut-ff unites
bases

u ~est~ng tat

sent this rroposal to tho ~ eichlettor,

OrerLionr' -'ta'f

flethe~rth

of i12uficient

CEO4

gins" a

(2)
prenaratonfr

authority, of' fortress oinanes durn?

corbt sn actual fighting. ?Fortrezi eota re were
hake an

Personadly responsible to

arwy ro

their

for Ct 133.?_i

m.drs

assigned nisetIonw itnflxibly ani unco:ttionally tothe very end. They

eouVd be re

se

froms their duty only y

the

th;ater, upn approval of

rotau
eon or in

the 't

Fubror Dtnoctio

c~.

fl

the

er

chief of the Any~

were

to be

by the

Ary

Gene.l &tft, in

for

given

w i th

tb*

directions

of

the

Army

pertaining

to al

Woehrmacht

fortifiation

Octwt lessons.

in acoordane

uppl and Administration

26 October

Drnch, fpr supplying the eastem fortresses, dte

On 22 ZP rn the

acteanee with

be cnucte

General Staff,

ar

only by var the ate r

the laet

(4)adf
Supply of fortmeses
tmo was
griosto

the

General S tfl aw. h

or er.

and ith regard

of

Oprationts staff

issued a

1944,.

Ferer. door..

gerrntly tuder construction, in>imling

be oaatrewe
ihntenrfto
we
*"etorttfinatieas
by
mete
onyV likely thirequtr deterioration,

vhencuidfortifloatioss wer to be ipr

n abflt

flbrrcret

4. ~is'leus

rni
$ess

Tquiuaat, until then cobine

d depd+ upon th

work.

Th haqurters, of the Chief of Army

with

the Co uidr

of

the fleplaeoent

43

-020

w.4$m

tranin ; my,
lug unction.';

was

dissolve by a ruerer

were -a sgned to th4

mcht High Qmnd,, Oncrl hahbh,

of

The rem~in-

7 awy

Arm otakfC

chief ofa th

of the eor

who inthis cpoity was k.

ilubl
r Geea
n

subodinae V he Tehr

for

dcrr

the furthe~r co-ordination o' astent

'atl

was thereby owde responsible

(See below uder

roductioni.

SApril.)
the

Or

to

the Yuehnr's

vehic

Uoetoftwehnoht Hb
provisions of. the

denn that

wdreovattentioc

Geneva Convention

eadn

mrkedwith the Red Cross be oberved.

the Army

On 6

Parsoznl Qffioe orderd.

that

officers could

nlonger bediniand,. Officers not suited to their rank weret be

t .o
In

in

lesser grades. Offto rs

wewe

officers gmalty ofcris

lower gae

thjt nee, to

were to serve

be

rappointed

as nor

lsitd

officen.*

on 24

esrnr the Wobmot fit:

C-

ordered the orga.ition of

a straggler interception s ervice, uner the cow&Aon%of the obstacle

The

line.

Webet

polie forps had dlear been oooldats

Vnlet -n

udr, within thes Wrncht.

On20 3Obr~p
lug and
our

over

sply

detals,

inldnA

,thn

tcot

ttiebrer ?rmnk ws aulpd

*m

which were oondnted by one

both ofiers adenlisted mn.

distribtesa
2,Wq
officer

and

hi

Oath

of+ rawb ateriali.

jcrisdictien

a.060
-d6.

CsO2O
Ct}

the

:f

ehrnnoht YF~

to the

etatf attch

Arm

wecmbined vith the 2hnOht Crano O fioe (crr

The

latter agency

wa

to

faclties,

e.

-now receive the

reseotrntble for wnttons

title '"Chief of t

Ierous measure wore take

which had becoe s suerf luo,

Ill.

muianc of pro o-

stat?, General Puibis,

,hzncht
.sqntpment.

to

dis solve

ad to utilise

al

hadquarters

ant

the released personnel le

WAF !7GNOY
1.

:After

the Ioe of Upper Silesta, Thoc Mianter Specr

pointed out tht the war economy bad now been redoe

to oriqfrter o

would beaftected

its rembr capacity, and that the 1nwividai brne

dsteL 29 aur).

in various isys (et

MA ttiM* With regard to the axaswdtton sits

2. Amamet en

tdo at the beinnin of the year, the Weacaht

Oprations Staff/Supply

Whie deliveries t

iflauoh tssuod th following statement on

the Wetr

ront

bead

been adequte, thoutpat of asmitios was dr4ppin

tthe point wr eere

Kb~t

4wbd dnw
ra

i~ s r t g2 6 Ii'. (L 4
assault
(t 4S);s

ecd

wrthee
ittwui

Lec

ttention to this
I foureks beoe

nJaury195tbprzto

s fl

xx

to 7 Janury-) ,

7upply

The former chief of the Ar~

2):t

of tabs, gays, and

379; asa m
ultn h
hovitw
wt irs

3; agdpnsr (Yoeoel 38) (I.

tis

(t go
'l52;
el 4 4) 63; assault
4;

Jsgd:ftb rt

Ge0zQ

-47-

Light

field hswitzer

sbelsfl

,2%,X

sIav field holtter shells

Yro
1 un to

rifle

(omnth

arc

ad been lo-st.

194,50

period ) throe an!

and automatic vpon

Ear

onasW~f nilio

were it su short supply

that in!'brwtry it ws necessary touse stocks assigned to Governam

office and non."itar organisationa.
able to rlease further stocks, an

ctivated gr=antforcs.

could not eve arm their own-uswl-

I a dirootivn to the G'nleitora on 184

asichaleiter Rormnn ordered that the - 'istu."

noot

the

.into
l

Aan

Type 40

aM

for *atitank guns T7po

dated 18 robrury.

mutd to 1, 593,W0 rot,

Anault

kn on

tO

,'

to

the Webraot.

ed teak rae

according to

a eutt

Janury prodtion totaled 367,000 rotuila.

PneEII

Thei authr pr

trch

whicbh had not yet been

hinact, was to turb over its amn

reur

42 a

Nav wore U*a

71w LttWaffe an

s 1)

One

49
28?

Jsdpscu 38

toa

1075

l~ reern~ to the Vol#ks

havm eritsedltt.'

, since no

Wehrtt i"

d~ ~..020

1555

Past

67.

'pest

22

$uthvs
Tots 1

of &iticuties, ?ebry production indu'5ed

ispite

250000

gts and 20,00

mahe

At

1,20 atank.

164

this

tie,

rifles, inaddition tothe apodatel

hoever,. the reuctin is a=mmition Output

became critical, Duing th last quarterly

tin hd bo

25,0M0

ieiptche , wile

period 4,41At trains of a

at present roution bad falle

i.

to $

trains per dy.

r in

the ntight of

conference was held concerning

the

dhi.d.tion of tanks and~ other pbls,,.

M.o{tpr 7,hietsps. Within the

inisoh

comleted the task of organisin~

At the end of Jary

for use

by

&tl,
trtt

ri

ufcet caacty cudh

4 t~oree.

lthough it

Co

wa considered doubtful

rtuia situatcna in

strength. bitn

that

psnl ,

it bnrs.

istdeow" insuet

On

dredundtbe ubrothnw aztorseb

tabs of wrpniatton and ordnrd the release of

authoriaz

in the '4est

rotd

the nipply of es.

ahtah

vehicle capcit

it bawre ncessary tofrnish trnck capacity

Nnse of th

nenryt
hy t

first tor days of Janury, Ceerl

stk

those

wer as fellows

in exet of

-49'-

IC jT

200

1556

Navy$

Q2ce3,69

36,319
16,E8

Teeth

4 2a.-W

?etch labor $ertoe

1,136, 1

Vital
51

of

Th mos

l'

;2t,

ua 'sta of the

the 1$

riclpoblema was in th e shortage of

ntim

eet

tbe

plant

gas l

tuatioa had

wtswudhv

plot ha

enlist

ether. the to dem

wore

at Poelits,

to be

rots

to:nv

more

Brig on

NothiM

toot or v

i
biyce.

e:

30 PonOt

nifl

he

be dons

Psergendiet

the Pne iiin

ba proose bbr
Staff.

Only

tot stgesin ha4

already uder disusion by the Arn flno

the

t eoriy

ad

29

With

also been toted toshut dewn,

large tiens.o th At.

on

oraton o

asrious.

anl of then 1rgd plt

ocutderod e ritinl.

to remai fuly motorizd

and vet

singl

rech

fteS

he

ince the attacks againt

rodotis
steped
tO
potat

itot Opeto nse Staff gav out the fofloign

The tol sitwtion m become nc

oeep t io of

front

andcotlunlreie
reports an ser toent
ads an aoewate ao~oomt

Training
Art

134,8

fune
Organisatio

the

(rtrn at

of Interir

ful

were suppied to replace

release motor vehicles.)

Zone

oroe

the

Zone or Interior

Rterlseient Thiinli&Amy
Afl14 Fled

ira

Pkeuiroment

42, 247

-0

C-020

-V

On

ydraing12

dsreeieduponthe

running

edeoned hegrainplants

,1eventy-for

percent of

produed by the plat

Dieel oil ant nhc

Magdbur,

at

Drm cint&

VAPQQ j

Gomi that thle

Xornah

to tl

rrnu

194the

acar

the

?oelts , whil

wes first necessary

tJnuary

25,E0 ton. of

It

was plane

which

with

in aecor~ane

p' aned

from 31

pescet to 35 peret

of

prodLucdIr the. plants in flofl,

gusolin e

coiIn

7,00 cubic mtre, as 4

Steff, it

ftiel in Janny

~
ur-y

smout of atronft fue w

tal

Zoits, Letondor?,

to pnodo

maao

ina

ct

centrl Geny. 2m cideor

an

ato by the Werot

erratic

to protect thoe pints.

term

to produce 34,00

's to be produced is oelits.

fVel,

of aireft

Produotion

of whice

tons, $3,00 to or *0,00 cble aeter were

an
slloaated to the Whmet. The Weoht Operations Styf dated
output of 27,00 cubic meters durin the first ten days of Januar, dring
psoline rad

76000

which time prouction

riett

nl

to produce 04,50 tom.

It v.plae

to

of which wuit be all oatd

h~nio,

the

of De4.11,

wb

60,00 to

he-s

th ea output of 27,000, ts,

Aeorig to a

igh C

12 6,00 cubic mtors,

mSbythe Zaooso bec/i

poetlit

metin 4ea

sidr bly sinc

31 Pecebr.

1 January and

interruptions in

Germn

set to th' wtmat

alu11-1m dte

for, fwi

Sectio

Naystain

production ba erased

i attack duig

proeton

trmsis wfl,*ierwe rke1 "

fib

at

the

the

period

a, th

sea-

29 Dfler-

antie
nodb~s

+gerg

copeetad.

for only

tomt,#

by1300

rsultsd in va.o

ha

hydrttug1'Tnt

cubic mters).

14,500 tons of .Piteel

Mineal 01

(63,00

tho~ shortage of

ndr

statff that

arrft fu ino

panne

*f 34,E0

predcton figbr
tos,

ton

although no

of
re

than

could actually kepcted,

1945

tons

thw

against Zits on

from

resutit

Section

January wae dropped to 14#0C

00

Thrse

eeln

sine th, plat at ?oelits bad not bee in oe*a-.

aircrft fuel in

ton

up for

too

ton

to the erncht igh

Q I

since 23 Janay The

12,000

only 50,00

adc

oil.

loge bigpoue,
tipn

vedocle gaslin

output. to

aeectd

been possible

dunddated

Rnnc

the toono

the

reducing

that couVd te

rodwtto

st.
*
?Pr owior. ot

in

It had

in

the Wbraoht h9a a fmel mern

16 January.

air

could b ado tp.

attacks

lost thoh

aoiew

of vehicl

Other plants also

of

140000 toe

air attack

th

showed a

drop in praluotica

against cetral O0erwxq, although these loses

The less of Zits and

Len.ade it necessary to

restrict allotto of Diesel .14. Diese oil proucton for the Wbbrnoht
we

is anr

.t 22,E0
Zna

dated
High.
tug the fuel

ernm

eate to rech 1,50 tens,

on

I anary and 22,0000 to

of the W

ormh

on I ?ebssry

Opetis Staf, Spl

sulmited cc28 Janar7 to the chief of the Velraht,

* h ooi Brat*suiztto the fofluuing

sitation in TFertrys

firsrad

40,03

a~

fuel nroduotton was atf'eotdb

'irortt
A

tht

tons.

loich 1 hlstr Speet, hoever, etints

that

wouldl reach

only 9,000

amonted to 12,000 toti,

wIth

unleaded aircraft ful,

The

the entire output of

Luftaffe Nigh.
b.

furtber

an additional

H!igh

last rserve

prdcto
Comnnd

fuel during ?ebruary at the

the larger plants producing whle gasoline had

Als t af

although most of them wee

in Februar providing

di fficuty uas in

there were

yzace

The

for Wbruer

largest

a.

th

V~rot
Re

er

to te

oht

oil to th

':i..

was

os

Oin to the uneetaiaty of pwodtatioa, e

pouto

noee

U,0E cub

wes to be ims

HighC

ofor tAsel. oil amuted to 60,O1

O

t ts

tea dea

vaoi ga, l

peidrqlnasfor

ton were allocated.

Cv-

tons.

at 39,E0

to transport Awol could he made only. for tErst

7)rtcg tit

delivery.

1r+duotIon tobe alocated

possible allocation of

at 50,E0

estiate

was canted

to rem

no Wirther air attacks,

the iIck of tan tucks to fcilitat,

be increased by24W0 cubic asters,

Webrmaeht

the

disposal @t

Raers of whicle gaoline Iteid bythe W ohrht Nigh

to

of

of 8,000 tons

Staff proposed placn

Wehrmct Opertion

aircrft

likewise stopped production,

proucion

Twservs of the ;t ohrfact

tons.

lo--a of the

r,

Fe

totalsi 25,08 ahio

metes
'db

ith ngafl

2,4C

the rserveS held b

ableete

tonse, whil only 50,50

the riesel reserve of the

ht

"

gyn.

tt

C -020
in53sr

'2,501torn

Ciig
Ocaarw

(i

the

t'b~

re

-nlvddowdt

ap'oxt ttly 14,TV tornm,

Output

only tr rtsing the produotton of the

coud be boed

Cnie oil ?rosan

combino

awd by using Uun ritin

tn a me uadi dated 313 nsr from the

b

hifof the

the

PoerurT
fuel supIy

20,00

'tons

la

t of aircaft fuel awtat

outpuDi
StUSpW fnoh),
Stf*Operations

en. with Wehmocht

(con

o 1wt

ws *e forth:

(1) on 16 Jantir
to

tranch to the

coanomo

olwz

lth

._owotn.

only 9,500 tos

Inconsequence ofsubsequent losses, heer,

to be

o~bmht'e reserve WBs 20#000 tone.

ezpeted.* The

ech
Bst 42,00 tone

()Vehicle gsoflt prdcto

in the Zone of Iterior, 39,E0 tons ofwich was to bet f or use bythe
Vetrcht.

Mhs

ww the pplawmd proeton as of ~6Jammy.

as5 S OoueUrlf of 4 e+caed

(48,eoo cubic meters)

20 Vesbrmney

wlt

as

production oap sity,

to beezete

be 240

O9
a

mmramtu o s. a

tons

?wPobablo Vehrscht reseve ca

stood at 22,500
tot"t t~ so,
a I 7e0w

the at orftb=
N

l000 ta.

the Vcheht Opatione

meutho

only 33,800

citfers.

the Xtsbrachta
s m
of Diesel $
.t 1400 toms, SM t

flowever,

of producing liquid

"tffSupyna

fl al. it a

sulaitted
conferene

.5tsE

Xa~

wtth thc' chief of

that

for

it was

uction.

to produce

100

etinsporation c

year a nw nmthiod

woo, although

fudl from
o

-thqr

-shzrncht

L&n kiomun for

har

n o ractical sts

report

that

one

cubic meter of

woo

ike e)

use

kilograti of coal (J ete

penntors or frost 20 to 25 liter

On S &

the

tief

for

taken

towardo
ssurcknt

in teotn

of gasoline engine fuel.

rid sent a letter

of the Wieracht, Nig b

t(aulits Hater, asking his t

his district ineetin

obta tntn-P IL

ad yet been

ch

s ]mwd

7 Thtorutry itt

sport the deuty vh

a trial plant toproduce

had been

1, 000 liters

sent

to

of synthetic

gasoline daily.
On
flr~flthe chief of. the Wermet Operation ttaffp acting
oorders of the chie of the Wehnct Nigh

t4c of
sin

areas,

Kair

an

The

cin.

Luftwatte

w
directive by ruetin

f
On Lbw~

air

Arm

was

nf l ne plets Mdbo

le.Spply

by

aepr with tt*

the deuty chie of th

4*4m with t he suppl of

if

Th.

aala

only in doci-.

support only when absolutel necessry

submitted a report free the Supl

fa)hh,

to be ew~itted

than only when no other means wore

tightly
t erestricted.
air wetob

air attak.

vas

t~, ordered rigid limte-

'ow

Wrih

t Operations Pranch
t hy Webrmnht Nigjh C

to twt n*rh
foredt

stop

tdo h reprt,

A.

produtiom a

'It wou only be pesaibi. to

at &LI, so that thlirgst pr

mesue

a mosultofn

produto n

of th

the erAd

ntk.'s output woVu

bprodud during the#lst ten daysi Swyer, experience bad show that
th

would either sucoessfully

preytn the plants from reuming

~5'

e.55e

or

prouct oo

wald

then

ae *to

they wcre cnxr'3

ohrtlrrrr

ti

marrluto
Y-'A
o It tcch
rn
' to rn c'1c26,C
oil rrtiua tn
Inspite or fequerr
wader militrtmne"ront.
wa rumttnsz eff iitly
-"

technictil
tian

t10,X

fuel was

the three renmting nknmtn

tter rpttons,

rabt mtorsf goino

(a), Proution of afrrft

ten

?hb

days.

~r~aet rsov

laimed byth

which would probably b

flt12ted at 49,3300 tons, 4*3,#0

be

wuing

allcoatd

the tint

in March as npcttsd

fuel

at 9,503
*the tons, all of

too

Ltufwafo.

Production of jaeolin

(b)

lehwaht.

aircraft

to be epecally lo

exote

torahao3b
tirnt

ouxput of

hat te

11y.

ore

ere troduoi1

in th

Zone of Interior as

tons of whch would b allocated to

ten

days of March the se

the

b t was to b

15,000 tons.

of Pieel oil Is the Zono Interior as estiwtM at

63,000 -tons; 4,00tois of whieb, wld be used bythe ~thrinact. The
t'roduOtto.

ebruiht

was to 1*

ll

A further d flelt

tbe

la gupies at

purpose cold not

lest

14,6
was

tons

drin

in. tae Not that

th

first ten

raywst

isthe ,".st tndays of )ah,

e lesed

retnus

inMach, tkh

1!

days in
bgin. rne~

ft 4 for

that

hn

ao untin to 2,000 tee voult han t be wed.

