SECRET

TRANSLATION OF GERMAN DOCUMENT

CONFIDENTIAL 

Teletyper: Commanding General, XXV Corps

3 August 44
0416 hrs

PTO: 266 Inf Div

Chief OKW/WFSt (Chief of Joint Planning Staff), orders as of 1 Aug 44: 

                I.).  Developments on the invasion front necessitate the employment of the last available man and every available piece of equipment.
 

        1.)  The Fuehrer has empowered the Chief of Operations in the west:

                        a.) For the deense against all attacks from the area bordered by the SEINE river (including Greater PARIS) – FONTAINEBLEAU – ORLEANS – to the mouth of the LOIRE river, to gather and commit all available forces and materials of the armed forces and Waffen SS, the units not included in the armed forces, the party (National Socialist) and civilians employed by the Army.

                        b.) to expand over all of FRANCE, the “combing out” process (reclassification of physically defective personnel) which was already started in PARIS.  The General Staff of the Army details to the Chief of Operations in the West.

Special Staff OKH I.

        2.) In order to strengthen the fighting fronts, even Security units (Sicherungs Einheiten) must be committed, even if they are engaged elsewhere.
 

                (II.)  To carry out above mentioned orders in paragraph I, it is to be noted:  All armed personnel, no matter which branch of the service or to which unit they belong, are to be committed as a unit.  This should not endanger the functioning of naval forces and their rear services and the functioning of the air force.  The order for the availability of naval and air forces is to be left with the Chiefs’ of these branches.
 

                (III).  These lines should be followed in the employment of above mentioned units:

        1.) It should be avoided that inexperienced or even insufficiently trained troops are thrown into battle.  For this reason all suitable army and air forces will be concentrated toward the main effort near AVRANCHES and coastal sectors in NORMANDY and BRITTANY.  The gaps thus created will be filled by naval and air force personnel.  If in spite of this order larger formations of these reinforcements are ot available, it is at least advisable that Replacement Bns be formed.  This would especially apply to security units.

The gaps created here are to be filled by reclassified physical defective personnel.

The Chief of Operations in the West has ordered that in face of the immediate danger in BRITTANY these orders be carried out immediately by the XXV Corps.  

Order No 2 

        II.)  All three branches of service fighting in Brittany under the command of General Fahrmbacher have the mission to prevent the advance of the enemy against the fortresses and to withdraw into the fortresses proper only under the pressure of superior forces.  The fortresses bust be held.
 

        III.)  These are the orders for future operations:

                1.)  Fortresses and defensive areas in the Corps sector will be defended decisively.

                2.)  Troops outside the fortresses must delay the advance of the enemy.  They will only retreat into the fortresses in face of superior forces upon the order of their sector commanders.  Individual units will retreat into the following fortresses:
 

        St Malo :  Combat Commandant of Dinan, Regt. HQ x.b.v (7 Para Reft)- 2 with the III btry of the 2 Para Arty Regt, Security Bn 1220, I bn of the 852 Inf Regt, Btry “Bischoff”, end bn – 266 Arty Regt with Hq Btry and 7^th Btry, Alarm Bn 266 (Hq, 9^th Co – 897 Inf Regt and 9^th Co – 899 Inf Regt), 3^rd btry – assualt Gun Brigade 341, remnants of the military command in DINAN (Civil affairs troops, military police etc.)
 

        Brest :  Staff of 266 Inf Div, 266 Eng bn (Hq and 2^nd Co), 266 Sig Bn, 266 Military Police and G-2 Section, 266 Field Replacement Bn, 15^th (A/T) Co – 899 Inf Regt, Hq and Hq Co – 899 Inf Regt.
 

        Lorient :  2^nd Bn Hq – 896 Inf Regt with 6 and 8 Cos.
 

                3.)  Troops which are unable to reach the fortresses due to great distances or for other reasons are to be concentrated in strongpoints.  The latter are to be defended in the same manner as fortresses.
 

