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War Journal Franz Halder Volume III EN
War Journal Franz Halder Volume III EN
.....7 ~
.. -lor\;. ,. ...,
OF
FRANZ HALDER
This Document
IS A HOLDING OF THE
ARCHIVES SECTION
LIBRARY SERVICES
Volume 'III
TH E PRIVATE WAR JOU RNAL
OF
GENERALOBERST FRANZ HALDER •
Chief of the General Staff
of the
VOLUME III
•
CONTENTS
•
Volume II: The Polish Campaign. Part II: 11 September - 6 December 1939
Volume VII: The Campaign in Russia. Part II: 1 August 1941 ·24 Sept. 1942
t
,
VOLUME III.
Winter :,,)39/1940
•
7 December 1939.
S Decey.ber 1939.
There are still some double numbers. And the whole Number
1
b) Bunlmail_t~ains:~s~sp~cial_tr~ough-tr.ain6.:~nil lQading
facilities must be developed.
Blaskowitz:
Neuling, Pflugbeil.
9 December 1939.
10 December 1939.
• 11 December 1939.
- 2
Note for ObdH:
c) No decision today/)
i
12 December 1939.
13 Dcccmh€r 1939.
-3
14 D~c6mb~r 1939.
"
1000 weet i.. ng In
. nl
J)U f.oi ceo. Ge no Amy Offi ce,
~ H''S o_~
•
Difficulty to activate Eqs. (rteplacement Armyl)
4
Officer~ICorps, per..retine s·trength 3,700 (1934),
7 .w~s e~)Anded to 99,uOO (beginning of 1939).
Refer to Tng.S0c~
• .1.
Progran:
Ij\)rteactivaticn of ~he Repl~cement units used
• ,
up for neDl~cement mlransfer Divs ftl by end
begin on 1 JCLi.
- 5
9.) Re~)lacements for depleted artillery in the
East.
10.) E~)~nsion of rlepl~ceDent Transfer Divsoto
fllJ. .u 1 VS o ~'!eust).re s in detail. -- Question
of F'di-e:J2. Rei)1J'tcem0n t nns ..
:1.) Sur~lus of Ot':'icers :i.:1 rteplacer1ent for:.la
tions. Personnel uiv•
- 6
Fuehrer thinks he hA,s a free baok in the East
and 30u.thensc.
ItalY: Ley in Reme: II ~uoe would like to ..
strlk~ soon, His ~olicy meets opposition, also
in the :: -"Tal Family.. Slow pace of armament.
"£ciortified ll that he cannot make his country
keep p~ce with Ge~l~ny
Bfllgian q~d:.~.:?tlcn~ II Duce disinterested.
CiF.l.r~o: I taJ..y \vill not change her policy, on
t' Belgium1s a0count, even though the Royal
Families are related e They are surprised that
. we are not yet in Dolland•
vve are now supposed to have sO much Oil, that
we supply !t~ly~
b) SS Lue~zow sold to Russia (Said to be f~ulty
design~ )
c) Spain will send ships in convoys, if Italy
d~es the se~e1 similar as Japan e
•
i'~emo for ObdH;
1) )"Jrge all Hqs 1;0 .i..d'actice strictest economy~
(wagner saJs, some brty.Btrys. have 5 MGs. )*
2. ) JodI: a) Boaa construction, road bloc~s,
pr8parations for moto units, good.
b) Tra~flQ on uutc~ border,
cJ Draft plan of ~GpcB regarding Air
ForceD
,
16 December 1939.
Weizs~;cker: ~ortho
20 Der,eober 1939.
9
21 J.lecc;:".1ber 1939.
• Rni1ro~d accln0nt
23
~t
~ecehb6r
Genthin.
1939•
• at G-i vet •
~i.tt;flck on Hetl1el U) to keep ene!C1.y from .'-t I-;:'l:::~':.lr.
attacking fron the south.
different c~ern.tion~
nn entirel~
O....II l
·L. •
. 1. )~-1o"v dOGS I~f. h':tndle S min0s~~
holiday"
11
norn.1g: At ~osseno othing of consequence. Only
----CUrrent mail"
.i~fternoon: ~1.t hOMe"
?7 JJeeember 1939.
be trieQe· Otdn.
relen:.: 3~L.
1-iei:lO for Obd.E:
a) Horse-drawn transport units" (Young ag~
grouJs Must be taken out~ out not all
active officers. (60~)~ Officer candidates
~et peRce time training; dan;ers of the
eo.r ..;~rea~
12
28 .lJ'3cember J.939.
"r"j
-. ~ t..: • ". • .. !•
('. .-.'..' ,- 13
30 becscber 1939.
sl;,-",rise Ii11ssions.