?equrueata

of

the Wehrmncht durinrg

th fist ton days inrZae

ware as followsa

ter

j,

used in te

oGanan

oezt'

irfrto

monhl

tonage.

Ci
-020

KS

15,003 cubic mtere 3,000

witadn Zone o
inolxeinsepQ4I
Interior,

te

ui

Wohneht force
.21

az4

(c)

lZ.n
1."ton

7rrslb

,700

17,400

cubic

netos wore

faflurn.,

veil. fuel.

10

firt

output vA only1

tlrch

dtein

cable

15,300

the Wehnoact p rti=n

alloction durtnr the first tern das of

propoee#

the

-month of

tf
only

2,030

assigned to the Wehrrwaht forces .in the Zone of

The total ulloa tio possible to the Chief 3 uply at Ad attw..

7,300 ctic nrt

Tat.roar,

tics Offleer for

less

Dacss1ting the

required, while

a.oizOwing to prdutio

of the

of snoto

suote

Q~i)

1,450

use bythe fiel

2,000 cubie mters).

In

forces

wes 13,00 cubic meoters

(15,3

agrent with the Chief lupply at4 Mbinistse

ties officer

the allc tions

the Wst,

out

agrem upon for

the nme zry 2,030 oi

suplus )wcditetio wwl

it ws 1ieoideti not to ongo

Southeast, .a d Sethwezt and to

frot tn

ete

eomil

for the tat,

he set tothe tty

(VPe4"
*4 wealeet~

th
a11, wile

no bVsr

1A
M

tn

to 2,700 sable

m$

UTarm has iset been i cntilied.

the first tea days ofMrc

(14,09 cbic

12,00tr

taI amout
e

Oils

Sipply

.hrna

(?n4itor).

f ftenl

meters
prpoe

th fofloving cutat

n57a.

:& C..020

30,039Y
+"?vy tiare,As

r: tt

vp.XF

Fiel Thes

tleas t ,t00 etitrtr

Z*ofItros,401rrfirs

psie 1

teitr

lirarh submitted arport onthe ovrn

Iaddition, the Fcoao

Fl Mtxat

lirir

eors

EipysSttntttor

tie

or

tesm"' (10

ittij

ott reevsad

for

emm*

The 1,eomlea

was also

mo'
no

tn

ted tn .tt

* report on the mret oapsdtl of oruo oil refineries an

palatd

for inoradn
TMe coal

6.
fe,(.also

notio

production.
was no less

.prole

tit

Ths yw aspossible
e t r t only
*ania i fI
was nt w een.

in the
WWsnI$ operngsAMtoth
tottaC
~ ~
hidTrnsortSn~o.

of rotor
a.fo

ra trvti:t
t r pot ation c t inuedo t ofrmtatp
m-

an

3,~X rail cars

.13 cl

s
thlteSe
USnM te

that

eoltste

toills

tetwas swat topeaet t

atmm
the Reich, Coal (ftn.

The rcrdi

tha

Thsinvolved th iptctigof

swuM, be delvee.

16

aerias

Since the mvwto

on raloa)

Upper Cloia vas diftimtlt, it was ees

Dnhr.

o u

Gnral tep,

"oi

t. Sn

'S

stocks ter

wre tiad.9

~
h
er~~tffhh~aieai~ft
~

of the

of. theZosaBeh

1944 tad bee20,000 can dafly.

(Autor).

wat3 mointed

4?or Csfl or2

4ehncot Coriior

ettmtior beomr worse after the YSaar n

ln~y

dropped from 9,500 t

now

a.

volved

tiem in th
dimge i

Throug

2,100

trains~.due

With the Ios

E~st,

of

the &hr, the conumption

trains

wi's no

longer

and

i;prove.

the

the

been rwning
daim.

10,00
de

oom

On

but

34

w osil

rate of 13',>0

1,60

cans

ri'

disyatold

cars

tlM

train from the Rthr'wicho

to ]Use

daily, drop
'te

only ans.

that
for thi

tf th
Dresdea it

ottbus the sitution gw eve

lonttnes

The supy of roabl.

104 Iooamtn
onm,

utilities MI ercent

dito

Genel Stapt, siudttid, reports on this

Aftr the attacks en

ties ware to

rcet.

the rail.sitaatiou ha

fly 31;

at

'

slightly
to dispatch 2,000 ars

The conition of the taeks ws not

antter to th chi

es

redusdb 35

2Aza.

by the middle of 'elerr

at the

twith seious bomb

col arn mtor Nwet#

district, it

of rits.

direction

frther improed ,
ba

Rtlr

after

thin only 9,000, vhfe from Upper Zi1uia

rather

in

Ifros

ganeral

largey tothe critical uta-,

of coal w

27 Sanusry both t.

tif

Jantnry.

wether ittterruxtei the enmq air

flrig the next few days, t

raids,

ot

~the

On

U1pper Sioi

ruining

itdle

daily.

twtti.

Tht rf ernoe to rail

-u

tra tto

irlt in te

6,0OO car

Th cal

Try.

of

and i

-was

ots
indut

their r

reeve
ts 5

peial

vaerpre
at day
25 pert

low

aloe.i

rs

O
If

pera.

and public

36,000 cars woudb necessary

0059-59-

143 # fl-OW

to

r~ttain rai tratnortatonat

territory,.

onl

would drpt
not evn

a~r lne
aflblu,

2%C

cars bdbeen

tbr } tioh

thO o~zatl of1f iniwtr

50

percet lignte, coal

-hid to

70-80 kiliaten rather thin every 200 kilomtr.

of ligite was that

advantag,

3,0040

betken

Mother

dine

ite srks

it

omW
a 8,O0

on

Iatoer

andlable.

Since rflira .ds now used

on every

loo i t

proent

S
ean a3.~st totel stoppage.
peroent, wbietrd

10

28,E0

its

an wre diptch.fo

oars from 'pper Silesaj

the total unb of

~wa

cars fro al

areas was 26,0x0-28,00

As

a result of haydamge

to

reduce t 40 percent of mcml, While the Menat

Upper Mhasta bad incresedt
erining disrc oao

of oa
frm

2,500. to 3,500 cans

daily,

from 8,00 t 3,700

daml.

the

seos5ary

Os
thedsri
to
na

staff for

the

prupos

orpi

ing

eM nres

'

si

it

of"

atin spas, accodin

te Spec

tma

torecine first priority. At the eci ing

rec+alen

Beica

e esihg

s w estas:

lv

ceive a de aile dtmtv a

following ordor of

acr rd

on a priority basis. The staff vas to'

sys
m.

the Thr bad dropped

the Thhrr

On .

MiiserSprtorgne a tnfti
teentir tasoatio

sn from

of

nit

outrsasr.

1,.r

fietlities

tad bs

.b, ;

tilt

the switch yards, switeling

r~e

prtoa
ftte

(3)

"ood

(5)

Pofuge(whicah inractice

Ministry

or rby

train would be

nov liutdto the rAesbly of

emrgency venonvol wdy

Bhch was writteb

ioevtable

orrs and the techn a

ar pIseWIRM

100,E0

was

At thi

to

bash

n t IA*tb Re=a r,t

*duty objet f

s
e

all

except

the

of

nteut

2.

25

wre arhed

f iig

of f

to the ista ofl

(a report o

was conidered

percnt

food rtio

X
citation in exo

th fo

rttal. A4

reulin te

of the current

sufc for

tme

of Ttdoh uder-sceta.tes

(O') Poleok), aout

Colnl

after the expiratio

ration

t~tr,

stbsf

availttbl,

At a confe eco

0. ~

aIed

traffic

Wrious work site.

to th

equal

existing parts.

in additio to 180,000 regular railroad

netvrk

al'trdo

contine,

mhic

kr were prouAed to repi the railr

?wo milli

of amcttin,

Thcnpt for po uoto

tion ws

st~ogy

hadt the mv

iitml

card

troop.

tLer

ills in
p n
VTs

period. An
Oat heaviest

3inaa
ths

areas,
e
a

acn feree.Rtonsth adf

food sitnt ta-ith th mto-m

ct *i

the 'Wehrmacht Oprations Staff.

jjj3b
15i

thedeputy

-1-

C.T40

sutaitted

chief then

tothe chief oC the Wehrct fli h Cotwvnnd, thrcug

tbr7 chief of te
With

(I rst t

o
a mxondu b 2oslr

of

the

ties as

comen t by the Wjehract

tiw 'eriroht

mra tionti Staff

was

following opinion

The Reaich Minister for Thod and Agriculture end

a.

of the

ov~ op nioiwv dog-Aher

Ji~

&ni t surrlosontar

dep ty chief' f

iTM
(te.ton $taft.

f:t

:Arw

possible.

b, P*on fo+h
an the working

cht,

'a

-except

for

froritlins soldirs

ppation sho44d be equal.

The good

o.

for th.

chief

Adninitratioa Office shouald submt reports on the food sibt-

soona

during

guranteed

tk

physical

next

th.

condition of the

few mnths,

tront34ne

troops shoulyb

slae* this period would be declaim*

oetbewr

ho

The physicl strent of

4.

labren houd be ststained

foreig

only so far a s absolutely necessery.

Gomtries .till occupied, eipecially T'mnrk,, northern Italy,

e.

wo

and Croatia,

to

Raton

t4

be exploited t e ulest sibl extant,

oeid fl
for the pultion of trritories stil

tbe Cms would ave

at
t-a~mten
9,il

vet
actal

ob

ivnn

to correspond

.5[

f the Gez'ms popmulio.

to te

The aicutiooftnorswhc

a the alveg. of geo

fr

thm areas von*not

resonibilitieso the Wernobtj although the Vsbmaoht a~s

610ithoia

the solution otheprbm,

tb*e,. soon seemed to be no reedy solution.

for whic, howevor

9 GemO2
~t ~ J itwasIsanedthat
a

pr

a ata
in

the population, ,trtl

evacwtiona

area thir ktloxtess In

an

C8.A

siabmittMd

the

with the a

Wthen ern
Ct

serious

not ony

bror

ddtta

and cold an

to

or

or dipring

sm

would interrupt presnt

er of

the

that

stated
Last

Prussia wonld

pgnhtin atremaat

and inrityo

but wo~1

overtaken, by one

being

nefr

woudb

rm

a t

tanks.

foUwse

tdighCed

thethi!
TherforoftheW

partial na0tte vet otirsobhtsal

tacaer

a.

guide, Ne*d,ad

artoring ara, which were red

would ama subetin tmy
evcain

rqti
ed r thet

ay

To

igh

WI.

the sarthe Qau

Slies,

evcai

qtr

with btrpsn
Morove,

of the

tidager the suppl

in

nt.

ttaxed *.thetorward g~-agencies.

t!

waatton of

ar~y
fute

itaff

Ctpctioa

f retgs, accordigt

in ao

$EV

the

nemhmnery trcm

2ser.

eht

of the.

which 30S5OOMQ penn vr

+

had suitn~t

and

depth vest ot the

depn~ eit

report d

Center

Chso~e .n3teneaeViekwmtt

t.ry

Csa th t

Grouts

vr~

otto be onuiAered.

In Siiai

b.
thit

kvetnwst

ther was

of the

Local

*.s
t VTraniAr
vitan

had beet evct

to bo n

evautio

f are

oete

an.

=adi
wan

he#ad

suetI'
r
r

not to bes evausted wunti a oerafl

--63-

gS0e2
eiur

dci.

arnas was

of civilian veioe~

by 'faoV Coresi cabh t

for bI i:na

o.Fortress cnemindero wae to support movnonta accordi;to

Comnbdens could declin ad.mid o ci' saoted przsonno

plom.

Twhet

their

fortresses war
a~ yto

ap:es~

the

04 2

cis

forte

ismudb

rsn

a, b , anid oae

p nb

Doretive

with the

itoat

This provision

and

only

Kuetrin.
eindet by

lretive

the chif of the Paty Chancellery perann

left in evcaid as wre declare valid for the

prt
W~bonaceording to istructions of the chief of the
a of th three taete of the
Cohnw
to the
vamaot
tsavc
l

of

ware to

Vtwmcht atn to the fleibsfrelwer 3$., Sainag. s ean

taken only when the

Lesdon as net thereby prejurliced.

ilitar

mme. and difciblie of the

to be

troop

onsidered

be we

The

more freortnt

tin the salvaging ofmteiel

A+

-mto
Ktiet

th

lhtsg lina

tan 80,00 to >

ti- results of the

th.

tet

wo

Kisitry pised cvil stock

1?

on aeoefennat

digto a ;dabytheupfy

The

in

nation-wide collectioso

ta

wr a

moat oefleittsad nm

Wh13meht evnutl reuie

e
clothnms

'000"

to

d easte sone at the disposal of

n material.

(Miter).

~'

-64-

CeO2O

aa,

the troops.

Wir tha purpos

th~ ZYcnor ios Mlstry atine

Jhie at thrs 1 tional

Carn

the !fnamoeControl
Onrbrar

!Pu2A

Vie

aAaoeation

:C

to

Office.

of the $ohnnoht

to hief

the ary gruswe

iochltzt

wr

to supot

ordsred
'ihCo~tsnd

the onox tioo

le
aI'Iswbers

of'

tivt

the

Reic Tabor iServio,

te lt
of yotsesonhzg
ts
onfarms, and of thou. sent to
theydi
rfemmne to the order o 28 ternary fobiddin

With

miflary

bmonhns
.ic

that toreo

and the

oftet

to

.sa,the Wermoht High

os~qrtrn from emldangored eastern

ii ordered on

I C

the Whmoht

Waffn
,.

eneution of

neation no uravoidable,

the

S~ were to saknt secil applic-

Operaton ;Staff'/Op atton Rr

(cmare with 26 Yetrwtry).

the chief oftit Wehraoht flig

On

the Party Chincellery, and the

issued ng*tio
Fen

te

for the . i

Condthe

elgat. Gneil: in car

oable-odied

vte in

the ctvfl setor

tress,

Sore se forth

fofleed

0)11m

th

a t ien te a
, The rprinclple l~i dow o17 Jausr Iy the:

prootir for service In

of

of lbor enpply

the leof goods lot by the

at shrte

chief

the Wehaot.

tCe00-5

-65m

the chief or tb :%hraoht Op attons Iytau, Supply

Lrtncb, Colonel (t1i) Poloek, subttt& z re port on co P ronc of tinerseoetries floptr,*' Relcko 7 and ritzyngo, and repreontativeo of the
On5

14nitrie

hbnr

Public Welfare

hre

nSilesi

the flroberg

eettdfo

Prior

to the

Enabtents,

and the m

cnonig enc ito

1i)

Ar~ants and War Poutn,

STustice,

for Tinnpotion,

wre

eda,ket

a4.

area

!'rassi

bad about

1,OI

'ft

*0000 In
ithe

fofn

illion

1n

1,360,E00

eon

mah, the Voikatrm,, eta,

nated fro

as

2.3

320,00 persons

Tot&1
940,00

to b

and Goorlits

0torara of

Of the reisinin

of reT'gw

500,000 refugesityl

the present distribution of which wes

tnsg

abmt

so

500,000 were serving in the Wehr-

The balane

of 4OO0C0 had stil to b

Prints, Of t h*ee 135,00 WSre at Koip

g,,

ItttlsbZrg triangle, .M 400,000 i

en tM 320,0 psns

last PrnsU by ate.o

(a) Devt a Edneti

be eqe

nt

and

ntt. enouteI

andS only by looa l t

themajor. Ango

h
diem
n ofensi

y Robu4ter
at (amq ertfly

fttmtit thent
fir

to b

n), an essintian of. the ar

faotm

wa

nwder conidention. Snob a

metwoud hveinvolved from 800,000 to.1

t,OC,0 pe~rao.

mn

C
0-20

143

withthettn

Woen

fr

eetsmt or tha Tci

cra'teortag fao1tte

persons. Th joulntio vin

.oxt

th aat, thare were

frr

'fsruoo

for

to be

between one

roquosted

ani

tw rifion

,.m

not oreret
and the

heconfterence tttbs die c'se the food si tto

maute.

of the

attit'teand nrle

(3)

raynitou

Cowsideration

wa

to the dinsolution of

give

nlo

t or
th
un].ehalinitrattos
osadt
ewe
e#t office hof the
ae
54v
ot hnqarters

2011te%

the Wehnzot,

topr"

aeodtd

e it

tices

Organisation tranh (t) submitted arsrport

chief ofthe V hrait

to tedeuty

brancli

of

nb

-11w
t~
19

probe,

asnt0 *=oreno n

held to disas e

which nov abrced $,350,000 penn.

secretaries Kloper, Dr.

n4 olnl Po~sok as
Prssa

the te

mut OpratUo

to

neaimnton of flprw

alt, in order tobgn

th W

onthU subject

and

aft

tin

the

fof

oftheir

bythe eq~andto he rulstb

Webwehtin rascosrie

Staff.,

tfl

Staff. It wan reported that t

anted a -19w.

fr

fl,

t Rg

wtsontivs of the

af pebb be coplte witi

were tJner

?toititt

tukkrt, Tteo Oansmel,

nfg

"itag,

wmM ~~
u

smto

wetb6
ua"A

tw

ZpersdLoe
ad5the Prottotes
sttep
th
ttUMo
snn.- *flantc
with5000
e was a serlosbo t
w
~iwy wie n ~e
Sfeiastfltbb ob~ed. Zbatehelph~d tbeuztndto the
m ver

500,000 pepe

to e

Wieat.

Son

'rsx.

and the 400000 people bhmle

a"rn.

flai
of air att.0k3 cZrcac ziC Z
to

crznrtcr

Zata-4ri
E)

150, C

?e:fuage

()The ev~wtion

alonzj

was also diuaad,

from

the

an itoU

Ia

of personneli

with posstbilitiwa

the Wehrm~oht

the

OhawsIeltv

ray

DO lc
no

r appibl#,

were 2aWie

Jutlaid, ad

chewi,
thrn Kb

zi Dftriel frc

of

dnliting

rwle

th Etau
refugees

and the IeihLao Serice.

a it Opontiona Staftf 0in agomt

The dime,
draftod
with

I'ter. axt provie ioi

itz.*in

proasue for furtye evamtie

sine the

iLCS rWe

Row

coidared a

cetrzied cotrol fraa Berin imossie .in view of the fasangingl

AS eoawc

hitnattc.

strollod

the ieeoaerrs

of Am Grou Vit,

while Ate Gru Cner

owmcation 5*his terrtor,

to

r"sonible Gauli*tara;,
whwol then begin ewewton. Thtori was to be reowe -only aftr
m

te

its stiat, of thesituatiarn to

pertial eneutton
On 20
rulte

the

coaferanco

evet

of

at the ?arty Camfneelr

siletu

of wa%1 refugees. The Wsnht Opertios Staff

perticipated

89
Wihreadt
20

woen end children.

te

Organintioa

Is t.

of

the

of

the dieoitiox atho

figt ta

tt

'' order of

the
lave

of

ttt

toottelals

lrlgn tom t1ol ClmoflU

nl ,eoatbzg ordr

,~tyTh posblty that

~rlt

stated that

th waV h

thq1OIr

dotae

an

4rasi

sig.t beenicrelod oreven

ip

43..

