France: 84th Corps reported strained fuel situation, supply journeys and evacuation...

HW 1/3171

1944 Aug 13

France: 84th Corps reported strained fuel situation, supply journeys and evacuation of wounded reduced, left wing of main defence line withdrawn south of Vire; 47th Corps supply situation critical, moving to area south west of Argentan; Allies broken through south east Aunay, 276th Division orders to hold everywhere; 66th Army Corps being withdrawn from Clermont-Ferrand; CinC West anticipation of Allied intention to envelop 5th Panzer Army and 7th Army by northward thrust from Le Mans area and southward thrust to Falaise, reinforced Parachute Regiment being brought up to south flank; GAF fighters in France informed Army shifting main defence effort to area north of Le Mans; 3rd Air Corps anticipated large scale guerrilla operation in south of France, strike of rail and industrial workers in Paris broken by German counter measures; 116th Panzer Division on move towards Alencon, Aug 12, line of Panzer Lehr Division from Villaine to Condé, with right neighbour 708th Infantry Division, left neighbour 9th Panzer; CinC West orders for boundaries for 5th Panzer Army, 7th Army and 1st Army; ration strengths of 2nd Panzer Division and 116th Panzer Division, Aug 11; Allied penetration in area of 363rd Infantry Division countered by last Corps reserves; five battalions needed for protection of survey and development work by Military Commander South France; conference between Nazi Political Commissars and OKH Nazi Directing Staff to take place Aug 23-25; Doenitz ordered 1200 ton U-boat to be used to supply St Malo, Aug 12; proposal for U-boat repair base to be set up in Boulogne; Jodl's orders for using local produce and ruthless reduction of rations of native population to prevent starving out of islands and fortresses, Aug 8; Hitler's order for 11th Panzer Division to remain as mobile reserve with 19th Army, Aug 11; Panzer Division Lehr and 352nd Infantry Division to be pulled out of 7th Army's area into 15th Army area for rest and refit; 2nd SS Panzer Corps withdrawing to new main defence line; front lines of 2nd Parachute, 2nd Panzer Division and 58th Panzer Corps; withdrawal from Mortain to free Panzer forces for intended thrust against US 15th Corps, Allied paratroops expected to be dropped in Mamers area Aug 11-12; assessment of situation for period July 31 to Aug 6 by CinC West.

Mediterranean: 3rd S. Flotilla to be transferred from Adriatic to Aegean; 6th Defence flotilla, French Mediterranean coast, put on second degree of readiness, Aug 12-13; 2nd Air Fleet estimate shipping in Ajaccio harbour sufficient for one division, anticipate landing in near future; 3rd Air Fleet anticipate landing operation from Corsica area, direction of attack uncertain but air raids on Rhone Valley and coast between Nice and Rhone noted; 149th Flak Regiment expect Allied landing on South France or Ligurian coast, Aug 12-13 or 13-14 with probable diversionary landing on Adriatic coast, first degree of alarm ordered for whole west coast by CinC South West.

Far East: Japanese concern over increased shipping losses to Allied submarines, orders for increase in ships' look-outs and more active anti-submarine measures; wireless intelligence indicating large Allied force concentrating at Saipan, anticipation of attack on Philippines, all Japanese warships in north eastern area of Philippines ordered to proceed direct to west.

Naval Headlines: Allied attack on St Malo following bomb attack repelled Aug 12, hospital ship succeeded in evacuating 120 wounded from Lunaire Bay, Dinard; camps of terrorists reported being formed both sides of Lezardrieux; Japanese estimate of Allied naval forces in Indian Ocean and in Australia area, total of aircraft and Army strength in India, Australia, New Guinea and Solomons and in New Zealand, May 17.

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