-l-i
- 14
1 J 8:.. :uary 19 ~:o .
tn~lan6.) .,
- 15
- 16
2.. ) The~we Dust reorganize our T~anspo
Sec~ lIJr:.tnElP.. Chief
Dcrk as deputy to Gercke.
'a:'ser D lst be ehan.;ed, if necessary'
1
- 17
7 January 1940 (Sunday).
8 January 1940.
- 18
7, )~uel SUpply and Truck s' tuation must be handled
by a central a~0ncy. ~x~han~e of horses (heavy
and lir-;ht hOi..'ses).
- 19
OQu IV: Review of material accuDulated during my absence.-
Gro s scurtll" - Confidential information on Goering I s
pc~ce fee1el"'11
9 u anu·3.ry 1940.
- 20:,
OQ,u IV (Gl'C SECU::..~t.:t>.) ;
1.) :1 Duee. ~a~~s a;ainst Russia. Continuation of
, pre8t-~~,.c cou.::,·se means separation from us. Asks
not to attack.
3.) SS D3G:::'ee"
- 21
Ope Sec.: 8rmy Gps. Dust now establisflGclose contact
enemy retaliation o
Keitel(on phone)~
- 22
O~l IV: Etzdorf Q Target date~
/
~Gks us to revert to strugGle against Bolshevism~
clear" n
support ..
decision.
Gp.2.
- 24
Afu~iral Scbp.lewind: GBner&l review of the situation.
GSI'cke: T'.'9.:1sport drder cOffiounicatecl to Railroad offices.
--"-KleinD3,nn claiD3 he will sTJ>!in b it.
..".
14 .:January 1940 (Sunday, Berlin) •
- 25
2. )~~~_~:0tl K 5~ B ecl-:er clalms the l~esponsible
fE~ctCl'2 a:~e ',,[,he cold 'i;emperature and the
steel E',amJ.f8J;t1.p:'ing process. (Only high-class
refin0d ste91 02n be used! t Art.Sec o
30 ) O,}1).Y!t;8r.-~w8a81,lres ~-:io_ 1 an<L Eelgium: Time inter
val-~1.c:cspc-ed of" reaction" OQu IV.
e,
a) In the event or an offensive~ So&enstern
to rly S'(;aff, l111pert to Leeb I s Staff, as
t8mpora~y assigments •
.lf no offl£'ns.i ve: !'lanstein and Stuelpnagel,
Commana.:ng '}enerals o 01 bricht, General
.r.).r.ny G:[·::t'ice~ Central Branch.
~;)densi,8j"'n to mv Staff as O~,'l;l I; }'elber
~o~s tv ACp.~c ln what way does it affect
o"~her::;"{
- 26
three Inf. Cos; '~ifles for signal, ertillery and
cnbinaer cornpcnents. ~otivation to be initiated
on issuance of orf~r for attack.
t
) air landing inside Fort:ess Holland. New orders ~
•
Rechberg1s letter.*
16 January 19 /10.
- 27
50-ten tanks in 1943: Two types, with 80 ~m
all-:I'ound a::-nlor~
", .- ... ,,-_.
Conference with Th03ao.
."'l .,
u. . •
17 J anl?ary 1940.
- 28
To COLlnte.'I.:' theBe hazards: II Flying start ". * This,
ho~ever, puts the rail~o js under a continuous
hi~t;h s"GI'ain o
Greiffenberg~(JcQI):
18 January 19 L10;o
- 29
•
- 30
b) Deception"
enemy offensive.
5.) There will be no "let-up period II. Readiness
to initiate c?erations in conformity with
the present plan must be maintained until
the '~8W plan has eI,1tered into force. (Opo Sec.
. ~ -- Reply to Bock.)
6.) Or~~~izational program will go on during
regrouping.
7.) Training program will go on.
8. ) Transfar of OKH HOn Vamouflage and security.
Wa~n8r: Reor~anization of Columns: Three 30-ton MT
Clos and three horse-drawn Glms for every Div.
- 31
a) we are insuff".c:'.ently informed on political
mELtter~J -- tJle:{ decree. -- Eastern questions.
Rersonnel matte~"8:
- 32
Sweji3h-Germ~n Friendship Banquet.
COIJJ1er~j.al "'-':-Baty
,
,"1i th dungary:
\
Open part
S8()rct parti ~ on 'iJar economy I~
38 s sara.~)2.ao
~T aDem:l~el"! CD•.Ji-net is believed not "to be favol"
&b18 to 1.18 0 Interilll Cabinet. J 8.pa:!1 pol i tlcally
di8united~ No~ yet comIJitted to new course (Jend
in~ liquj~atlG;of the Ohinese question,
restoration of good relations with UeS.) •
•
1'/880 :for ObdH: Tafk ~1Tit;h OK-ilJ, 18 Jan., afternoon (see
ye~terday's no~es).