0-02

+r6800

ingoun

ad

.'''ghttng

children

been

hd not yet

The departure of womn

discrsaed.

was permitted but not ordered.

On 21Frorw

the Wahrnacht

H i gh

Coin

issue di r etives for

dispersal air! evauaion of prona in the 'bt.

Reich Defense Cosissicuere von to. be re

tie

man

from

th

skied

workers Yore

An order of 22
remr

to

state that th

replaoent personnel ads

bodiead men fro o

aroe

eit

Ahls-bodi.4

s itntio

critia

the wore

not idise

ot th Reh ad from

dktrita4

(Be.

theu

subit

with

Ab

district Part

chlat, who wol

out by te

ee

areas of each erq

the

leal Sntnepti

(.
to cnduct .w lnis

of

persose
4

decisions

as

to

indfr

rqiatm-

pt

eSt

isit
slrttu

or 4ft
d

war missios wthin the Zone of Ite#rior.

sr. groups,

189'7-1929 wer

the Wweht draft boards.

roto

(b) Ia
tic

the loeal

ino ofar-

i)a r

(a) AU able-bodied men in Ag Clss

lael

it

civil sector, Th. regulations o

sabe in the

w-re supp4a nted an follow

tregister

with

necessary to emist all s

it

by airattacks. Thseunwretobe pattnto aetivoswvi,

as

the

d tr all crcnstanon,

to be m te

ebu

end

e*mtot of

Oman Zones viet to bedisootimusd

fld n

atrs

accodgt

Bible,

of the Party Ch nllery. Nether eystmat

directives

prso

Only the &

In

bflty

boad.w

ieomal

for dn al

tinamm

areas

were

of the

to bemade by the

MS C2Z
V hrris eo iner

r4

Those nersonn bsing noo to the rear as part of

titc eva*o'wt.tien wre to k~re tsre4 in the:biteraertionareas,,

the sy

(4)

Ae l cass 192

Serie for -syatctio traiig,

was

Asn

Class

:ge

ut for deciin

in

in the

24

7on

Replaeuent

1929 we ailed

concering

Reioh

age olsae we

while other

trining units of the arm groups or to te

()

a ssigned to the

up on

asigind to

rining Army.
sohedule.

idisenbfi ty of

of Interior, the chief .f th

Labor

Oratapo

poen on

Branch on

distributed instrucotious date .6 ?ebrwy received from th

of labor suppyY

relegate General in charg

Dy order of the Whrsoht RihC .

Wehrweht Opations 3tf1

th. deputy chie of the W a cht Operttos tntf

to evacuation

?srun p6

from area

dated

isedods

of Wahrcht

hedqare

of the %ieh threatened by the

(1)L

the E~st evecution within army grop

it areas was t be dependent upon coent of the arny group conier

as the highest area

eva

n poss

a to be ecutrofldb

tio1

esi

the C

Wesot authority. In the Vest.

ndew in Cief W..t

itbi

COaSa urea.

svaution tothe rwar wa efobidd.

brnches were authoriec

o*d

shortaes

()OaIr the -mss of. the three smoht_

to rqet excceptios,'hich in turncol only

concerning

of personnel.

a list of occupation

in

Which

there Was a

amD-

CO2O

143

be granted, by the F'uehrer.

equests were to be

ch&ier

~ehr oht t er tion~ $'ta4 to th

who would the1 ni'

would be

of

ehrwrtoht

the

The

the consent of -the F'uohrer.

turnied through the

'Wehriaeht

sutbmitted through the

Iligh

'

nnd,

F'uhehr 's decision

lligh Comnm2.d, Wehn#cht Operations

Staff to the a p rinate army group ozmeer or to the Co ander in Chief

The decision of the Fruebwer vws binding.

pest.

()The 1'ueh2'er issued

for the

Mehruaht High Oommnd and

of the

ehracht,

th. high

tomnde of

tvacuation of civil government offices in the

regulated bydirectives
lt

r1

and

of

the Reich 1inistry

valid

special directivs

the three branches

Mast and

was

West

of the interior

dated

2.'emLI2 /.

The eiohsf ehrer

3f~

organisa-

a.represntative of the ~arrfor

tdo of ndtonl rsistance in the

at

was responsible

t or

the ea

the Party Chancellery, the

of civil ian.

Together

Reiohsfsehrer
gopeasar=y

S issued the necessary orders and directives to the

For the

sot,

with the chief of

te4irestiv

Opration Staff daUted

Oa~Lfrkjr the

o the Iehrm oht High Camn,

we
an=,1lidit
Wbwme*h+ Qpratione,

Blrach submitte a umandin on

'tiorn

Wehx'uat

$tff, ~ipp1r Ldidsfitrt.a

the oonfoee of

h.ld
a
drmertawbu

on th. se date, in wuhich the foflow we reportd#

..Q

y~A

efle-

()There
T'rum and

400,000 froma'~

ag

:Ie$t

($With
the

the Protectrt,

1)orark an

least 300,000

persons were

to be qtmrtorsd incaps

1 Jun

of

the

stoppin

These were

borier awas.
the

population

1
5
deidtlponbetve SanlQ

tfroth.Zstwasto

19k5

55 had decided that t

ilies i

(g) hemtter

tyse*

to the tatter area.

.dt"c

Tts

to quartoriu~j retusees in

regar

rnan f

or with

rtll fr.

*nij

Reiohsfuhrer

to be a

refuges in

)
were 152,010

there wol

b. any horse fodder in the

no long

1.oh,

A)253pereent out in the food rations

Ldately,4

effective
By

n addition,

transportation.

320,E0

2400 wounded were witing

5ew thousand wotmdet

ore refuge

were in

wom ed.

Thse figrs

roes

This rnsult

740.
4,00rfge

er

sip

te

with 5#50

pwem m

passe grs, 3,W)0 were

Esot

from

for

been ecuated. On

eato

across

the-

140, 000 refugees a$

78 refwe
i
134,

*.

by
260000 ahwlm

eo, Vdlr'

s ae bttleek ~t wi
ahrd

lbf. atyr mjor less of lif aecured

bs tlef'

by

by wter

r"

11Wmri

of

cute

that

bdbee

en

course

toe

on 9Arl

at Koenigsberg

had alrea

By jg mbMr the tlay had ea

1'rltic Sm,

28,0

a 35 porent out to foflo

/4000 refugees had been enetate

fl

Pri

wtb

After

roh.

e th etsn

board, we sun on=

refute

Only 800

persons

WLh1a

o
were saved.'

4 002

-a72.

riw the prto. from Thnxn.:y te

10,170 soldiers, 4,3

tv1ia.

4 April

an 6,95 honses

39,959 soldiers

across teIit.Inthe
Gouland ,

*OUp

moved to the

the period

Ii

243,000

,~gjp4fka

bridgeheads na

persons

were encated
and

refugee,

the middle o' Parch

66,000

from

the

soldiers.

an Elbe Line

With nimeron

to be established, construction of which was tobe started

ng

bysecuity fore of the ?p laewint ?

i Doh

to Arn y

2,045 zen were aoved

ad10,524 men, 19,000 horses,, and 7,016 nhiolss were

peninstflt9s,*,000 wounded; SI.,00

1.

Line

er eic

west

were wve from eas to

sth.

Wiring

Eel

Anq.

A Mc4la

was tberecoennitere.
Reports

on the fonton

incheaed, but bythe

of

partisan units

in

the

roectorat

had

middle ofMarch it was not yet certhat thse

2. TtelaOm With Zeutrals

a.m

'witu

presure o pn
ftaly.

s.
a $is

Ost

it

th

beining of194$1

Aeflvettee to Gas
1ntdSae

betwe

stating thtrea~tio
althEg

At

the two

b,

and the

Sweden

(a

Chapter 2).

shpa

ea a no

ofseSt
.l Ovtnrlat

countrieswolrel

ws hoped that deliveries to Ciemny

COapter 4)

thereat taofAls

ould4 be stee

(se

W 4 C%.20a3

710P1st~
r

l"nts:T'eb

t w~e antrottnori tlr-

Churchill

aw

orfnrerec,. tt

aPi
rscir
'

him to

then nroceed' with

that in

it

was

official

leaders had.

scmquo

been

on jf

that onthe otccasIOn of the

had

taken place

at

an Roosevelt at
Alnaner, the

Btitish

At the

the 'r

-ftrsttine.

general

T'ollow&i

this,

visibl.
ad to

plane sa

was announced

tvafe had

meeting

neottwn

reveale by
of Churchall

had net Gen n

in 1thono.

d9olinidtbe invitation to Camr,

ws clearly

@oesin

took

Churebil and Eden

ctmuser in Italy,
had

day. An

Apart from what was

would

learood that

eu

ewie time, It

the three

a ocunt4nri ttto t Paris,

si

W'riting

mieeting

tritws

arC had been. preceded by

alta,

,alta,

th u..Auria

Wfl angry

w th

rte that the meein

conferece

As Geea do Qanfl
had refue

:?t

first

'er

in conference s ta

stated

each other for

On 2

where in the area of the flack Sea.

ate with

":'V

of

a letter to Rooseet' aw

anounced that the

take plac si n F!agaon 20 Ja

thre

ininr

principle the sittu tlors tr the lihtre .ted areas should b

clarified
edJntr

the

a. conferrne with 'tQLns.

frorn Athens, -Churchill had Dotnted out in

?Italinr

1h

abChril

the*tenion bee francen

Itt

was leaned

Sali withoet

that theFrs

ter conent.

r-

a/j

?W&

c" rw~jtr

tJOWAY

AtA

It.'lti

ANT

U"!Th1C

After the vitbdrenal of the Twentiethl

4it
3ton

Mounin kryfrom Fnland awl the catablis mt ofa shorter front, Whtaa

took adantage
trope as

of nral

onditions,

possible bywy

but nolonger

rqre

of P

there.,

rt,

itt

inte.e to ithdaw

These tores, now a3804e

were to be employed

as seq

in Noray

as reinforcements

Iaten moat cans

a e long
r
r foo
n s m ahes had to be m vde throah
n w stad
to

porer

tiittcties resulte

reach the rirods.

troops acrss

the fiords,

.oneitioa of the

from

t ice
of

the faer

while further delaye were caused by the poor'

railroads,

the lack of

coil,

and

oc aaiuwlly by nbcag

he lon distane and the atur of the terrain to bovee weul

*ose muh tin

on the

evn under nrl

tamns wuit

have

.cnequtly, 1

masures had tobe adapted to special onitions

Inspit of nob dffioultias, it wes posble to wtMnv a ecniea

nmshr
th

period

oftroop f
r

itakto

and

to

no

-fotA

fek end th btrefe of bedw ere n affle

o the
wie for the peio Narcbwprfl only the itto

Jannr..Pobryr,

Book na ailable

fn

(Author),*

CAM02

e075e

untfl tho en of 194L

folloing~ units

the

were with rdwii:

the

Infantay Division, ant

withtxrnt

24

im~n flirision anc the 6th 53 toan

nm an

of being transferred.

by the ca

obere Rendult.
ider of the
n

the

of the yfir,

the

were in the course

')vid

twihrw the 169th

uder in Ronmy,-Gsueral

von Nttenhoret,

ado?, of the Tenteth !4ountain Army, Gnlai

Aft

2 ag:

nWeri

ttot

Generaloborat Plndli w de irntd

.lrtatArmy and

Tar Comlrer 1{orwey

oaa~
r reprte

the asw tinter

could tnt be proteted spint

sabot,

that the dockyirds

dne with anorder of

in ea

of dq to securit forces.

r, dhe tothe Ine

Do

the end

An order wen also 'give

.,

w sucdd

19

Arochn

d vsion

tdin.~

Ow

On

equipaont.

The T
ltter

"ora.

Panzer Thvilo

vitrow

Thfir

a ''vv: Ln, -Thith

ivision, 5t:0h 14hsgren'vIr

viton, 3.6hItnr

Infantry

19t

The

comnutr

repeated a preos requaest toretain tb. 169th. Infantry fivision.

this

r quest vsdeclined on

been gie

ilnthe nvw to

of

the

orerrd

hy
npreioa

the

tranfer

u
incma
request foradtil

to detasntiatrsnft unitsfree brwffr the protection cfthe

fotes,

Sowat Jodt$, who

0Rsfi

a .4mthe Jarv fret, Balmw ffr

wuldmstoll~w
o
asm
ilpa~th ocy r oe

Aenfor
o

'Jjp ,

Waen

(itor).

orp

with a eorps.type

staff

&U

from innd to not'

*4zwe
by an army

s7r
.-76-

#030

Thbe snow tuna ] that had

Sweden,

of" Janunry,

b rir'nin

Wyin

Alts airos,

field
PIso

rai
at

n e

the Pit

300. actor

usae :hlo. Te

front, wu' also destroyed

being by

Co pieta

four fighter forrnton.

evaation wes not

to be rrried

expected

of January,

northern setion of
Finsh

the Koriiando positionva

weoope.
D~iviion)

be
eaood on

fl0

for

341

On? Jannr

opened with artillery Are on the tin

onIola Boy in the

sumrine attack~

plne

the

alth ough

ofth. arisiarde position were abandoned and on

th eney (nt

the

alrirow were 12,00 cubic moters of 'salvaged goods and

vohiciop.

a'reas int
frt

The

of the

ocunioi totr the timeo

out wif th enmd

th

built there Wiar' d sroys at

lorr' :tretch of tho road t

rikg
x1

ahea

btenr

"e

-hid-to

rear are

technical r.osons (vibration affecte

oil coquits).
The further wtthdraw l tothe rilpis ja.rv
(3ezaerinr) line boron n4
thutu new poition

was ready tobe ocouie a3

to be held ttf Sring. Z that way

ws

u baids,

-is

Lyng

thefinal poi

(laer. line, vhio wes occupie

Aecr ism

in,

,the

Alto

bttalion, vhich lad arrive

menfro

ie

'b

Fird

.on that

strip .

n~
..

Finnish ternrttv

bad -boa prpare

wes

th

was evstdo

ater a sort tin befor,

now advanced into this ares

(Krknes, P

Rovs

a
r

a fu hnred
iod,,

*F

~wVa

the nde contact only with afe

on

the Ci r

nEfsi

43

Xcrema

tz

with whon: they exchra

n toc

troops Ztghtig

At thisU tLiu-e tber.

h ot3.

we r roprts that the kwssians h aerfly vitbclrnin their forces from

northernk Finland,. on 3

'a

enoznter took- place with

fist

enemy force at the Ponagr ford,

3.

?okrsrv

btfu~lnkin

ahead of the frit,

w e evcate

on

Hmefoot, which ad been hal

ITo the are north of

V.'F

was now exercised byAnmenbteluzg Iark (

?tarvik,

qnrtrs, ZUX Corm)

or&Lnatod.

bopsdy4

towhich corps headwsarters of LU. Corps was sub-

Th, Senrn line and the psses to

rrn

$vtan war.

pm reinforced greier brigade

deended by the 6th Nountain Plvisiwn awlm
facing t.the souhest. Thema

position w e hedb

210th Infantry Pivitn. After the vtthdra.

ston, the Lyi

of the 1thInfrtry ri-

wes tke over bythe 23Cth Infntr Ti.viio in

half of Vebruary.

th sectn
adane

positi

th reinforoad

Th single recinnt ahead of this line bad

ski patrols to IMo orengor'

,ord.

bebind this rogisent was

battalion,
of the UI Corps,-

ft, eorn south itlarmi weSb

Suhor.

ttd tothis

ve

fotrss brisd ealysti

vw
sthe dZJi t hI sfantr
a e

he U40tb Iztr

the aoam Zes.

Pivitulos

Trther to the sot

Division , .T u. a tota of fi
vedivisions w re

.,1y

143 .t

00K

of Xareh the L11th Div Isio, ;"ts ff for 3.nooitl i

snha n&dl

ccx=zzn over

assixz

seuthtwn o ej
4. as

.to

-*=
~.T
i ii o

te

arontier.

1ish

sn tsrritery.
a. j

tl~

'th Ylo'ft itd .

30tor -s 1 '- as the

arem, the headquarteru off XV Cor was incoyxr< of

A ja.enzt ts thi

the

ths<. souith-'r

m kr~n

oft

At

'r

the

end

1914~the

of

w e tr et n fe rred to the
t
ei stern
n v fr
s ont,er no1

the WestoenFrant on

OST

rnlebrw

ttb

t a atsf breingd

lk oftbis divi-

wes in Dmrk after heing ceff.lote the aovnet by water, Reginn

the 163d Infantry Division was to betransferred to the
on f1l '
i.astrn fot. After a Thrther order was issued on l2 er. to expeite
sin

this

the division

traser,

mouth. Th.

arrived intb

the

Unne

ti Infantr

rutX

Corf

w-. troutb.

the

at the erxd

199'h Ifa.ntry rivision wa

the

tion with

area at the en of

the

169th Infant Division, whkh was also to betransferred .to

the Vstern Piont, was evacuated by water

21 Janr

Oslo

i.vision

I~

ob

ordered to T=-rrk for co nseolda

C ebracht sigh Co

Coaps

(Mortin)

of February.

as

orderdt

reerve).

the wet aM4 then. to

water ofthis

headquatr

was coqata b

Als erant

yore antiaircraf and sal

tiebttalions,
btaiS~j

wweox's

quarters

and

on

Oalt=isVb

atettits

4rsupor doaceete egecnao

tIMf0

Yt11Uge

uits inForay were consolidated accordingly.

Anrientation visit by

the dpty chief of the esehrscb Operation

dev1oin to.tution.o

beousoof'the
oar

the0

of

rroteetio

M.achine-nSki Erigade
order te

inhsW

vaOcate the X

ad 28b Intaratry Di

ad

Brigade 'WMorny,"
In Febrr,
north
Byr

the bein

trazrforrrd.

on 25 JAnuor the

ws

tt we

iion,

*h

ntendwi

ors would b

in-searn

force

Nay, consisting

7th PMuti DiiinPn

transported

troop titnsport

of

resoinded.

k Brigde '1'isadM."

Iah

22,00 menwo

The firt

ision art
r~iottainJ

ith the beadqiarters of LU

the eain

l oin

of te247th

th

wore

X M-ountain Corps

tiat this cps, togethr

.

the

Pauthr Nory

the

.e

to the south aM 6,000 men to

4sh

loot on

7th Motain Dtiilon, no

rrkm

for evacution t*oDennkrk,* hod begun it. narfh to the south. By 20 Nre1
this

division

w.

.tstrg

nice we delye h
foredfo

novdrite at the

by wtr wasbogus on 1 zi

notyetdecde

wthe th Zaupfgnpe
of

whie

eginning off March,

the 169th infantry Division wes aswablm

of Moareh.

