France: 1st SS Panzer Corps under Allied attack along whole sector, outpost line...

HW 1/3173

1944 Aug 15

France: 1st SS Panzer Corps under Allied attack along whole sector, outpost line taken back; 276th Infantry Division to withdraw as result of Allied penetration of right neighbour; 200 Allied tanks reported moving southwards east of Caen-Falaise road; ground situation report for Aug 14, German line withdrawn on broad front, defensive front to be built up area south and west of Chartres-Vernueil-Laigle; 2nd Panzer Division withdrawn to area Carrouges amid confusion and casualties caused by Allied fighter-bomber attacks; 3rd Air Fleet considered possibility of isolated Allied armoured vehicles thrusting over line Laigle-Argentan, Aug 13; 47th Corps built up covering line south west of Carrouges to west of Argentan, Aug 14; 25th Army Corps report repulse of Allied tank attack north of Brest; 344th Infantry Division and 17th GAF Field Division to concentrate between Caen front and Seine as Army Group reserve; 158th Reserve Division renamed 16th Infantry Division, 157th, 182nd and 189th Reserve Divisions transferred from Himmler's command to Field Army; 7th Army given task by Hitler's order to maintain assembly area, and later to thrust to coast, Aug 12; 7th Army requested agreement to withdraw front of 7th Army and left wing of 5th Panzer Army under protection of Panzer Group Eberbach to line Falaise-Argentan and 2nd SS Corps to attack east of Argentan to south, fuel and ammunition decisive factor, Aug 14, further request from 7th Army for control of Panzer Group Eberbach, 2nd SS Corps and 74th Corps, and to withdraw to line Vassy-Tinchebray-Beauchene; Field Marshal informed by Eberbach of impossibility of attack until fuel and ammunition replenished; request from 7th Army to withdraw right wing to provide strong force to defend Flers, left wing withdrawn north-east of Domfront to enable withdrawal of 10th SS Panzer Division from line; Eberbach's orders for 47th Panzer Corps to thrust deep into Allies' flank from Vieux Pont area to Orne bridges, 116th Panzer Division to join attack from right wing, 2nd SS Panzer Division to thrust north of Argentan into flank of Allies advancing on Trun; 86th Corps reporting withdrawal on front east and south-east of Caen, claim knocked out 96 tanks; 352nd Division due for rest and re-equipment, operating on left of 6th Parachute Division in Mortagne sector; GAF expecting attack on broad front against Falaise, reconnaissance suggesting Allies attempting to reach Seine via Verneuil; 275th Division to be withdrawn to battle area of 15th Army in Belgium-North France for rest and re-fit, Aug 12; 3rd Parachute Division suffered up to 70% losses in personnel in Jaeger Regiments, Aug 12; call-up age classes 1884 to 1888 in Germany; demolition of large lock and stretch of mole and other installations at St Malo, 270 men at Cap Frehal cut off from land with two days food and water, Aug 13; two U-boats returning to Bordeaux ordered to Trondheim; authorization for demolition of Lezardieux harbour.

U-boat to be fitted with special flak conning tower for protection of army supply traffic to Finland.

Far East: Japanese plan further mine-laying operations in Philippines area, Straits of Balabac, Surigao and San Bernardino and in Sulu Archipelago.

Naval Headlines: directive on surrender of coastal fortifications outside fortress area, Aug 8; Group West anticipated Allied landings on south coast of France based on transfer of landing craft to Corsica and embarkation preparations of US 7th Army in Naples.

South Europe: landing attempt near Bormes claimed repulsed, second degree of readiness Genoa area, Aug 14; Allied landing fleet leaving Corsica, target unknown, warning of possible paratroop and air landing operation, all units to maintain highest degreeof alertness and defence readiness; destruction and fouling of Nice and Cannes harbours ordered, Aug 15; Parenzo harbour authorities report air raid on harbour, bauxite ship hit and beached; air raids on Genoa, Aug 13 and 14; minor landing operations Riviera coast beaten off Aug 14-15, Nice and Cannes harbours demolished, freight gliders reported at Draguignan.

Coversheet not included.

sx917

Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description