• so far assigne{'J
South of Na~ur-Meuse.
In centrel sector: ~et across Canal, then
Antwerp and Namur•.
- 33
motal time lost Ql~e to increased depth. of assembly:
one day's march o
Armor strenGth 8.S bef'Jre, "'.Jut allocations changed.
No reir..f'orcenie~t of Fourth .rl.rmy.
pis\inr-tiYQ b[L;:-~:L_on cUI'f for Armd. Troops,
Six D;_yis~.9j,:,8e 0j,1 i-~ plus 1, morning, if material
is ready.,
Gercke~ Stipulat:ons bv State Railroads, if they have
to tr&"'.sj?(' :,"; f~L ve Di vs. which were withdrawn to
•.
T raJ.nlng (".(:;n"'Cer8'.
\
r'" I
c) ,as of 1\1[1:;:,ch.:
- 33 a ....
ReI:1l"'.ining 95 guns :.:,12 .:Jns~ (left 'It,,ing of
F'j_ 'Y'.-,~.
... Cv AI'rrLv)
u. •. 0
As of Iviarch~
1 June )
(C z 3c11) moto
- 34
ITev.r """"ehrer o:r'der on weapon s :lVied. He
...j.;'Cl."
-
w.,
naval ~uns atc" buhle.
2,,) Or!;," O:r-der 7/4-0 "'K, of 18 Jan. Ivho gave it to
Er.p.:el'( -- lJ.~ite 41Ust wi thdraiv i to ,gPo Sec o
Repla~emen.t rl:rmy
er:fbari?o for two. vJ~eks. ~~ t
:"J v.reeks. * Short-dlstance
I·r·~"t t1r.TO
traffic as ~efore.0eginning 22 January.
' ~
-..:.iL
.-' -f'
C e -!.-...Q~_t2n SP .. fj1
. ,
4. ,. New Corps Hg?~iust be talked· over
(L:iuhle).
20 Je.n.uary 19~0.
35
"t'Ti.i1
~J&rn to mainta~n secrecy. Carelessness may lose
us th::; war"
picture"
sible moment g
'ed.
An order need not give away the underlying
inten tio!l, Execution requires a large number of
'lfTOrkers; lntentions must be known only b§1 a very
small groups
(departure dates, girl typists).
No one must be told th.::t we have abandoned system
of four-~day aler:" E,ver;,-thing will be done out
0
- 36
Target for the first days: Inmediate action on
limited number of especially important objectives.
More may be expected from a attack with small
forces, using maximum surprise, tl~n with larger
:orces, but against an enemy poised for defense.
Clearing of road bloc~s~ Fieseler Storch planes
to drop Commandos and trans90rt ammunition and
men.
Orders will be issued in the afternoon. Movement
durir.g night o Attack in the r.lOrni:lg. IILeap from
stand. II
Our change of rr.ethod must not becone known to
troops. Enemy mUf~ be left in belief that we still
follow original method.
Essentip.l pr~ ,-squisi te of' success.- ,vants list
of offmcers who have to be in the know.
Secret ffill.stguarded in issuing orders" Divide
~ 3
orders~ DO:i1' t
say anything' about intentions, just
pass down the order;
Total ~f t1immediate" actions. Leap from stand!
:Jesirable to include in "iIilmediate ti actions:
Holland on full scale.*
Operation Maastricht. Passage through the Ardenn
ArC_ennes o Prevent denolitions. Figure out in
advance at what points we might have to repair
demolition damabe.
Timing: October would have been best. Enemy cannot
do much construction work during period of frost.
Frozen Holland affords great advantages.
weather always keeps one guessing. ~ven now we
must take advantage of any period of good weather.
Making the most of opportunities offered is bet
ter than "mi ting fo!' the ttperfect II weather.
Accordingly, every o.tJportuni ty must be seized. i:ot
Not likely before clarch. e must stand by prepar
ed at all hours~
Transfer of GHq by plane.
,
Idea that we keer alert period must be fostered
also on the railroads. Block telephones!
Fel!giebel. Spread rumors. (Marras*)
Order to all participants at th. conference on observ
ing secrecy.
- 37
Crde~ to first attack ech3lon~ Start off with two
thix'·~.g; lI"lproV1sFJ,tlonS e rJiake arrangements for
elerru:.mta left b'3hin'l o
2 ' ,T ...•1'
~
R .,....y 1940
:..~-:c.-.:...J._~:::o..:;...-=_
1530 vo!.!.