(Mitr)

u"mt by sa., The 199th Ifntr

for

the

as

in

one

Oslo

bty

1',.
at theed

JUit wa

beoa to theWat or h
iiinrrivSdanaz

194th

uis arivd towaf the mitdfl st Aprl.

Atenloelyassgnd to ao in

sit

ritvt .

at oa
Al'hi g

uis ofvrious 4e

r Y -020

-W

were rwaoateclly danwged or sunk, no rijor loss of-life resulted,.

shp

or saota e also

Acts

Mines laid inthe

Q~mg

to

the

j-n0C

sittiton aignifloatty.

cau ed a temporary stoopge in shipping which

fifteen tousan

oi

the

Oe.nerloberst

Mon.

'Red'lic

bavrng been trnfen'ed

Yrcrnt at the edof Januryj he ws succeeded iIory

Estn

General

Figr

OIslo

resulted ina bmeklog

5.

oco'.rred withoutah
chuig

der Qebirgetru

pe Boebmo. Genral %tebser

emained

as

Theater Cm

ni

of the twentieth

itn Arm

enue

capitulation.

The iatch
to be

assigned

auleitr Tertoen,

Cosslssioner,

again repeted tis

his ondefense area,

reeud bythe Weo

who had

ht Operations Stt?

The rest

prevously ase
request,

bat was

was not se-

quetlyepoe./
6,

th.

NrbrP~eo~st.At

brahes of the

the begining

Wermeht

with

was clarified within the Webnzoht

a..

Because

the Navyr ske

thit

retard to

Opsrtioa l

the occupied

territoy bedeesed,

tuck wrs Inst edngre,,

to

be

southeastern Noray

abaiened

baye

lak of shpping spae

at tr

At

the same tins,

a aSNavik3

sipc th reamin bates voiU etusety

also

interie end the posibility that the

have

and. te

the nbmrine

-be r~e cowed. A withdnaal would

and

$ stff.

imlis

to lose

attitude of

farther objectives in ?4orway,

of supply

the Wav ws relnett

bfcnral

of March the

in pratce,

sm th. les ofinpas

a

lbas

wovid be advensed.

were given p, stftarins wfrsre

would

pert

of

woud

Noruy

wlgthlh ti.'

in

to

no longer beable

' r'etie

for

Circle

receiv&' nuplisa

awl

to consl the Fourr a to

Bidos should bo

entirely

Lfr&s

to ltl

I by

whether

the area

Operation.

Psitio

for a ithdawa behindi the Vu~4 position (north

fuarther was not oonddred ad

The Minstry of. r

to su ly

Aatf

at

saAWrPouto

of Nae

o),T retreat

eo

on

T,~a

terialscod no logpr be shipped tos~ny

the

It

was consiered particuarl

area eroini Bergen

shipments to Noray

anition

tbetnnsterre

of

all

At th sam ei,

supplie

Operaion rulff beas

sufficient .foar

Arms e

sern mnths

wrn

epr fo

Aling with teevaenatio of-nrhr Norway

).

of

rertar

orway to the neorh,

cnot JOpertons Staff recoi

te

12

toad, coarse and hard gmrabwd Tdd.',

fre soahawa central

the twentieth
b 4l(Opmticu

on

and the

Inepnent of thee considerations, anorder nos issued on

to stop

hisrvlk-

iole

becaue of transportation difftculttes,

innortant

Tryo

and to ms Turther preparations

Prioition

that crtain stra gc

thero

nt of northern

abaoM

re
nct

abandon the Lyne

area t occupy the

sttll

farc03

or only prtly encatod.o

a pa

This resulted

that

froa the hoelarid.

Consequently it was proise to consider the

Nosry

fez-"

bi pin w

the shorte

of

fl

coal and

b the W
the tapoes

tbaoh

Mit

of

$2

C10O2O
Wit

sun1ying this area.

of' nortvirn

t he a cet

ion of the tfotan tb.iheries, the less

Eorws wo'.uld not ses rloufl.y if

submitt ed on

These roor ts wer

x'ot

ernv

chief of the Wehrvnht Operations Staff.

Grm=raa

eonoay.

by the deputy chief to tti*

The deputy chief stressed Tt

for rolitical reans it was tmrtivo to retain isarvit,

withraa to the Oratagn Uris, thser

relaeing

and- three infantry kripdns for enwat ton,

hbis

Wo praooe4 a

one Infantry divisin

operation was eetited

tolst two moths.

On2

Arm for the

conduct

of war against rinla-ne.

General
g r
er> 3o41,
o cer

mrsorere

ei of i i nreobtsilim
ws "ieg

during

arrived fr m the

Narvik,,
a 5W

fielda

bfor the bginning of spring.

awl
we econotered from
TAmh
Iap
~

On

which there

bad been no

the air,

obsertion, and

it was

a long period

;after

determined that oe

near Wiricen se occupied.

ai r os
On
I

. an

operatio wes carried otagainst

whia b . been capied

airplane

midl

r sanctiond the plan of the Twentiet seutat

the

detroy.
dr

by th

th

forteen dasbefore

Otherwise there

ta

fSrs

isle

tsva n

. combat aotfl

unti the

of April.
sron Rusa unts were sighte

On

it, wes not

*lea

vwtheor

wather

thi

indicated prfrt

planned wit*nwl

giland wes carried out.

in

the ares

of

8taug.

onsfr a lting.

from the arh

oteornr

of

3
.0834M

A C-020
is"

jlses be?

7.

up nerr,Ietdt

On'3'

e&
244 toe of' oil adgrease Trmoo

amount,, 55 to

destroye; of tis

Shp

bed beong~t

for thpridaJitr

iaes

was blow

p,

on

tnar

a of' nub

atop

, 33 inters in lgt,

int~ when abrl'

my tratnmwtrtof r

A tnorr

,tiieci

ne

%my Actios

in

the Wehraot.
var a

5 ?ebnr

29,8?

were

Osl

folovue

Oros i.gister Tons

10,453

Othe
Isnn
Ct
tag 12,000 tone

Army

n oe
o or

Good

530
(7,0 Orss

anpor vess

protection

ftedockyards.

athfipping points.

On2fJ& j

fldberde

Ieish

the

by drvi

71w tonr tnprttion

On

th doers

tmt

men

wee

detache

I order todecrease the danger of

inth. pert, th Twentieth ?4owtat nr

mutiof

er

t.

aardnc. with usoder of 9-QJIanmZ. 13,00

for thb

Teas)

egster

igded

pr

-their

wet.

.t

attarhe farth
the sealshorae

*orny
a stok frs

sceueas

ordered to e

TrwmM m

iatted.

C4
e20

aS/rb

!}oever, on

11- J"

.r

the mgiber

of sdpmnt

por day

out from five

wa0

to two.

the theater cote~r reporters that onI

'ems
1

istocks Ira Iorwa

had

awiounted to

Perhaps the col suppl

with

tprl

but by Yiar

At least 97,000 tons of cal worn

gal

iee

slht Oprain Stafft?

wich the

the liavy

eV b

togth'n

flntfl that time 73,000 tos bad been applied for ontbk,.

in Ws.

a -fibur

maonnt,

out through

ollbl

the stok wol be copetl

needed

That

nark, wauld be usef4 up bythe end of

the 30,000 tons proise fr'~

Parch.

180,00 ton.

ebruary eoel

u1gh

Conrdmand

ed

that tw odiate

taken adpointed out that the ordered shiftin

of col

sufficient,
meses b
mtoks

to the

north ins dangerous.

At th

of $arch, the Reich Coesaioner tow Sea Trnpra

beinn

Galeiter Rauftes,

tic,

wated to sto

coal shortag;e.

This desire ws

one tine, 2,00

tons

bed been

shipping to )Wormy because of the

opposed by the Wehrmaht U1g Connn.

successfully transported through

besa, although this ha lasted only for a priod of 4

-Stnce

eaber

wer damge.
eeof
destroyer

was

esl

six additie

)uln the nigt

Lkrf

a ocvo

Dort

ees

m hps

ret

ship ve

On~twnr

(set trciport$ bad to be beached,

at perhaps one cruiser.

set afire.

s ot#

at the .Md of Mars.

be wide aaiabl

lest and w

of vsesidb

the

On 2Jf~tn..

was attackdbte

Onis destroyer was sun an anothe

There were no tnpetnt losses

At
-nd

'2O

t3
r

?, ~

- Thes'neWoeet

the end' of February.

reoiatance va

orgnizd

until

felt

b-lon _tde

tUp to thatl tim,, seventy eney nita ha

ist .The doriyad,

as

ie,

manes, r4n for supplying this resistance

for layin

movnt.
On 2k February an order wes isuel to combat the r esisance mvaent,

widh at

that tine

wns beingsspplid k

?Dtdthat sutable

not

nff

ma
aled:ent'nadta

teasue

Februry 1U9 dropped aerial delivery

southern Wersy is

Th theaterc

air.

=wits

wore

seized;

occupied by stronger. orcs,

but as long as

no further

measue

cou3 betaen.
resistane

night

each

moeent

sine 23.

(excepdn in

bad

of sixteen plane

a vtr

with

&

weather), eah dping two- an

on

atto

Thi amounted tofive hundred tons, and indicated that the

of uiwolies.

Was acting syastomttoafy.

eney
9.

Anthe

erqjt ns

' ava

Jawaf the buk of

the

Ofyafew subrin

col

a1

en attack wa made

one

fWther ag,

te

inet

muoeeeful

attacked,

Luftwaffe attacked an

destroyer, and one emrtfl

a oar

fgaoieeo

t.

ts coton ansother convo w

cruise,

,,I

fl..t bdbeen withdrav for repairs.

he eplord against the oozwuy to

10 of, stal %w destoe,9,0

doI
4 o

flo

Nogrth rdoff t

submrine

of'Febr

In the

sa

hnw
ad been suppcarting the

that the

teh it wes observe

By 5

of 17 shtps

let.

7.11ewing

Whe the su

rie

etredo

frighter; one cruiser, on

destroyr

<-.020

~tr~

an 5,1X'0 tonsc

were

tranprts totaitn

26'L rch two

On
"

othe

vessels were

I,

cordted one attackec

ere mde b

It

bean,

bee

set

we

deetro~s

and

were sk

an

aftre. rew

4istnce

foir

Nozwgkfra 0oast,
fright

tscd

tuwrs

Two enmyW

on turned any after ben

craft

were

cruiseres

d1y hit.

*aea

On. Osma

damae

r tt

the enm

noserious damae was caused

ss

was flying benntb the Ormn

agaistthe;

081
Theiso

deeriu$
no bee
eigiph t

radar

auatrio base at ilergen but

rd was made temprarfl

imps

Contmae rising .et the bockae toGtbogb

mwehat ship cnNl nt be preted. th.

Wt I p=pin gs

con vy a s:hort

success oft. thes

4a nes.

it eted attacks wre made

able bya

oe scort virssf,

being ade in Noemer ad December, Other

rrtebsd
,

dsetrMcer nos

one titberty ship

feighter

of 8,5CM% tnt narrfl gcoal wes

att.

TA

were

tom

by torpetoe-s.

it

on 4, Oto

attacks

with

suiirtiez zade otsct

repatedly attaeked with

Th an. Ias
J

tone, tvoe destrrs

one destroyer amd

from

Os

52,CYrX)

I7,M)

:..tten

yn

prokl y de trze1.

the po

blte

first onay

'a
lain

ofent

iofig uresd in Gyrosso Z

os .st
sr

air attes agaist

i?

T ons (A u thor ).

hdt

AS

considered.

be

Ztrsv

Tortilaioaw

inprove even afte-" t7 e ivao fon&

hnce

weakening of Taiah del'enses by top

the activation ,of new

basis but
fro
?4r

7cr
hi

soldiers

uased f'or

flmrkr,

ftarther.

wkne
:

lately

being

units

be

However, it ws
transferred

in ese

avaiable

the ennt

At the

last

bullet.

oenae

defey

fit

for ative

to the

had

mintaao

service

'otrete,

according to,

se tim, at

ha there wtre s tinl

in flemark,

the Wehraot oonnder

the issued a re ot whic was passed on to the mainistry on 1 mfl

according tt which the str nth on

Oratwto

flj61Mgq. was
12,00

1,200

of

landing should

comndr would befumtte,

a crpe hdqates .

An the tropaganda Mnistry

24,00

'Yor

from rTrnmrk since the

this area

statent of 27 3anr,

order ws given to

or'er to c nntrhoeth

ws abanone in 1943.#I

battepted, howre,
a

theee were

attack agabnat the northern area as

tieano

assumption

and

gave u the latter ona current

only

thruh Frnrk could

BomS.

in

tran.ferr;,

was also constantly betn

to wihrv forces

possibl

but

units, not

were eownstracted,

as

foflwsv

(1914900 of wh

were

for reguar serie

fit

ALmnat o-1:eif oT the =en fit fo

Th roore only

55,SX)

aotive sorric

incbriod

Addition.a strth

tfr eor t ctt,

c. t

.
men were actmrfl

(3,3 O),,

orre~
rerit

the foil owIn .;

2 moutain

divisions, in transit tothe south 15,00

31,0
IQ coast artilleroy divielon
40
Convleseents
7,000
e.
ryarsonnol,
arpeters, railrod
1,400,
Officer Canidae Schoo
Cad". of th Rtep~asento Trinn Army
14500
Others1,0

By

107,000

of whiob
(79,090O

of Vebry

the m1

were

Anmy

men vwre ait for

total

personnl,

ted to172,00 mn

strenth'am

before-transfers

reguar service. )

he4W been release

,8OE

15....me
a weakening of

Tbiu conetitat

Acorrinrg to ani ordr

were

th

fe

N.mark, Geneal. o

triod by

ss mtio

*a

raid

et'

22rg~. 20,010 men (16

were

to bereplace

rk.

In Jfnm

ank,w

this

ve

replaced by

iadam

th ArMy, Cenobet

14

receire

23,000 sec
arch bettaion)

by anequal number

avy,

beter- 0

2.

US

of 0

to be withrawn; these ae

detached from

to the fast..

tod

th theater smner. it.

ttre

finerth

Geea

of irgttlrii.
Oennlorst Li a
gilt

nhuce

bean,

Wit tin
have
i ot.

esusudr of OpraionsStaff Stio C s.On

the theater conder

n twoitvo'a

ry

rdr

received an

order giving him

the

0-020

3.

.rL

3eholS wtrc

At the beg-tnning ot harch

>~.

mwve

to

irek.1ircr the

renrr,

the

officer "candidate --

O*J

sonominiaionod officer schol.

in

Denmark

stationed

but

did not

there.

nonni

inete

Wiser

Reserve

by I.ia

bad only

tanks,

Marsh

twent

.ted to

rc

flli

the foflowing

snizet

(thea

statfh.

troop uhis

were

stationed

West Coast

166th Inens
160t Iantr

)ortp

2)24 ?aunr Reserve Division

North

Division

Dividion

325ft Reserve Divisies

264t Iteaa
IDiviin

Loet

I1At

Zns

325th

Aat conistin
countris !dto)

232

ivisin vas to be retivatd b

consisting of 44 battalio ns) to brigd

of

160th and the

The

Consideratio was 4ives: to e9=ading the

idl,

the

forOS

tf0l strengt.

tesI and UT, rney for aton, wsa also

By the

Thorn., ant the

cehool at

the coabt etre ;th of th

whicah .t that tit

strength.* The 264th Inantr

;rarmpnt ,

This increased the number of pes

It wa sie ctd that

Diviso,

at

wehsol

alrr

tioned otfi'ea~r

Igantry Diviutons would bare renteh

166t

a nwbar ofAsvte

nhatr7 Divse
Rescv. Dvision .(trastnet

of penonnl reruit

frot lat.rmuaem

1e

6~0-020

-.90u.

During, the

half

;sec

of Varch

it was nlar&yt

move

one

rezimont

from each division -quart red in Perk~h t.: tho south%into, the area nc4

166th

the

then occupied,

Infnt r livisio

had already

Croup H; eight tr'ai

32th iserve Pivision

yere

4.

Sabotage
but

wes

and

prevent

that the

in

delay

in the Wsst ma

it ncar

Th Ibah

cder
on

:ythe

Operatin

fl

north

The

transfer

rtviston eas completed

bombed from th. air

it interrupted

L'1

the

t e- railroas,

theater cmue

everything possible

to

to be

sabotage.

to teani.

to channel

since the

as

rflltiTs

rofaewn~fte

the 'anieb pot,

crowtid.

ftebrer exece

trnlporttIVOr

5.Tru

for wovznent.

325th !Rves

harmful, prticularly

its effets reined limitsd.

wes infoe=d

the

The 325th ate

March.

Copenhabgen vwe
S
7abottve,

en

Atar

27

departed bvy

nov also ready

of' the 166th tnfantry Piitston

was tra:nnferr&6 to Armiy

GCoan

large

The

catastrophic events

nbers of refges

into

ports had alreadybeoeor-

?sehrer was issue to that effeet on

$tatt' received word on

&b

Lm

that the

tMizstry of the nterlor deskre to seed 30,000 and later 100,000 refugee

to

ur k

Privnte

dwelling

were not to beutilied as billets.

rePort o this atter was sus tttd

by

elgte Geini

r. Best c

-1-"
iii.

01%+A

-.

SWfE!

RIMI!

At the bennng~ at the yr

the war. But

would enter

possible
in

that

the eneis

which Swede might

such

as

might

the

no .rdtixtion that

Worea

*-tatfthoaught it

Wehrirtct Oerrtie'

begin

be involved,

agains t the northern

opera ticn
the irt

worked out

It was ea-ved that- &flid success

a situation.

wee

on

ttWy bam

a.

in

1ra

the *-ostmigfht

be hta beg sthif

-t te d to the ntor te h; r. ae ne MdO
o nf th
nisi eat ud y, th
h et t-t . ehre ch=t O fe otmig
-

tis

Staft' sreared a directive to be leand if sween

ebur the W

(y

However, this work was net continued.

entored the

waer,

oht was

inornd that the entry of Zweden into the war at this timn no toab
A sijor

anm

attack against the northern

which might draw 3weden

aa

was not cniderd likly. Th. J'uebrer, tbeefore, did

into the ae

to a state of
,etintng

to be issued

wish any directvs

The mtter was to be

Wmtary

Peber the Onesn

not

war with Sweien.

ven only theoretical oonsiderntion by the Wehmeht.

the milie of

Reltion with Swede n subsequently grnw worse.i

osa

attache

defined the

of

atttw.1

&Wdn

toard

as "untle.
In the middle of Snuary Swede had protested that Oemnrq

of th Skemk
of Ntnsry*
tranefsfe

Iutferd w4th

Swede

df

Wootation with
diploti

Swedish fih supply

At thebe

isformed Gnythat Fiish shippigbdbe

the

Oul of Potbula to the r

Osrny

cannl.

the

bloce

resultig fro

this

of

the

AelaS

Islands.

enwe were referred

through

4Ci., 0e234

I
TVru AfWzi3

I.