                5.)  The following are responsible for the conduct of oeprations:

                        a.)  In St Malo area east of the Rance River: Col Bacherer West of the Rance River:  Commandant of Fortress St Malo.

                        b.)  In Brest area: C.G. 343 Inf Div.

                        c.)  In Lorient area: C.G. 265 Inf Div.
 

                6.)  In order to delay the approach of motorized enemy columns road blocks must be erected and bridges destroyed behind the retreating troops.  All supplies of military importance to the enemy must be destroyed.

        IV.)  All units mentioned in III/2 under St Malo are until further notice under the command of C.O. Regt Hq z.b.v. (7 Para Regt), -2 Para Div.

        V.)  2^nd Bn – 896 Inf Regt will proceed to Fortress Lorient.  If for any reason the Bn should not be able to reach the fortress, it will try to fight its way to Brest. 

Signed Spang, Genlt

From another document similar to the one above, issued by the XXV Corps, the following additional information was obtained: 

The C.G. of the 265 Inf Div is also in command of the area St Nazaire. 

For conduct of operations around the approaches of Fortress Lorient Col Haversang is made responsible. 

Forces occupying the islands, (Ouessant, Croix, Belle Ile), minus the units designated for employment on the mainland, will remain there.  Missions as before. 

In order to gain time for the preparations for the defense of the fortress it is necessary to prepare for a long defense in advanced positions. 

                        Translated 

TWX from Army Group B to XXV Corps (CONFIDENTIAL) 4 Aug 44 

Subject: Operations in Brittany 

The Commanding Admiral of the Atlantic Coast agrees to the following directives:

During operations in Brittany naval installations deemed absolutely essential must not be abandoned but are to be defended as strongpoints. 

                        Extraction from TWX to 266 Inf Div 

Destruction of small harbors with the exception of LEZARDRIEUX, BENODET, TRINITE, CONCARNEAU is permitted with consent of the respective nabal commanders.

Signed Posaune, C o S

                        Extraction of TWX from 266 Inf Div to XXV Corps

                                SECRET                              5 Aug 44 

5.)  Component units of the division: 

                Hq and Hq Co – 899 Inf Regt

                3 bn – 899 Inf Regt – without 9^th Co

                13 Co (Inf How)

                Remnants of 14 Co (A/T)

                15 Co (A/T Co)

                629 Russian Bn  
 

                Regtl Staff Pontrieux

                Russian bn III/M

                Russian bn 635 (Hq and 2 Cos)

                11 Co – 897 Inf Regt

                1272 Coastal Arty Bn (without guns)
 

                Hq and Hq Btry – 266 Arty Regt

                Bn Hq Ott with 3 and 4 Btrys – 266 Arty Regt
 

                Hq 266 Eng Bn with 2^nd Co
 

                HQ 266 Sig Bn with 1^st and 2^nd Cos
 

                Divisional Supply troops 

                                Translation

TWX from XXV Corps to 266 Inf Div, dated 5 Aug 44 

PAINPOL and LEZARDRIEUX must be held as long as possible by order of the OKW (Supreme High Command), because needed for supply of Channel Islands. Troops occupying these ports will only retreat in face of superior enemy forces. 

Signed XXV Corps, c o S

TWX from POSAUNE to 266 Inf Div, dated 7 Aug 44

                                CONFIDENTIAL

Admiral of Atlantic Coast announces that according to Sea Commandant in Brittany FT – 1705/35 V – 4 – 8 Battery PAINPOL was demolished by order of the division. 

Immediate explanation to Army Corps Posaune (Probably XXV Corps), C o St. 

Extract from secret document pertaining
To Brest area from 266 Inf Div
To XXV Corps

5 Aug 44

        4.)  Difficulties : Signal Communications, Supply (great lack on fuel and flour), strong terrorist – and guerrilla activities in the whole sector. 

Translated by VIII Corps, AC of S, G-2
Order of Battle Team #23