Western Europe: von Schlieben's battle reports for Cherbourg for June 23/24, harbour...

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1944 June 24

Western Europe: von Schlieben's battle reports for Cherbourg for June 23/24, harbour destroyed on 23rd, main defence line broken on 24th when fall of Cherbourg was imminent, 10 days later than the Allies had planned its capture, another complaint about poor standard of his troops who were no longer capable of battle; 2 more battle reports from von Schlieben earlier on June 24; arrangements being made on June 23 for Cherbourg to be reinforced during night of June 23/24 by airborne landing of one regiment and arrival by sea of a grenadier regiment; reply from von Schlieben giving site for paradrop and discussing feasibility of troop reinforcement by sea; 7th Army intentions for units of 84th Army Corps and 2nd Parachute Corps as at June 22, first evidence that a battle group of 266th Division from north Breton coast was operating against Allies south of Cherbourg Peninsula; Allied losses in Normandy by June 20 according to a German report of June 22; situation report for France, including troop movements, for June 17, evidence that elements of 2nd SS Panzer Corps and 9th SS Panzer Division, both of which were transferred to Russian Front in March, were arriving in France via railway station at Nancy.

Southern Europe: 162nd Division near Italian west coast south-west of Siena, doubtful on June 23 whether it could hold line for long in view of its very exhausted state.

Naval Headlines: detailed report on German evacuation of Cherbourg and destruction of port facilities there June 22-24; summary of U-boat operations in the Channel.

Japanese Foreign Minister, Tokyo: report of June 16 to all Japanese embassies and political representatives abroad giving propaganda line to be followed on US air raid on Japan from China on June 16; report of June 17 sent to Japanese ambassador in Moscow on party given by Foreign Minister for Soviet ambassador to Japan who was returning home for up to 3 months, much discussion on state of Soviet/Japanese relations.

Japanese ambassador, Vichy: report of June 20 on information gained from German sources on aspects of Normandy landings.

Portuguese chargé, London: report of June 21 on results of V-1 attacks against London.

Portuguese minister, Ankara: report of June 21 on talks with Spanish minister who had recounted discussions he had had with German ambassador in Ankara, German fears of occupation of Turkey by Allies.

Romanian minister, Berlin: report of June 21 on Allied retaliatory attacks against Berlin that day for the V-1 attacks against London.

Brazilian minister, Berne: report of June 16 on Swiss contingency measures following presence of German divisions near Swiss frontier and movement of German deserters into Switzerland.

Chilean ambassador, London: report of June 20 on results of V-1 attacks against London.

Brazilian ambassador, London: report of June 20 on results of V-1 attacks against London.

Dominican minister, London: report of June 21 on German V-1 attacks.

Spanish minister, London: report of June 20 on results of V-1 attacks.

Turkish military attaché, Madrid: report of June 20 quoting information from a German source on Germany's future tactics in the war and strength of Allied divisions in UK and Mediterranean area.

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Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description