"
194k
O"JIM.Il, IL DZC!2WR

VFwth AtA 3UJtAE )U

in Otis West was inor by orier on15

Dleese

as

to vhioh

heavy

btterie would beassigned his for th. heavy righting o. paetd around
fLogs. On16 December th.

ondr in Chief Wet received liessag.

Vo, 11W21 and Top Secrt Usng. No. 25 onoo n

ortbin Chie et received anorder trn

the
Ftwr that the Fit?
or reasons

the
31 Larnnry 1945 art

West it

of

ecordsexten

alarlyt

(Aut'o),

t Ay shoeld

rain

frot attack, as the oppostag

the
the mnuthr, all entries metiinto
are aiun for the perio 16 December 194 A
te latter parts of Yebrtry and kwil. The Extraots

not knnwn

tuatioJok

the lover )4euse

to

for
onl to 28 Yabruary; hoeer, thse are in geater detail
ntriai in the SitutionBec
for the tieig

compare

vith 300ssjngest sbmitted tothe Eiotortoai Ttvlsios b th

write at the edof 1945 lnd on records used here and on note* andoosend A ehort study .entitystheSE
uttaat of th
ff1of 1945A
ofsiptodesqgwtswrtten by hauto'erint
is asm oa Li with the Rttetes Diviuton.
s
Stag. a arge umsr of etbeiat stWLinhv been writtena
the iwts snored In, at since the prsn work sutiers from the abovein thi chapter
mentioned emama, th enther has retriced his eftrt
his .ztnes eve in this form they il
thewrigo
toretio
(Author).*
firs fonadtioc of data and fasts for fut ste
cenriate
2

e:

e93

Z-2

U$2

in

enem forces were ansed

of succmmn,

t visOn an
oce to the
dispoSal of

Army.

Thri 9th

of these forces were to sdthra.

em

;rev ations were to be mde

penetrating

The !tifteenth. Arm

Into the
s to fris

e ordered

rapidly

oada

lb. 'eeth Art 'a

deep

south and southwest,

f'or. the withdrawal or O2i trop from

headquarters.

hold its nnnnt postion.

arid, by

be no chane

Patter
the 15th ?}antergr .ter t ivtio were to be transferred at,
area fllanketnt. Stadtyl Ahrdorf' m there placed at the
the C04 to reinforce the northe rn flank of the t irth ~anzor
enr

area, of flfteenth Army

the
to

iS part

there woul

such atrenz-t tt

turning award the

flank !rototim for the !"iftb Parzer

enem rear aW then

h

Army.
In

the

of' l8

evenin

rop Ii(in oonsequem

Arwy

of resent

toct

Group) imoiatealy

to

for '?2

twenty-four hours

insure surprte, al

ad

were n.toard

available nIts of'

contal

defene a.K

Obwrkmudo

without wxrin

n order to

vwr to
not

Per W

West o

dd

the Uritish 21st

Arm

for on16 r eweber in

be carried zeross

to

the erawoy

prohibited

the

In order

and no advanced

deiwie the*enemy,

deceptive

the east. Ifthe att'ao we sueeestul, all

the ?venty.fif Ary

o=ly secuit fores

of'

Doesber could

daylight aowmments uwr

noieof the attack ws gives.

saat

mo'emnta

measures nrovi dd

th

order that the attack plan&

Mouse within

the Comnde in Chief

gie

wer

to

be left at the Mose

follow

ame

Man %Ia

to be wekid

.neht

-*

Wehnct Himh Coa nd.

the Mouse

tive

The,

-94-

On 19 re oitrter
disposed of

Array.

The

the

the !trer'se Infanr

~C rg~er In ?he tent for co

ordered

Fnhror

oprposing

enda fcoa

that

van

holdin a

wy

th

serien

held read

hel further

t ws firet day

ot the offensive

to a derpth of' 4.5 tflozee.

Vn

withdrew, but

in mnasses did

entanglemetts an?" mine

fields

to laimeh a eounterthruat.

FU

striad

spooi instruiotns

wore

t rrtory, and the hantdling

of

prisomo

suppie

to the trops.

to to determined by

the raction of'

with civilianr as

usually

Teatiend

In thoe arease of Hll.n,

of

wr,

princsple,
p

in

new

A aroebl

fnorton

our own attitude wes

a couwxiatioe

son,

elation

were tobe

flelgius, and tinbmzrg tick wore

wuld again take ever the

edmiistration (Reich COdesioer &eSs-Tqwrt

wo

the trit
newly eaupied

th, ivilian poultatin.

unocoupled b~the enm, the tone acenoie

Stmo).

reseenn

issu:ed eenernin

tet off the civilian por latton ,the e~tlstrntlorof' the

anS

were enplowe

to the rear.

On 10

lmaflet vas

The

I the vicinity of each atrongpint, four or five

to a large extent.

wer,

ohau nginet

4$:

tvhir
an-rr

en estxrity torme were suppose to

tanks wer

et

hd' no cntinuou mart line of rnitanoe but

of stronpiotints

not succeed in doing so.

tatzt with. the

ooixr tteid att

the 277th

th e exeienes of Array Cirozp E on

hdieate

the

sp~da

situtition to deternine whether

a study -of thet

Pivion sho-Ajl$

the 34 ~a~rgradir
'

the

Erigae

qtitry admiitrationw

and

hettand Gulitr

again Instal e,

0SG-020

V$

a5

On 22 teorr

the

st's9t& that

ied

%ernl risenhow er

%"~x

had

4tIrrnn

r oo ,ation in whIch he

rrn'ythinr~? on

le sMair.

e'd2

:oflC

furthzr th t it wuld not be eouh waly to bent ba& the ofon lye;
the war must en

only in the eriy's firi 1

ll'e

t t

In order to rtrain f

on

?anzer Army,

e terd

'The

"~cto-

the een .n:g of 21 reibrthe

-that the situatio

posible.

'eocrof

at Wi'enborr

t.

ht Aing of t_-.e:VIxh
C1_ =fit~or

b.

straightened

and brldxrahtwde wre

orr

The r

as nnidly aspoentbln.
the north

jm

in

to be

totoe

as

forne

znits.

lost

soon

as

!tisin
7 Ith

it.

between FIhy ra9 rtvet

Chitef t 'oat pond out thwt in

protection shuld bebuilt up 15-20

fllltrass; this

Out

'"&vit on .r' the 12th $X 'nser

sergreder

were to take part in the advnce with the othr mobile

was to be

in Chief

kfl tmas ahiad of the

should thbe tuhe south in oraor to link

up with the Orsehols delfense line.

r the 9th "n er

O 3 rse
'1vision

4As3on and the '19th -lnzerj re na ier

from the OrWV reserve and nmds'ned to th4 Ccniwner

were ra

to bew
isens were Dvso
an h!Y .h}n
~we
e Volkgrndier
i"n Chief W..t.;teI The 9th aem! 167th

veto to be aale

ad rehabilitate.

?eaployaet of the

el ola

gr idir aivisiens wse autberisod an 26 rcembr.

An est tt

of the sitwation

bthe Fuebroran

the

by the Wshrsobht

Oprntioes staff,

ooadr in Chief West* showe

of' sotorisd transport, from which a1

:aiars
mrching colams arn nonwlly barred.

that th

apprmte

ty

anial transport and

-96
the souith,

eploed /,-S divlslorn in a cmtonttackfo

wns

effort

be tuig .nrert,& bet en flinant

that the coutt.nat

Fifth Army hoaS a

tt

t hs

The Meventh Army

protecetion.

thrust

Rino

across the Mimst

awl- the area eait of

north

Tihe

Move.

nsouth without adequat. flank

eeresoo

the norest

a lcal

crisis.

apsered

enemy ositions btwen the Girthe an?

line ?4rche

The

efow on te
the t euso

inteked

possible.

to beo still

their

destroy the

&SWe

north

end

of the

V-iat.

of a

rider in Chief vfest entere

that the intended

at Tu=ren, plaited fr29 1)'e

$rwould

the C

On tj ee br
fom tor

and.

?atoMa,

T~n r ::ray wan now free to

foroes wold have to hol

foever, the Gra

unifor

Aavelot snrd 14conschau tad come to a stand-

ok betwe

flankt of the

The let

still.

that a

brill

moed!

net

be a~ttempted sinc;e, in his ow~n opinion ndtint of the Fuhrer, the losses
Istoad, an order was given to bring forsard

ivon3 pobably betoo high.

al avtlable forces.

The 3140th VolregrnadtLet "ivitn,

held as resarwe

to
'a avnce toward :Manerfel.d, and two additional division were to be
do availble
Corp

The Canndv. in Chief W.*t agreed! to transfer the IVII

to the 33.fh ranter ArM,. The

pivot tothe

northeast

an

fift

to attoir the

i'anzer Aray wes ordered t

enemy

roar east of the iIuao.

The two Volkseadie divisions released from the OK

at

the

dispsal of

Thes

fobw

19!Pe

nsvenfl
ObaqgeS

is

reserve

vone plan4d

Army.
in

oowaitaent Vefl notedi

bridging couns eto

Two w tor' Bed tye
transferred from Uipper 1tin to Army Group B,&

U'nits of ap rxitely coman

se.

?s

CJ

72

2C) D

eeobrs* Ygtae fr t

tre

ascignCl to te Uavy.

23. tknrter $Applioi'tl o to rcinrarc Any Uroup tpper hin

with on dvisio was re und. 'li 2d Parachute
Division vaset zitted.

25n,'rt?&zrgrmwier
ir
VsenergenaierDivisiom
th
17h
an
Diviion
vDint r
,te1t
itated. tri La1
'z
battalion
e
i'
of the
to
assigne
Dvfon wae
Yiel
1
20th turtwd
xr in ou..r at
the C
23i4

22 Drerntr:

fli

23 eebrz

Request to ensign three

battalion toth Upper

24 Densbera

The 344t Int ry Division vl rnhbilitted.

its
Cii. Wests
CoraIor
Cniatmerit of preotnc o
12,000 men each on15 nd 20 January (3,00 n
"rom soh lev Tr ect itait with the armred

Pazzer

The 9th
Cntwt

otain i aukt
hine vas refuned.

Assalt Gu B~riad was smploped.

of 5 Wshrmaeht signa

tipws#.

weare
Tenty.-two fortress oontr tion o~at
emplqye to instract the people lotted Lor trench
eontrutiua
25 IDewmbers Two preone replacenent transfer battalions Wer
h
t units.
5R5]4)WI for the fotro am
iviso was rehabilitated.
553 Yo kgnir

26 Deir

The planned 10 percent ac'ut in tk. strength of AW

rop S was postponed until I Pcbruaz.

At th begimding of the you, the eney wat f rcd to dinontime

to

*ttpts

bra

thruh

tSchta

in

the Sear Pa

tiate. haf of

th oppoi g fores wtre nom -eesttttd aainst Any Gry 1. In thi weyp
the seq

s in establIshing en unterrupte

Attacs could. the be direced against the

flna. of Arty Gnwap a/

?t'aehrer

-directive of4 January.*

StpI7

dofenai

frit.

lines and the deep

s?' kCeO
On Fbrzssr at 2015 hrsa
igto which the Cm r

in Chief

the attack in th

cntima

the

er

M~sone area

encircleet, be. to attack

southeast

tat

hw5 order& Aryroup Pto

and, It6 poaile, t re-e

either from wnst

?army Group

tonorthwest.

to

h arem rosinin

of 1*tomn

ws

that th. ordered cowaitcmnt was not fasible

and the unfavorabl terrain.

It was

or

tabiih

from

eeykdren

tocut off thi salient

too

enter. Yield Mrshl Mdel, who

mobile force to

southeast

re',orted- that t hs

whle mede sevnnl penetrations an was atttng

southeast

accord-

message wat receive

telehn

marrow

wes

owing

sugeted

toallow another

on the

spot, replied

to the

'a strength

that the terrain

north,

northeast, and east of Dastogne wes more favorable to the zaoveig of

tanks and, futer, offered

to ata

Narbal Model pimne

Division, from
east with

the possibility ofsurpise.

rom the north with the 9th

th. notEast with the

the !uere's

Therefore,

12th.

isier Division,

Infantry tirigae. This

Ia

was

ield

WSPaice

and from

the

by

the

apoe

Puebror,
On

dA z the

er inChief ~4st a

of the Ynebnr that the ort

Inp of suces since

trate sp

at the

insistence

aflyplnned operation no lone ba sy

s!of the esyforce ware now

reta

t Ary Oroup

nnon

terr,

sotin to tie up and destroy asanW

onna-

Awa Oru S as ordered to

the saw as posil~e iii order

to support nvoperations on othercionw of thefot

he captged

gromi as to We held ad the onter to clean up the citmation around

Plton wes

.t

Since tM enm was expctd to ttack soonr or

ttCeO

later, the

held

fhestll wr4Ad

the 7ixth

by

anzer 'r y vul$ have to bereinforced.

In add! ticn tsnceuy w i3fr

anl? the~ ax"-t.
all
encirclement.
other

atte nti.on

Spoo i

the

front

to be

ae

have to be continually strerw'th

eez.

On L Janinry another Yushrer directive wacs issued

oew uot ofbattle.

the Agl, o-A.eien

eucenon,

The Connnr in Chief

armies

inctividually by suden

conoerning' the

wes ordered to destroy

launched in rapi

attack

The order in which each sector was to be attacked would be

determied persorally bythe 'fiorer.

under

West

the defense of

'aUra,
.o
'rtoa

all ofraunstanes.

The

initiative was

to be0 retained

Rhino we to participate in

Ary Group tipr

the operation byattacking north of Sltsbeg and towrds the northan

nrthwet from the area obcuie

by )iaoieenth Army.

Arm Group B wes to tie up the opposn a

forces, destroy the

enemy at Dastogne, stabiliser its position, and build upa strong souther
front,
Army Grp 0 wa to continue with the execution of Ooeration YO0RDWD4P,
as its objective the destruction ofthe snowy forces between the

Bhch lad

loverW Voags- mutain

mountai
Savent*
the

outlets.
e

the fthin River and the cpture of the westeni

A breakthrvouh to aver and the blocking of the road

t h next

Sen'abn'g were perequisite

enemy a bould dtbdwa from the

ame

tauterboug

for C gigthe directilon of the attack

Ai
and, if

Grou l'vpr Win

possible,

to

operation
a

itche

or,

in ase

aHgunn

the southwet.

we to establish a brdghead north of

conne ct -with the Nineteen th or rst

A~jl

tlrasbor

ors even to

k~

>tnOZO

ooctw the wester. outlett of theceta

st.

,.5If
mounttn

ewnezty

th

withdrawal idei this poasible.

The new

assigned to

forces

Arsm Gtrou0 were to asanbie north Pr4

east of $;;'aarbruockon.

On 82

of the

Since the slow but steady succm

isud.

wnn

ubrer di-rective on the cnuct of onetions

a ne

Jary

arcenet th

.ith

PansehadArmnd*posiGttin in the stern part of' the salient

untable, ermission wa given to withdraw as fr as the line Domham "
t
Longeh~ (west of !atge).

wowzldo1onjer

nfl objectives of the eayattac

assumed
or o-

that

the

easy's xain effort would then be

this appeed

an

bet
wihfawn

mote

strong
leased.

forces

likelys

be temting.

It was

shifted to the east,

that tn or twelve divisions would

in order to be cittted against unrotected noation of the

order to avoi

:front

ws .discovered, the orii

When this

this possiilty,

anti to retain the

assaigned toArmy Group 1 wowl

e
Tho Nber,

therefor,

ordered

he to be it

the withdraw l of

iitiativre,

iatel

o-

two pannar corps,

coerps, end two prjojetor

four mtorstd divisions, two Vo1k artflen

we th entir stdegt .f the Sixt F'nser,

rAm T.mponarily these fon.. wore shifte. northeast of t. Vitt and
east of Wis whre anm fltacs wo. e xp oed The mission ofArmy Group B
brigades. I

effect, tis

stt
d

rei

On
draw

thoe

om firmly reseted

the U 8 ?uar Corp, comprising

!'anser Divisions, t

tits

roar of

his order- to imdaeyvt

the it,

Army Group G for

2d4

th, and 12h$

a short

period of

1Ol

P ,3
Af

-101-

The

rehailitetion.

t wrts ta

' o rder in Cht

. e

order that these units were not to tn, co

which would delay
2.

f% t rt

Cansr

P
nOnrtio e

3JxunThe

'

atr

been waened

evacuation of one~niy bridgeheads en the

and that further 'mte might vnb

p~~teC

einChief

this situation

fiy prasdn

attat

to reigain

fbrhtin

trhorn Alsace

aivur mdo it appear Likely that the aow frorsi

Saa

of

tttd i

by strict

their asqctbly
~Qr

(21Decmbr

ns

net

vitbdraim.

.002

".rwy Group Qto take

ordered

forward

this area had

advetage

by preparing a

locally aind

surprise:

Strict secr'ecy wes ordered; the ic end

the Stvernegap.

ing wtthdrsal of Army Group I) wes to begiven as reason for the vreparan
tiora

On R2 Pepe the Puebrer ordered anattack bytwo pmr

and thre

infantry divisions tnm

the 1itch. area towar

forces holding tor

the rear

of

Luehror

eeteA this Dnto otter

the

the ends

Voegee briojewad

t
Zn

into the

front

in

order

to dentsv and tie

his ottle

of

Onhols switch -position incse

sake heaway.

You infantry

the

bano to

an attack frye

be scrovd

forwrd

aw femes.

theVa Coaer

21 Neatmer.

determine wither .th front ou

first

Te

moativity wsordered along the entire

ati,

tUpe receipt of this diretv,

oaned

the acuth araint

area, aromad Wisemboiw .

greater success than

where forces vmit

division

Reftt

In Chief Wjest acordingly

ore aneunation

be admed with

local force frcs

to

the'

the left flan of the Third' 'rsy s hould

division. and the

tort

divisions

were

1-

I-0 # CW02

.. 102-.

now deinted

for tf

rat

coimander of

of

the as

at

weep iJrJantrry.
krwy Croup 'kqrxr

the

mginnt

'

Thoe

intentton~

Rhine,

who w a

took place

anewith the .now remultion on noo

operatio

its

that

woroooarunoate

to tsuppor

rtiss

ts h
the

rth

trhinz brdee

ad

trasbm'.

C2.flcba a dioio

new

wna nianned

s=Avern trap, which

taging locniin' raids and et -d

attack bs
south

for

with. AnCeop C. tn accord-.

etrissudeo

25 Decebr, the

was given the cover name M)ItJM)% Any Group

oeocxpy

objective wa to

Wirer

gap i

the ae

reporte

to destroy

the

'tw

and to mae cotact with the rmeteenth Anxm'.

attack groups vore to be prepaed for this pwrpoaes The Ifirst group

was

to

enemy

in northern Abae

in order to penetrate

attack southward, east of the Bies [iver,

the Vagint tine

near forchadto

attak grup for

advance east

join

the

right flnf

assault against rhPbcurgw~

The aon

in several spearheads an far

of Titche

as

the

the a eaand
erou

inek

was

to

cknberg.

Robrich in order to join tjte firsit group for the dvnc on t'bboiw
Sevesnt or

west

ofthe muts

21st Passer Division was

othe atta' 4vlo

according

2St

either attac

rn.

rinsio

.vsrgndter

in rere souhat of twibrueske

fr

o decive th mw,

sitnation.

of fltoh

to be enntrat& est
T

tote

w
w

e it

The

foroai

Croup 01 was

th right attack group to admnc

fon

sidtly

was to be)zl

could be asuigaed to

anettak wes also plane fr's

the chols switch posItion.

OnArmy

ar

ttth

ubrhdd"

to th =rin rod ?balsbou'g

-0.

K; 4 -2
Laa

a&

nk of th

:TZI

-Vernle ovor& agmnt t.tta&fo

nesaosary~to shirt the rigth"fla
Pls

ori wetwr

fly order of the

the hih road leadino south from ~orbh.

the Rhin wa"obgnfry-ih'or

position ws

not to be

fones, the

the

armore serhe

of the

by reking throu~b the oneq front

Group Upper

Stmsbong , Ar

ward from

the Vosges

At the ar

.hner

catered the
Va

main offezdn

cutlets to the Voegs Xountains in the area $nre

reached t4e asten

tegailr.

from tS;

Amy Group Upper ~1hn

at 2300 hours o 31 Pnabra.

ttl

not to attac

attark

cards)d cit.

With the vitbdnwvl of further .neq

attack to bei

'uehrer, the
the beitin

fe

to the 'north. The plant divrriomry

of the offendnv

Orchols switch

Vthe1

1inebrueken and from there togan by way at doefing

Thver near

atta' acros

-made it

the ts.This

&angthe

Phitne wes to Join the

outain in the ?t au

time, Army t~roup T

north of

advancing east*

Icrutth ector.

anrw

rpt rhin

fore

Mtine

ed that the 533 Yolks-

grenadier rivision would enlarge thet bridgeheds on either side of

Oabh.ty In oDer to
ot

th

Nineteeth

ran

ont localised ttacksi from the notern trac

Army and tostagesa strong

attack with on battylic

turther to the south. fn attack with no.distant abjeotiws alog h

nrthwestern section of the front wa)A not bposible before 3 .Jaary9
uinee an addtional infantry division voul

tat, to be mae avafla ble for

that pcrpe.
On

further operin

the Wehraht O~tios

to foflew opertion

tt

coletw

the drat o a

ZNI),which invlved pln

for

YSiS".OO

elO4-

the destruction of

(in Vt*Jaar

received
night
comn

&

of 5

fiur

to fti

the om

er van

ditvkitoz

htweer roraoh arid

roulp t'per Rhine, efter having

ir of' A

warning order on
January

r et

2 Jmnry, wam ord.er& to a.Aack during

or, ifthe s ituattn nermttd, dul

the d my.

the
The

instructed to prenare all a liable forces of the

Surher

Itineteeuth Anmy to move north ainc notwst to establish contact with

the flintrmy
On 6 Janur

the deputy chief of'

wh
the b'efmot &ration Ctaft,

had drive to the headqrters of Anmy Crou 0, renorted that part of our

infantry torn.c were bady tihauste

hand,.

hasolgaudterpr

hold

lover

Therefe

anc

that the eney north of Wingen

It apired that th. ene.

-Alaso, and to secure his position bhbiM

it was tmpoible
Th

without relnforeczentc.

have to besought

forea in the area aourd

Aleece

If no break-throug

were effect,

of

all avalable

th

mlyent
ly

eaut

O7 Jaury th flaebnr ordered AnyW

inul
e ce
b or~ie e d and by nyploitm
p l i
throug h comttg th 269

lower

Line.

of the opration dpoied solely o

the progress of the xXr 'anser Corps.

a nw decisiou woad

the Kaginot

to coantinue the off esIin

suces

intended to

ntnt

Ordu

Upper Rhne to.eolits4'o

gthe
sa success
g

pgained
es s at tRt
t atu

Dithton against offbd.

The fofltring mits newly assigned to reinforce Army Group 0we e

schetaled

to arrive

as

idct

C>4220

I#

-1

x -105

l0t
7th

by 13 - 14 SS.nary
byr 12 -13 Thnuar
(not vrot under orders)
.
ivid

jtjflj!f

3Cx')le

nrti.e,

ltvlni~I

b
p7t
Voksrn
d
po sby by 15 Tazuairy
Artillery rear.torweis by -3 9 Jaryd
tari ale )
Divi"on (bnditely
11th 'kizor Th
'iAloion by
tnfmntry
lot Pegiment, 2d 'ountei

"

12 January

to thia front on 6-7 Janwarry, the demiy chief o

In hts visidt

thyutoal strai

in spite of ;ret

go,

After

materiel.

auprty

rknm

the orstmn forces ie

to

inet

trufgh

Meault troos reatedly

gaps

in the

of

Constant esure

s tperiod
Th of

ut

smal-ayn able to

Th tsrmats

to

the aea

was launched was not conducive to quick mo

wt.

to the e1eron tsntrat.ned the troops tothe

training
i e t d i n the
e iF

f.

i heao
la
i t Tnaiatg
p wr rsatedt
Ay , a

stocnedioffie

elder wef;ltnind

"meofl

:pile

for heights am3 vilaes steadily depleted the (errmn

Continued flttingi

forces$.

front ine.

fight continously, the enemy

relieve the front line troep~r vith fresh force.

ever which th offensiv

of tiAmy

shock of ,our off"esv, the enem's remltt.

til

.the

an the soprtority

onehdconstantly tncreetsaed in stritM

attckst3 the

was

tiTf gained the lzpresuion thet troop morale

mOrtions

Werwcht

ante3
ntr

Dimiio,

a!
for

Wn'
,"s

n!

to eiqu
the lac

and. battalion

o= battalion

tied been reduced to 15 am and another battalion to 6o me.

Owixg to the neril

lamehd in

sucb

lnwss othe

Oem.forces, ettacia were

a wy that th combat actra were constantly enlarged.

This wae necessary the withdrawal

' akvance

uits tomop up pockets of

CO2Oel

1 .#a

reistanc

-i06-

in the

Te artillery

Teplaonient!. were required for ech:r nw attack,

rer

wns

in ntr' rgth

rot only tnideqimte

obecrwttion- posts aW! radio equ4tent.

Supplies

but ano

lack-ed
:forward

were available but

were

difficult to bring forward because of the lak of transportation facilities.

70annr units needed

In

northwst of

Wismnbourg.

ordered Any roup

the

of the

objective was the

"With the noception

of

ssigned to Army Group

the

C were

to

same; to roach

of the 25th

hoped to coplet.

The

'nth

southestern

Cotact with the

fUkeb

bbig

By means

by

Rhine Piver,

of a swft

thrst

erwfer and the simultaneous

north of iiguaa.

either behind the

256th Infantry flivihion, to

Vosgs xmutins,
h

th

XW 55

ope

X~f 'o nse

the n

Corps asto

taia

be estab-

adweneing the 10ft IN'Paurw Division ast ~of the Ilagmuea

Foret. From then, a spearhead we to be 6 irooted toward the !sven

the weto

outlets to the lower 7ogs ait

we enidered nesery to

*owitboth

the 26 Mountain Thiiion and the

6th S5

ehebr or not

psasee.

In crOe

to

ooetapy

sotain Division.

to

awsi~able forces

the anay front

the cllape of

together with the

the

aix!

the dirotion offZtm f.r, it

Parachute Tivision would be wapieyed

the

pas..i

in

InfantryDivision

was

orps or

of Stle to

force in aid

the Savrn gap

lower Vosgesand

be cathed.

fighting,

a breakwthrouh south of

11th Paner Division, all

IX Psnws Corps by way

bthe

tie upthe enaq

aid to force

"Voog stains

The

to

the era myforces between the

destro

a long time to obtain.

his directive cmJanuary S for the continuation

the Nuebrer again

attack

took

erare rarts which

the northern

flank

of the

e107
..
107.

9 C0020

intonth Army was

had further

s ituation

On 9 Jann

attackzVosefr wouVs bedetrmnes after the

to

dovlcspe4.

a maesnge from

o b e t Jh tsleO
k o wits
t , nto

the

c.

of Army OroupB, Ceal-

ider

th
' e f Co
. A
~ ucor Iin
ihrtChio
rg

me
h eseao
at was rep
ceivord
ed

by rthe

NOrnw1ps, after initial succes, bd ,om to a standstill for

lac of sufficient forces with which to nop u enemy resistance lxthe
Oprtion

rear

of

the

then were no replsceents for

bcuse
mo

advancing cc

themselves o

the .loses suffered bythe spareds

ndwith the Germene, the

ti

ine

once

the enemy had

advantages

of

the G

in anattapted

not gai the

desire

the other frots so l og

from opisit

Aw

resum

to

from this

measure resulting

Saze %rps

depression, did

xus

Go

able forces coud

*hthe .su
reee the et

I
sine,

atesd

the sren

in

I owerer,

attack,

the

the defenive,

the eaitment

situation,

of

effect.

It was only possible to

as furthe eney

roe were withdraw

nd as lag as Any Gru0 retainedte

?S

be

the

of

m is-

hih

be oMtined only if all

within a narrow area.

sasw

e serousl

Wtseu

antil.

Itthe situatica
igtdcide t

m Md

result,

it

that Operation 2A1&ET coldb successful

and strategically only if the enoW in the aginu area were

was the opinion

tactically

t withdrew.

the

advance through the Wisewbourg

This latter rrqisItewl

inititve.

as

atd equipwmt, sal ai

superior mobility, better trop

An emergency

exe

bad

ba

recovored from the initial shook

superiority hdforced

the flXXX

enemy

long

of Ar

Group 0

MS tCOZ)

in

It

Tento ,

defeated.

the Trier

judgd

vv&

to

nece sr

cntizn

the

ar to employ 1li availabl e stregth to force

Tl.tt eector

sees btwt:en tngwlor an Y.derront. An attack auVc then ote

the

launched aainat

the

X17 35

fresh fores from the Qsedor! bridgehead.

orps an

line btvee frath

In order to ocupy
nort iwatern tring of

the enemy fore and to

the Pagu

.3

ount

The

Division.

the 10th ard11th 85i Paner

divert
auser

Corps along the

th c om ai aehassault
agunu

could

Sawen. i

the Vosges an

to

the

If plate

whether or not

a sound

east inthe diection of

divisions for

the forces intended

ofOpertion NWIiD,

inepedtly

offnsaiw (ZAflRZ)

wua

r r at lenst

the assault against Searalbe

division to support the bttlemusr 361t a

tug flnk support.
hWired assault gns an
Jivision

have

Moisheim

for that open-

beused for the tersiratica of Operttan NOWflfMfl

sculL fist

thone

be mad by

prepantion for Operatn %A$RT,.

Arany Oryo B asked

tios

256th
n
h

.liuonms.

Attn success at flagteau, all further operations would

basis both vest of

the Voeges

of o
the

t e 7h

attacit against

that

attention to

The oatlets to

Forest.

uow
e d italm
17
cou
o ld
ai then b oci u
i ied
i nby
,

a sportd bythe

a~e

ad

the attac us to be cntine byPI

area,

6th

operatdon

and the

.it

as cnsidere that

for

asrwioa,

25Mt

fresh

infantry,

and as

addtti

-Divis

e. this, thrut would used

in provid-.

at lastoe

tanks in order tocombat the French 28Armored

armored units of

the 1.3. 45th and

36th r~ivisiens. The

IC#C-

-4.

00-19

attack northrs

least two

three

or

which would have

frot the area

south of Sarbruecken woud requir

reay

faly

the

$8

divisions and two to three ynzr divi-.

required.

as4 the

.the

6th 88

were
iviion,

outint

Division,, and the 2d

25th Panwergrenadiw

the previou ftghtiag

attle-rwon fro

Ulvision, were

Pansr

Sr

7th Parchte Divo n,

ormr divisions,

for action

the 10t

ny tree divisions,

nith Powxe rivision,

21st Fanser Difvision, the

Vesatah

the 19th and,

along with

ivi.sions

This meant that three infantr

aloes would still be

infantry di vlilons, one of

protection

to provide flan

347t V'lksemdir

Division, the

two

pase divisions and

at

but still

capable of being omntted.

blew was

decisiv,

T1

the Saw

River,

the latter thrust

therefo

the Easter

If

would

Sasrlbe

en th. right, at with a sai

as

fhr as

coe

pincers

at Saalbn.

thiut would
ittolm,

r-ince unnt

the stor

metrtwrs

le

the

available, the aim

a in

teare

thatfrom

wer not successful,,

The abovo-aentioied divisions

be ineffectual.

towards

from Sawfrenek

towads

pincer moeet

have to beused to close

those forcewre not

EAsrne

Voages Motains

with a secondary thrust towards the

south of S aarreckeu.

would

from the

to bestruck

Setton

th

en

If!

to. be mad

with the am

effort

pined from th

Vlttrin,.

4th the

i a igt the be jmuible to push eatad twrds the Veg

ang

bokthrough the

At the

agluot

sass

Lift

tyme te

at

easter tof

bay

Yittrlami order to establish

to
the

onre-

C-O.02O

ils

VAa

othse pnthe

the tyesrmoht Co rations ttfP st.rifled

of'

Chiet

Menhlthe attn ck of the XXf

ton s tandtil
sector.

On

an

the 'eeffy

had been

min effrt

an er~ler of'

r~j

n had
.ittehoffe

Corp n'r

oozu,

to thnt

shit

the !ruhrr (effective

at 0245

hours

ont 12 January) directed that the 7th ?a'rachte tivislon, reinforced by the

Gun Drigades and the 1&tC

3th aM 667th ktflt

$3 Pnser Division shoul

tted as soon as possible in anattack; from the area Toretfeld-

Mrimt tewrle !rusohelm by way of Roeschmwg in order toestab! bi a

coteotion with the 53d

'nfntry
rivison.

rgaig ground to the west

bywy of fleahwiler eM. adivancing around the sou ther

imForest,

Pa

aM

linking wp with the "?irstAity(6th SZ Vontin Diso

and

56th Infantry ttv ton)

Zinmfwle ad t?iederbronn, the

then advancinL
attAc

forces north of the Htgenau Forest.

were

aeesMf

te

the

bu of

line or advance,

thA 2X~

It

the thrust totara rrzsenheim

Panzer Corte wou2

asn o emloyd, but not

itel

e as to prclde

their eoiuiat inthe

toirds the south.

forces attackig from Thrtofeld

'Ianzer

of atiler

Bnfl units of the 7th ?araohute rimiio

a supplemaary order wsi

assigned to

have to follow

ntil them, te corps was to feign at coinutta

bebsrdumn1t awd assault raid,

mels attc fro

the direction of

wes intended todestroy the entr

tie of the attack against Rtschttorf by tereptio

om

side of the

aue oedu

itriai towards P2rasnl

to which tin
were to be

Corps, which in turn was subordinat to th

W3 0-20EIl

eondrof Ar y

flaup

assin a z.ny Tig'er t

Upper

Rhine., The C

'er in Chief

k-e troyere as newsible tt the

eat wlw-

7XZI

as soo as there vae an opportunity for

order

to exploit

the bredthrough, the at

inr

eo~rttrnent.

not bestar'ted uti

~ok would

the assault divisions.

withiout ezhraeting the tripi

Si

23.

were to b

The attasc was to be carried forward

sutticient foroos were avalable.

swity, but

their

to

Panzer Corr s.

The 21st Parser Diwiision and the 25th -P.nergrenadier Divisio

move forr

1-

iw

O
anr)
,24Jwr..~

toterf~

the~en had orderd the vtdrawsl of the 6th Paennr Ait in order to

At the sae time, th. dai lin, of

resist a possible eoney counterattack.

ithdrawn to the line roma

rm istnce was

satop). On1 January the

ude in

(northwest

- togaa

of

rkdf est received prmty~iont

from the Ntebrer to p 4 1l back the salient as far as the lin. Ch rinart (east of Roiffalin)

- tksury and

pner

Barmen

to vitbdnw into the area

ptted

ot

Nineteenth Aq we
Coni

l~pper l

dircting

the Oi

of rehabilitatian betaee

On 17an

1.

Rouffalis

art.llory tire.

an order wes ised

On

aitane south of

lineo

to Ay Grou

turthr loss

Lonfy in order to avo

was to r

th olf min

and UI ?enusr Corps

aIn Chief Yest for a

abort

20 and 30 ony.

order

to be attach also

as of 19 Jamary,
BeStdudrtc,
for adinittin

urpose

tho

toth

mt

in Chief Rtat to
M the Vehrer ordere the Caller
rsmbl the 'Sixth 'Danser ry hse q tror together with the Netbrer's

Onf.A

brr'

d R

tn'nts
't brt

vhor

thc area ?

?rresi

astiigno

Adonu, where they vS '3

of

rehaittion

for

11th

present aistion, the

'anser iieio

'Praam-

The

t:i tbe (Wrsorvc.

which

w&s

had

been given on

After eon letimr

be carried out in this area.

wol

15 Jwrny

the, order

tee unIts,

.untoen

its

to asuenbie south of

;..rreoug.

on20at
to prer

0205 twin

for th moset of the

pasm divisions
deebio

t he Cwnder inChiec West wediusted

entire Sixth ?tasr

two ?uairer brigde)

and

was to be uae ikthe

to

thxo

(teur S

ffia

front.

cats'

afternoon.

2n the vane day at 135 hours anorder was issued for the inznedit.
transfer of

the I

rr troops)

orshedm

The Western
std

to

Armes Isrenc

th

the Easer

had beer. upnet by

the posblitr ata flask

as rollins The

was t-oafib

awl

attar: spiut Ana,

It we

enemy's

the Rhine

the es

ol

Efft~s

atb inteotlying
ast
m
areas of the her andt.t the satinate.
woul

is

ot ezoad that the *msw

sih sitation

that, prepraio,

Riyer

Is order to aLvoi

voU puh oninto the dlfftinlt terrain of the SUet regon

mar

ay

of the >4estern Powrs up to I

ffoniw in theArnm

o mstblisb the foge frt

umitted a

leeet

of Astern and betwe tasb

th.

anhr rivisian and.

?roat by way of Berlin.

rrd

t}tilr

eney situaition

to attaek east

tr

Carps (let end 12th SS

on 20 3anuary on coesible plas

1945 in *L*

ploan

35 Pangs

tin
besde for a decisive attack sono

?elou
"

mthe

Maty,

t!5 9 C-020

ef4

of trhtoh wuld be &atermtnd by ait

the exact tiatoj

The

P:ttsh

had av

divionc

ifl.ble twenty-two

an grw orw ltio.

sirze units am by

A7

would rrbbly hirro at least twety-"ive. The Amrican. bt9 available

'

fiftynone diisions, vtric by 3Ny would

five

T.his

divisions.

dat the

!by the .t.

div ions.

U1

division,

available.

The

objective

e~rnh we'dhave available eight

of the evontyseino divisions now

tta

of

On

the

attack could

hrs Umussertwas namd deputy cw

ruerr S$ (neinrioh st1=ter), had aaue

oocrn

com~ r, the

Itetobs

of Army Grop Vistula

sera Frot.

2n2j
of Roermond

pernew

direotiwe wa issnd

The

bilsh attaCk south

th Amrican attacks agmaint the Ardonne bulge the bard

lower Alnas

fightgi

Frech attack inthe upper Vosges were

d th

thereby to haste n th nuoes of the

collape o the Uenem dewie
begin pmepetiost

Therefore, the

ytm

itrcept te

ad to fla about the total

d..J

aeigmK

atwtak

h t

n. nfatry or Ylkgedr

t~ntwferrbiae,

mer inte

to

fdeoid

Rusins at -to strt

cte Wstsn rot as order asginto vlbn

tw Yolks artilery

meses, ad

from employing their

calculated to prevent the Ceryan

forces

only bease

sander of t ra Group ppr Rhtn aftar th tong

bqr

seventy-

ent that by IMay the enemy would be able to cowit

from 108 to

on the

to

s ixtycin

,arnd

beel ria

dt diove th.te
ther. to Pry Orou t.

io uits.
aRhinet%

r
The C

desienate an aprrorrata time for ths ch.

diitos

The
b

or in Chief Wit wsto

0-02

artflr

An order was receivey the

foce

in

the nortb) and centr

the prbbe
folland.

'.esterwn ot

of te

intentions of' the snoty to attack

in acoerrThnoe with

the Thmb district and later

The high ground west of the Cure Flivr was to be given uponly
If the enemy iaoved

wader rressure.
te

mnder ina Chief ee*st to regznup his

Co

would also have to be shiftdt

Ylfth PanzwAr

strengthen the front orposi t te

ene'

the Ardnn*

the north to

mau effort,

point of

n on the upper flhn the attack eho* be ontiniod

Ithe Vosget
at first retaining
was any chance

forces north of

'st orser

.to

the

originflly

destroy the

ordered

objectives, asonrg as

enemy north of the lie

llaguemu

there
Stes

oto force the enemy's withdrawal beyond the Svrno passes and to reestablish contact with Nineteenth Any on 'te

The Luftwaffe wns

ordered tosupport the PoiMrer in Ottef West

oo itng late-ndal bm

as the focod

Diroot

oint.

ridge ofthe Veers.

by

ers tast enemyheld territory, with Antwerp

air supprt was to be gven the Army only b

Luftwaffe foswtions whih wre not snitable for ccmaitraent against

Antwrp and the only so far. as the atra

fcmtie

ware

wings were

to be

to

protct th rar o
traserd to the

et

otarof

thtetompnrtapim.

or lsaee.

Unite

of

Dy

Tighter

-ir

e.T

the Ut flak

its preparations fr

teAnyW to the bat 4

IspBasic we to be given flat th wit

to oiln

peratted.

ao

atr Front*

Cop were to poetthe Six*th Pasr4u

M
deprtue edware thea to sco

ie sit

honm
ie

nwis forceswre bfein

a
at

transferred

ns
r

ell5a
On

follow

1230 hors the Oomrer

at

J~u

the

conoernir

fore oing directive:

At present,

was still Wproa ble,

againt the "\rnty- Tifth .Mt~

reported

in Chief !o t

an eln y

Withi

as

attacok

a short tin,

however, the sntywou34 resas the attack against Cologne which had been

intarrted In roecember, this time with the support of the Britishe ooi
An attack, wotldk also be wade aga-lust the wostern front of Arm

Ar.

Grop U.

For

thi effort

aton type unts atd aboat 2,50

ewm

'Alsace

lower

n eesity

a line

ranning

ahin north of StrassBourg, although

for thds othr than

sectr of the

tanks. After, the end of Jnary, an

enen 1d withdrawn to

the

to the

Saveme pae

twenty 4ow divi-

at the gap of the Iloell. ?River was poesible,

attack directe

In

ad availble about
bu

th

to conserve

forcms

fromn the

there was no

for comuitmet on another

front, perhaps ner %mrre.ok

Germn defensive masures were as follow:

a.

Army Orop 11

einforet.

by the 361st Volksendtor

t'ivsion (which bad been rhabilitated near ?wfeone pansergnnadier

division (to be. moved up by Army Gamup E): and the 655th Antitank Battalio

(0n);

and If

Alsce. ArbGopI

b.,

ol

the rear of teprchute

old a popition I

rop8D: After the idtbfrnwl of .3

data..e of the line Rar

Schoenb

from

oaibe, byone infantry orVolkga adie r divisio

OwCue ser

grenadir dvisions, three

'idas

Ktetok

Westnl.. Pore

wits

and

et of Krinklt

vehicles,
e"

vet of

released (about tiwee Volkse

motorized units, the

bulk

of one Volk

artiller

143 4

C-020

corpw, aRd the Yolks projector

sector.

brigades)

were

to

the Aachen

Tho disponition of forces would then be as followst

(')

Paenser Army (to be designated aG Group htur) from

fifth

the right arm group bouiafry to but not incl din

Pueren; to the rear

(as army group reserve), three mobile units of the XIZI

(2)
fr

to

be shifted

Pttteenth Army (to b deignted as Group Eifelsmirh)

to but not in

or

()

ding the itl~au castle,

e designated as

senth Army (to

the R'lueland castle to the loft boundary of .th

at fiier (cositttuont here of
a.

Panser Cops.

roup tielc4outh) frao

army group, with focal roint

d Panser rivsion as army group reserve).

Continuation of the attack in lower Ase

Ga

rmy Gru

with focal pint at

order to reach the line Ingwler

lfllsedt, and If possible to reach

f'ctsbbly these forces would not be suSfioient to siks

Saverne.

with ?ineteenth Army as intended.

t be

mobile divisions were

Sssrbrueekon area.

ne

in

cozitact

t'pori conclusion of the attack, two

thdn wn from omlqment as reserves in the

division w
dsed

ts

Trier and

to remain betn

Orebls.
4.

GruAp upper Rine, Co-rdiratiox of fighting with the

Arm O

advance of AM
of the li

A s
Geas

ageler

3rou

0.

Army Group 0 to as atw

aftr

oupa

f lflstedt.

sfu defense it

the fourth battle for Aahein dpeMM upon the

ability e shift mobile

its

as qae 1 3 7 possible to that ara.

Ciwig to the serious shortae of fuel, heweer, this ould

e de.

only.

dri C't an

the rscess ty of rnving at night werep expeote

UntIl 3 7ebruary, eight ryund

be air. iable for light

figl bowtboere.

=sed

tc delay the

Yizth Panor Army.

moeent of tb

would

S-now

ar a.

after e;utahxvad units 'had atlready arrird inthe entraixnt

in Vecaber

field

Consequntl,

would be

of' anzunition nor day fo

ahgun

and tive rctznd

for heavy

howitzes

only

amount of a muitIon
whnartilley wes a decisive

one-third

available now,

of the

factor.

Fuel consmtion

aont

for

units intranit

mters.

to abmt 4, 50 cubic

the subsequent

lag the

regrouping ins -exeed

last

The

the 2,000

ten days in January, amone to

cubic

contat

strength.

rity bttalioans

meters

to b

use du~a

etrs.

led toa seriou decrease

tocal re 4aomeflts wore trocured by taking over asu-

from tin

'el area.

Suffienet saer.!taksa

in view of the large, amer

In spite of such locald efforts,

assault 'g

of

tanks

for c etant. Uinls addtional

through to the Rhine coud
All ants designated

the Wetrnn '~rt

and

cubic

the la*t of replacements bad now beecas a vital atter for all of
stems,

Frc'nt

in Alsacee

1,000 cubic

hao nnel rsplae ent were insuficient an

in

fighting

us at least 1I50

to cn

over and above

tqirwts

Meers.

needed.

would

ee rn

7cr movements on the

cubIc meters would.b

another 1,00

tothe Zatern Front

(3,300)

ftic

tn 41*1-

vwr also essentisithe aasq' held reedy

strength arrved in tie,

an

an

beak-

so be prevented.

forttransfe to th Fast had been

vit

raw

from

with the exception ofthe 9th 53 Nnser Pivision. The

ll
-1141-

MSCaO2O

sc' andti

osr,ider~ed

was

Lehr

Panzer

,oin and Purhqr sutes

trenzzhr.

on

The lit; PaIr

The owand er in Chief k est sugeste the

also urgontly neai,

trZ^fl4f'aT of the

for

Pi5 ovs; ilnatn

Ptivtsion an

r zt

te 25th ra.n

once the crent tighti1ng bMd eded

tramsfhrred

iisnb

18l9tb Infantr

jyjie#

rrenader

A report woud besubmitted later

concerning the txnnfer of the 1lks artillery c-orps

ocastruottan uite scheduled for transfer, five and

Of the ton bridge

on-athad already

deprted.
The Coiratdor in Chief .#t issue a detaIled report on dec{piv

After the departure of three wings, the Luftwaffe was

able t. deend

the rcar

destruction of

seupnl y

s than ever

farther

.ares. This was certain to result in the

lines

and

in a

retrconsnmption of fuel.

The Corsnder in Chief Ut-est asked for an imnzsdiate decision on the

foregoin
on

the

report of 22 Janury, in answer to vhich "a.directiv was neceived

folridng day.

_While

the

dtspeiticn of force vie apoved, th

bumiry between Lrq Group TwsdArty Group W@14#Orth

to Urn south since
that peiut.

fore

the

enem'

aOrchols

troops from AiGru

defense line ve to

be rein-

. Owlg the keakdovs

production, the supery of ammuition oct43 nt beicr aed.

to

b hite

sin effort would prob~bly bedirected at

the sector 1Wosl gap

by infatr

was to

fe
Toed byutilising fores from less hard-pres

ellEhl's.

Rnnffs were

se ators of

the

front.

The

forrtngk

t'the

demand for .4, 500 cubic

ate.t

jdre

lowereil by rkeshlf ',easures

lent

B~ach

t*

the ezeeption

trptnsfer to the

nt

to he-

were accepted,

n st

Th.e requfired division

the Wtnrt Arm7.

Jamara new Fuehrer directiv

OnU

units tr nsr

cons;uro

"aul

of the 1$9th Infntry flhviston,.

would haeto betken from

the

as the use of trailers and the cdoy.-

h beer. swfged for

which Md

The uite

of taol for

A rrrised, rentals Et icn a to betmcitted.

of horse-drawn vehiolos.

with

meters

ws" issued.

Gena bridgeheads

at the Pr would have to beeliminated before the eney could begin an

ast

offensive

the !-ur

Cologne and

Theer, the right

dIrtriot.

win of Army Group T would have to defend itself as long as possible

forward of

the lbw

The

River.

defense

of these

bridgeas wrruld fore

the enem into new attacks end regroupings which would consume further
time.
?egtnning onthe

evening

b. transferred to the Vienn

In the area Vienna

a.

request of 24 Jeax7.
fue be

been .iiaaned

divisiaon

Army

eo n

wue

e.

Ooe.*wg

COhf

at

-Bratislava.

reoeived

The ponsibility ofbrinn

The orde

pseiateyt

0roup 0 was cancelled.

by the CaMer in Chic? Vest

pr

The corps was to assemble

area as Of reserve.

Ujenr Wunt dt

L&Entbe

25

Corp was to

of 24 Jarnasry, the I 05 r aer

was

tob

forward

to hts
iio

transfer on infant

In addition,
occuie

areply

the

3Ine prpo

only uner

stron

en

?;.C

the Moer an3

7h4ery had establIshed a new detenso front tflon

:oth t

rera .

1nc8.e t;ont

forces tualoh

of or

rution

at that time schmbdled- for

were

futur sin defense psitions, the

in the

cessation of a ttaoks

were

out

to be arrid

by

the

of

the 25th 'anner

25 Janunry

W oet in. importanc

"ivisiort

rdier

sw

reserves to

laoe.

lowr

ti

the

Tr-oans

in reeordsnoo with orders received

Ixmnedatel

odr in Chicf lont.

a~s

tmsn sr

ordered cn

?herr

'oes and

lower

wol

ow nttk

to

the

mtstern

thn

Wt'

tranisfer

Front. The 6th 3

Yautain Oiriion was to be etploy~d in the noutains.

on
. j n
Any7 in

a directive ws to bay

rhef

wt

reports was rcie.Th.

onthe situt

division

had been badly

hnin

woldma
'4ur

beully intact,

that

with

was never signed.

it

wind

winter

fighting

the 'olksgndifr

after each Volks nier

about five hWired anin

bad. aeta2
several division

Janmry, only

bee b ht upto st rngh. Purw

of only a fow
wld .ist

troop., *nsts their ariler ar suBpply uitis woIu

A

rerrzatio

combin-ous ad transfer rpla

bad been taxed t

'vo

veakened.

had been replenished

fou or five battalions

loas

4e-0O0menin

Panzer

:frt

enin the panzr an pmsergrnaier divi.ott.

divisions and 2-3,C30

it Pantry

but

t oftn

afternoon*_the

had rslted in ert avene losse of

The

sent to the

its flow withdrawal,

order toaccelat

Ormfxe= , ithe

been

as urgsitly reuied. Isite

their apacity bythe Ardenne

had already, been taken for

necessary

to wete stil

providing shot perid

it

i,

of.
The tryqi

AM all

"meesures

of reailitation

P C--0O2O

11

Courses of ins~truction had been increased

in trainingt.

to

counteract a growing decline

The requirements for 1'a&d weatpons, sew,-aitomtic rirles,

and heavy antiaircraft guns had increased.

NIow

that tanks and assault

guns Were- again being supplied to the hest, rather than to the
su"^ply of spare parts had again become of great importance.
of the hore

had deteriorated, althouuh tre

.et, the

The condition

was sufficient fodder.. The

clothing situation was serious.

on 27 J nuar an order was issued for the transfer of the 25th Panzer,uehrer brigades to the Tottbus

grenadier Division and two

--

1'arkfort on

the Oder area, and of the 27th and 28th 58 Volunteer Grenadier Divisions
to the Protectorate, in that

order.

The Coimander in Chief West

was

authorimed to withdraw from the thinly held Ill River line to a chard posih
tion between the Ill and !Rhine flivers and behind the Rhine as soon as the
defense was prepared.
bridg, at Rreisach.

A ferry would have to be operated in addition to the

The

construction of a cable railway was to be considered.

A further order assigned the above-named units to the Army General Staff,
with the 1Fiebrer reserving the right to order their assembly and

on the ssmo day,

27 Jarnary, the

of the J'nehrerts permission

held

for

commitment.

Commander in Chief West was informed

Army Group G to assume control. of the seater

until then by frm Oroup Upper

.hne. The

staff of

.rygroup
Upper

Rhino was to be transferred imeiately .to Army Group Viat l.I

reply

to

the request of the Oomnrder in Chief West, the Fizebrer approved the with.*
drawl of the right wing of the Nineteenth Army. At the

same time, the

eo~nder in Chief West was to examine whether the course of the front hold

?A

12

by Iitee nth

Army

line

ance to the

purpose

For this

advroinz the. wriin

coc3 be troveb
o'h1ettstst

the

a-

-"rkirob

6th

Cal tu tonhotizxa

2 Muntain ttvbsion would bemove.

n2? Janur the Comin~der in Chief' w.ent

nent

and

two light

cable

An order for the

20

Janear after the

The mroh had

of

the motorized

d, sd12th

let,

th motoent

that three r'

over the Rhine, and

bulk of these

that

beer celayed by lack

anreoy

units nso east of the Ous

of fuel,

air attacks, b

River.

Wather,

and

a short rtabiltation. Onl

of the 25th ?ausorgrmadie Division proceeded without inter

no tine for rehabilitation after arrival in

4. Yrtreaees9 _bn

th

.#'

the new

aMen
on the-ChamnnelIg

and Febur no mjor attackz were wde,

out in as -effort to bsores suples

ted

for by aflowing

assembly area.
n's

although Gen

During

raVa

January

were carred

wes sontiue. At the

were still $,50 perso atLoettren

e nsuation of theUcvlan popualation

binn of the year there

original popultion of 55,000 person.

in Rasaireo

where teterritory bad been

Another 15,00 perons were stl

extended.

bein on. 1 Janury. At La toohelU thee were still

na 43,00

prso.

Powr,

wood,

rvauation was
39,50

and ration= were stfll:

to

from an orgi-

furnished by the

enetw.

t t ronde.4?ort 6,50 person rsined from the origiel

tion

21.0-70 pars ons.

of

forcan wes ibsed -on

rption. Te lose of time. woulA have to be opa

Th.

up.

SS$ Panzer Division had

and bed been further postponed b

poor roads,

Us 7alttn.

a's1ined.

ewtic

been puled out and the

of resist.-

red

mail.ways were avat hble

been

furtther oqinet had

Uin

populw-

1s

-020-23

.~y

123-r

it was

Ocasionally

to suprl1y

possible

the fortresses by

means

of

small boats from the coast of Sp~ain.

ix.

2il

ft I;

W'~I~E
MF~1
n1T PT!

TrAT

TIT,'~

(30 JA

L1.ARY
-

FPN~A~r)

The VAin ~rnt g,

I,

Patton vas

not

expected

(Army Group B and

A'rmy

ry Group G)

to form a reserve force;

apparently

Group

trasit

personnel

were being, ueed for that 'repose.

On I

attacks

ebrxr strong en~

against the

and

?ifth

Fifteenth

Panzer Armies (Army Group B) were continued as on the preceding day,, although not in like force. The Fifth Panzer ).my was forced to withdraw
into the area immediately in front of the yoatwall.

were still

Reserve

being transferred but progress was gnerely. slow.' Tb. Fuhrer's Infantry
Brigade,

however, had

already

reached

the

Rhine River.

In the sector held by Ary Group G the enemy had widened his salient

The great

in the direction of 3relsaoh, forcing the Germans to w itbdraw.

bend in the front still had a diameter of thirty-two kilometers.
of the front

southern secto

on

wader

7 b

Uthe

tas only localized fighting.

a decision by the ) t zhr

in Chief Wst:

Although the

weakened by the release of

ws transmitted to th Corns

First AM

.frot h4d

the 10th and 21st SS Panzer

been, onidersbly

Divisions and other,

units, It ws still stronger than befo r the Gemni attac 9

ing sore stdogl

0JI8 troops

held

sections

of

On the

the

front

were to be utilised ira order to

Troops occupy-

were, to be spread

out end

coensate for the lost personnel.

14

V 0320

,.124..

Later, the 11th 'nzer'

was to 're nhiftd trw the mnost ennBred

iion

sector of the front.

served

ettall ntill1
4oissrmiaoka, the *s

Ith

sectfor betwen Ilonaohu sn

as 4

line of sup ort, ahle north of

o4)5$hSu it

i00s

This

lackig.

ade necessary the shifting of reserves to the rear of Fifteenth Army(,

Fuel

could be rroidd only

of the F

deer

On 2

for tanks and artillery

MyCieft

trr as noted

(in accordance with

ekrsoht Opention

Staff ).

eb~'~ enem intentions were dscloed Wthe transfer of

All of the midget submarnes had returned

another division to Lisa...

The enemy now pushed forward btwee the Yati

but without success.

an

the

t a

B.

Attacks continued agaist the left wtnj of the fteenth Army end the

Fifg

rivers.

strong air attacks were carried out against Arm Group

?aenser Ary, forctng

atwittbdranl

near Wsnsehu and

at seven], other.

points. All along the front the enemy had advaned as far as the outpost
area of the Wetwall,

It rermined aquestion of whether the enmy woul

stop or attempt to nen tnte into the Westwl,

I the sector )teld by A

had fored a salient

Group Gthe

there was a Germ

alient

in which the 70$th Isiatry Division. fought, haced up by the 24

Mlona

extendig amst t

Dv sott

B einedh.

To the

atl23l5ho rs the

eat

Conae

rn

Chief Vest

report

thit,.

in the sectr MR by First Army, fourteen fuleeydivsions (not.

lu strdn GH

forces) wore fced by thirtee a

German divisions, the CJ

olt!-

one-half badly weakened

troops of which had been sharly reducs

by

Q
transfers

-125-

to Army (-rox

*a siftd btn

h v etom, the

th~ rost andangre

11th ?an o TNi~ten could not

secttofl

off

the

7rrtt Army

f11ront

ntil after the a rrirf of t'he 256th Volksrensdier T1,iv-sion at the

~t lesst tn ttys wrfld

Orchols switch ridtion.

movneet,

The

spread over a

troovnz

oooupiet eotrn

hot-ing ti~

mrater area.

In ehiftiwn

Army, whic received preference end

ressrvss to

coul

the rear

tononal
.nnterrupted

Thet lack

nov Increased

of fue,

by the ccnrniton

On2 n

an intercepted

or their. ehicle were bing~ue

Armo red Division wes trasferd

Lively

Lieg area.

artiller

of tfel

to supply nnuition,~ The hS. B..

lel

from the
firs continue

in

switch position

the

seator

ood wear

wes aided

eiet

n"aeosay to comatt cu

draws from the

estnfl

sta we vtthdn

in

).

e cosqet
of th

at Trrat

fight~csre

Loahia e

. due

t th

held byArm

!tlich

ett'ok.
area.

The

for the Weet.al resulted in several pmeationsm.

Farthe fightin

to be

is order to

uwed

oving

in

that all

ritieh reite inessavy rprtd

7n movewmts were carried out in the Roe

Group

Fifteonth

of

suprviion b

Group ii, either a a means of deception or in prepartie orre

Re

not be

the oomar4.

easrro takensb

S3 divisons, seriously hndicaed .11

enq

for thi

o-r in Cbief Wet, fuel was mmvalable oven for tanks eansrtfl-

the C
lery.

be. reqaired

heavy air support.

It wes

12th Velbgremir Division.

the

and. to

south,

save strength.

sea resere

Torooo were with'.

?h. 3d Parachute Divi-

fore*,

fightin took place in ths entor held by frt m

JAru (Army

There wes heavy fighting only whore the front followed a bead

the fuse. After the

lose orColen,

the

main line of resistanc

rn

l&.

C?
P020
easwrlalovg the

ld

Souathwest

reruted inthe nrxc:ot' the It z tinor

numbered 74500

*r

thr :hie, the enarrys

Plo ts,

'Alinteeanh

Artj now

men.

?ightngj on the southern front was wetker.

The enemy

press announced

vinjor attac?'

a Tht the heart of&oaty

in prepairation for which trmnches in the frnt wore to beuzade.

O4 IDSMaL th

American

were reprtd

have teen mking

rapid

Aceuntera.tt ok was considered in view

prgrss intheir concentration.

of the importance of thRXoar

to

Tirf dams.

It was important that the

At

onsy be prevented from floing the earroundng area,

the same tme,

our own mesurs in that direction, if taken at a strategic time would do

much to banner the en.w's moment. Attacks continue along the

it the south we limited to localized fighting.

while action

Weatall,

!rsite

enas air attacks, the situation with re 'ard to brtdg-r reined unchanged.

The bridge at faunheim wes

even in use

again.

Thle bad weather was expected

to oontinu40

In the sector of Arm

roup (I a countorattack was launched agafint

th section of the frost running along the ben in the

sitat.on

teet

fores the 3ermns

Army.

Onl

of rforcs tere..
on 4y
opi non
Beckinge

to

giv, ground

a thin tine as
An enemy

in

the

hine.

A tense

sector held byJine-

Md in the Ver

after thwidr

enetration as made north of )4ulhus.

the Coane in Chief We t as ordered to express hi.

an intended adntce of the main line of resistance betweed

and F-crbah designed to permit the sheet iron works at iflinge

-127-

C~~~g~

to

resme

Gn'man war

East.

These

operation.

wks wore of sneotal inportance to the

in the

conomy bocause of the ieVe1ormant, of the sitstior

Three divisions were avdl at:xle

for the

above nurpose after the

lsaco bridgBehead.
ithdnrawl of the A&

On

'Comnader

the

7 retr'y

in Chief '.vest reporte

thit

in his

advance of the mnln line

opinion existing conditions did not warmrnt the

of resistant., In view of the tnpewing enemy attck aainst the Rhine

Palatinate, the divisions vithdrawn from the Alan. bridehad as well

pivision wold be needed there.

as the 11th Pnicr

and the chairmn of the

On

since

iron works

sheet

the

was

till.

present

oeblig

ersienmtra

Oberreiohaleiter
.ion,
srmmentc

to

the opinion that it was better to maintain the

frnt,

Rlher shared
the

situation at

capable of limited prodution.

tbraefon, the Coisader in Chief Wt was informed that

ebr nny

the prposed attack

would be postponed.

Heavy bomts dropped on Ijmuiden in Holland on 5 February did only

little

On

damage.

m
ten klo

fers into the Dritish hes

for ettaek.

For that rean,

Furthr American

ls

5 Thbrustry reconaiesanee

ite

or

.an

eva

penetrated sight to

but did at notice ny preparations

ofnsuive

against Holland

into the Anaw

area.

was tot exeted.

The

.$.. 85th

Infotry Division as brought foand. Into the sector opposite First

An attake
etm

by forty American and Dritish divisions was epcted.

appehad a. far

The Voglag

seth.

An honorary title

ts

wilost.

the

rf dam and reached the oatudrt

Generafly,

combat was localized.

conferred upon distinguished financiers.

amy.
iThe'

of Sched
Germnan

swum
units

reserw

to the kry

back
was
to

he 16th

were teing shifted.*

C'rour bo'.rndar,

forty kilmeters to the south.

as

do available

the

south, the

5th Paniear fuvsion #rm u

ankenheb,

the AMy

of

the Panze

the 2d Panzer

nmy ponetntion

been withdrawn fro

secti.on of the

bond in

were

the front h

Fiwhgr bigades

asse

The

as

o1mr.

16th

ed

near

Nieu

7Voflgnadier

The southwstern

On the

coast, Punkirk and

fire.

aml their

assigned units were reogaised

that

hdban mado re

13.

the .numq as still

ba e abrdite

wns net yet

ehortsed.

hevy antitank battalions

toAr Grou

Dy
Ls
Army'

dtiuIoas

.1to e

were

two

Division Fuic th

also

the 17osges mountains.

Lorient were bombanded by artillery

Th.

ii-

the enem's new interes in the

1ressob. Two village were lest south of Colaer.

Diviin bad

r*w

the Ger a force were withdrawin in

The eornitment of the U.*S. 12th Armored

Army in'flnted

th. f ront.

Adjoinig

Gou.

t he rear.

from

the face of further endm attacks.

Division against Ilineteetli

It I Corps

of, the

a~heid, ware arted. The

the#eob of Arm Grouy

tern sector

heaquarters .

headquarters of the mxvii Carm,

9t Paser Division, situatednear

The

nivision LoU

"~nvreresdier

an operations staff for

sion, arching from fttbr to

15th

while the

rtv'is ion moved closer

"ne

Eto )

net

erb1 Unt

ready
t~

to attarh*

th

aag

The U4.. Ninth

of this

.ES 10st Airborne Division asaparny

brcsa
. Iat by l i audse
, b keer
ganda
n to
in the effech that Genny
a g r sh rds

measure

employd

bn

-1,29-

VS 4;gC-020e19

together in comon cuse ith the Anl .o-Lerioasa atanst the Ihuaians.

*zy Groen3

Inte

back V the

outskirts

already

while

arrived,

of resiatanne bad been

tank

and 5chleiden.

The shifting

of

those

of Arm Group

The shifting

reach.!.

In the En tncth

coata d.

spearheads bya thrut

T b.

west of ?lulhouse.

13were

still in transit.

sector at the bend of the Rhin the now mai line

In the Army Gop

stiln

of Geuaw

was progressing wel; the reaorve forces assigned to Arm Group1

reserve
had

wtern

attacks yizrnseei tho Germans

area, further- enem

Arty sector

the

had united hits

ener

and tohaws

south of Colmar

Front

of turdts to the 'sen

the north fra

bulk of the 16th Volksgea dler Division had sues

eoded in crossing the I

was wit .nvnw to the Rhine

.4ver.

'From

there, the

vain

Th, bridg,

thes aal.

of

in,

at

resistarwe

W~isohn

completely desoihd
On
c

k ja

r1

the Commnder in Chief West subaitted a repmtb the

ntis? of Army Grou 33o the reasons for the lon of

and the high ground near flreiborn.

attack
la

bad been

do against a thl

Toges

It wan .xp ~ine4 that a skillful night

and rear

bnset.

Lack of fuel lad prevete

meatof nsorvs to restore the situie.

agretd that this

Lfr

The C

the Gersa

the rapid uwn..

or in Che West

stback wa not te result of, negligence bythe

lan action at this tie

On

aoidaDy

held Geimn security line.

artillery ad tank fire, the e em had penetrated as firs

ppoitio

Castle

rd

s not effective eying to bad eather..

th bouwlry of the Amrican Ninth Anmy

further to the north, indicating that aene

s shifted

thrust was Ii nent.

Gensual

1t3

-130
.O..

1 -2

tad~er'

armty was

bowztary.

to

provide cover,

Yirhting oetinu&

An attt&o wtas ade smuth

near

wcndtnrth

oi

the sector near

The =nser Lehr tivision occiio

the

5th

where the ene#my

a oioo

The

withdrew to a nov amn line of rartanco.

unfavorable owing largely to the small 31z. of the Oem

elrn

afly dan,

'u

hn the Schneeifol the enemy conttnusd to press forward anti

as repulsed.
the German

of the army

Parachute fltvieion turned off

wGrn reserves ad bees suoeesfrfl.

towards
The

situetion

The

force.

,rm

Attempts

nweto

was

to tie

eevsit

Ntd weather permitted transport

Juelc . Pusnn area had been delayd

to conti nu during daylight.

It was

interded

t raffic movement in
of the 0KW,

that

After

the West.

it westopped because

nantier in Chief

arcall was to

eneraldiral
the

sunervise

all

order had bensigned by the Chief

of the personal opposition

of

the Corn#.

of the avy.

After a. long lull, aknother

attack was

Alsace

ao in lower

RfZainst

the sector held byArM Group G. righting continued near Portach.

The

vtbdrawal of liineteenthkAn to the nnat we carried out with fair

suces. Oupo
Neu

treisset

still roaind

were rem.ee.

Th. fortress of tne

impending dfens,

wes attnded
of

the

by the

in the

fonard area.

Attacks arw

Sufficiet tr~ge equi st

t we unr

wa available.

stroa artllery tire.

a meetaing was held

to

as revred bythe

discus prepration for th

orin

Chir efWt. th

ev of Anmy lrouqw Ul &nd 13 ext

'Fifth and Wjftnt Panzer A&rmie

eet

the cowandors

aw! of the pratute snry.

#ZCeZf41
Tj oriculr attention ws aid to the srio w lack of'. uel. which
th

rapid svcent of

ronorvea,

It

coribt

d ere'o

conition of the troep,

CroupZ the fats~e

Mia,.

the

was r-Atrod

am'

ire

strength :]P

th

and

Anry

g'rnerfl drop

out that every -office Rn enlisted

mae to realte the serf'Als s Ituation at ho

preoted
in

m uat beo
t and)t

in the ;a

r~noea of holding out Uatfl the ed

hbruarv an intercepted radio assagBe made it certain that the

On ft

Anris teea

twere

-concetratng their

main effort near fliera

Sinee thze Ditish were mo careful to aint ain

*oilAb learned of their

intention

Aulich.

radio ditciplne, nothing

peration originating in the

nr

E~ohmal islands could not becompleted owing to weather oitions.

Ta Cnglend 250,00 nan were organised. into new division., adding to

the fore

divisions

already

They

tiere,

would

not beready for actio

before Jne.

The

AMricn Ninth ArCr bad concentrated, although soe elements were

still missing.

Locl reserves appering in norther

begining ofe ajor

ably

already started

to
ite

opeation. The
to

disecoed

where the

main line

t teasern line of the Wetwel. I

the Wiot. Th 21anser Divisio wes
&t Ar
?ightin

roup 0 the sitiatiec

contine .+whr

forces

the

indicated

in Alsaca ba

rb'

withdraw.

the sector bold bvy Armo Grou

cbceeei

lsaoe

the

fi'ont

fighting cotimd at Z.eaddt at

of risa

e ha benpse

reiner

tied up by

back

eng.o
the action

near rorbe a straightened out apgain.

turI2d

at

the Rhine.

rineteent

12

St 4)2
Aywithdrew to the ?AnlIt caa while the exnmy
Trr trio across the, ?ieuburg bridge proceede

Om3-9

gbr

the J*2-*

over their seotor east of Rerr

their XU Corps,

and

to

only

leaving

on frittsb

major attack vis to taks place

ffurther

oatmt

airborne

t diffitflty.

wt

. Fri th save
the Amrioatw, thereby relwdng

denty

of

hesitantly.

attacked slone.

Corp

11

ooe

rt

corps at the f ront.

oth siloe

troops at the f ront

L!vi.

The

of Venle.

ado an air ladin

improbable,.
n
:Since

the Army Group 0 sector

local reserves

were

corned possible that te

area.

It is

attok

the

the

betng employed

7 Corp.

disengaged.

in the Tint Army rectr, it

nontnated in the

Corps would ke

XXt

was being

aguemu

would be used to

also possibe that the Trench di iin

Girond fortresses.

After being

assigned the

toecuth Arm assumed

headquarters of XV~t

south of Ryweet, the

the W.

depth of 5 kiters+.
WIntry Tavisie.

pierce

the btnaer with pecil

ie,

meicanmade en attacok betwes

to a

driving a wedge through the ii..

Thanp

attask s made

Sinc ne reimet of the

the 84th

saw

6th ratnate

been brougt forear, reserves were anflable. Zverythisg

Divisiobd
w

quiet in

the sectr of the 'tfteenth Ary.

per

bs

to shipping wern recliWd.

rre am s o f dr

the $ee ad

the like-

over the Upper Rhines.

co

An enemy raid against IJwide

At Cnbsr,

SIS Corps,

measures carried out at this taim,

-I.,

se under 12 Fobntry.

0m2

I A'

Ithe Army Group , see r _lOhJdt wn- 1ost av

two

t 08MK hours at order w

kilo ete-s9.

am.

Valley

eirmeoted

This actin ws

o'-i,

the

to f'lood

rivnoed

the eney

to

':how

It

w the

for from ton

e~re

to

twe1ve days.

On 9 Terayt

Co

in Chief -etriorte

ade

ait 2315

enway offensive wuld not platit the use of foroes

that the irmpeudtn

to reain lot sections

of

A redistribuitio

the W'twll.

wori2A only enble the enemy to gain around at other pot

goal

ws to prevent an enewq brk-thro

'the C - ner inChief
corrections

lool

to reaot quicayk

hours

N!est

.in the frnt a~nd to

*a

The mi

for permission

ased

of foros

to

m~ake

necessry

order short wit daw3. in order

bnolr ws assured

any gimer eituation. The

tt

this would occur only when absolutely necessary in order to mintain the

nl

of the front.

cottity

tter

atotun~ operations, it was

of the Y ebrer would benecesr.

understootd that the perissio

Chief

Othe eavnntn of 10 '.bra ry the Condoi

word

that the

sent* in

f&ehrer had

*Tbe enaW

my beable to

On 1 Nbwuaw te

tthis effeot to the army

I

neeifel.

the oews

may t'

apture a town or. a line of

byassault, but these may nem be

the P eawew.C

On

bin erission to umeke liited ajust-

the front line but that he w3s not alloed. to evacuate

or -foititioatioe.
Viners

meated

Went receive

tvouae
aeept

by order #

wein Chief Wet Issued an order

gpou esindrs.
penetrated the socond Westial in in the

The 2d 1Panser Tivision was otted

there, while the

-134-.
324th Infantry 'ivinion. was tshifted to the
the

s tzation

The

was

ntb near

similar.

the

withdrawal of army. Group 0 across

sanctioned.

Yost

DT~nsheidt where

Rhine hsd now

been

of the armiy's heavy equipment had already been

moved

across the river.

The prsence of

the French

Group

pwerermitted

Ahy

1rgstein and

fleet at Touilon was ascertained.

In cking this decision,, the

asenfeld.

between
Cemander in

toe'nut. the bridgehead

rhef

WEst considered that the inceted ground at the rear of the bridgehead
mght make a later cincuation

On

,})

iti h

two.:

Femsn

more difficult.
divisions

attacked

di vicious were held in reserve near Venlo,

east of Ni jnege.

Probably the enwg had an

additional three infantry divisions and three a~rmored divisions.

enemy

divisions were

moved

bombing destroyed soe of our heavy

weld.

F'ight

continued

German torces wre

now

Cle've

guns.

Fifty to

and other forces

in the

sixty

enuia

penetrated

tanks broke

River.

prepared defense positions.

pressed back to the

w
the en pessed

saturation

into the IReiche-0

Sobneeitel and along the Sauer

attark was made near Ifalental, while

awre serious as

Fifteen

into the Aacohen area.

Fighting continued between the reuase and amhie ?Livers where

through the line west of

Three

north

of 'ruem the

closer to the road.

The
An

situztien grew

Heavy fishting

was

reored at ohtemeaeh.
On the

:r~ Group 0

area south of M~uhoue.

front the 1.

Girmn

supply

ZXCorps

trains

was being

shifted to the

were :harassed by air attack.