.. Grp~~¥en'I)~~~:
-,"._:_ J_ ....... F, Securi ty at OKE. Sealing against
o . . . ~~.:c:~. ol;"side.
POotponement to end of January.
ArlliY Hq. 18 - 2 *
Leave out Regt. Grossdeutsch
land.
1800 Fuehrer (with Obdd):
a) Disposition of troops generally approved.
Vianto arr'.L '[al of Di v·s. from the rear planned
so thE':c they can be iQf'ediately commi tted.
b) ~o be carried out f~rat off: Original plan
c~lled for £mashing of eneny air foroe; Ghent;
£'iaastricht. Now, l/laastricht, Ghent (and DinantO)
have been dropped, leaving only smashing of
eneny air fOlce (on which, as a result, all
weight can be thrown)~
c) Holland nmv in firs·c line. The whole cOt.<:"1tr;y.·"
Il
coun'~ry iliploynen t of sUfficie~tly strong
a -I•..
forces to preclude any setback. rte ·\JIJants a
build-up that ensures full secces.
d) Naas~richt not yet conoletely ruled out (no
air lec~~)~- Strong fOrCeR would beneeded to
exploit succes~; tanks on rtasselt and
Maastricht o If action impracticable, tanks
can be witbdra't'l}'n fron sector.
d) {sig/ Fourth Ar~~ Cooperation of Air Force
to blast obstacles. No tanks in the lead
(mines). At the l:ead of colnrnn~ InL and Eng..
with assault guns o Tanks will be held up at
Meuse (Givet). In t~~s sec~or, therefore, tanks
·are not the primary weapon; co~e in second
lineo
38
Gliders for assault detachments against tank
o'bsta~leSo
the lJI,;use o
mine sowing.
J:;'ieseler Storch.
22 J&nuary 1940.
39
1500:
J~cob. Noise controJ in fortifications:
, 1630: O~Sec.Outcome
Draft orders.
of the morning .conference -
tiona
b) i~agner.
,
~ ;
a) fu ans tein 1 We muse get Rundstedt's c;i~~on
opinion.
b) Stuelpnage1. Siewert, Corps C of 81
c) nilpert and ~~llidt to weichs, Army Hq 2
F0r Halliet - Konrad;)
d) belection of Gen. Staff Officers for
new Div. and Corps Hqs on 5 Feb.
: . . . Fersonnel Di v. -5 Feb.
e) 2 C~rps Hqs (mot.)
- 40
nor.ference wi th Himmler:
g) 7.) --_._---
I S8 T'l.. _-
12. ) --_ \'ieioD leaves 24 Jan. Arrives 26 Jan.
at liluenster.
13. I Bogatsch: LJeeuri ty. General effects of the
II standing start II.
I Special points.
23 January 1940A
- 41
'~nn Dran:iL Artillery preparation for the offensive.
FOTI evely liuesJ:" km of front, 10 light Btrys.
<":l,nd 10 med. Bt:r'ys for close support; 8 - 10
rltrys.!or counter-battery fire, as against
about 30 Btrys. pAr ke n * , .
Li~ge ~ Meuse -- Artll]ery,of the static front.
24 J nnuary 1940.
42
Gerc ,;:e t a) 69th Div o has left; four more Div~ left late.
I,
l,ionday 29 0 4.
7uesdaY 30 • 5.
.JednGsday
Sixteenth Army.
<iay I s march.
Tenth Div. not before third day of offensive
(Pruem- Gerolstein).
43
~rl!l~.es w1J.l
~---_._~._
have tllei:r."---.---
.._.-------_.- orderi4 at: 1300.
-s'rElY 1.:c:nt st·) key B.l.l preparartlons to 11 B!TIGrgenc y ,,-~
1l"H"ne"
.L.Jl 'Y'g;:-.n"'y" ~x·
....oJ - ... ~ II)
Narrow-~~u~~
"' ....... r~ilwaysi
:.,:
., ~.
'1'i s ~ho"vi t z.
r~Dorted reinforc~d.
InstructlontJ for ·,:,appenheim,]:f (French
Belg13n ag~eem8ntso Do French and British
plans embrace Dutch territory?).
COlo Krueger, la, Police Division, reports. Difficult
ies in combin6-..t arms training (Artillery 'IIi th
Infant:::-:") •
~quine pneumonia epidemic in one Artillery Bn.
44
3.) N~~row g~U~g railway material is said to
be t:sE!_ilal~~e in He':'ch:--180 km in Reich
LQ;-)or Be::·v..i.ce" 300 km l'n~rodtGo_rgan1±a~.
tiona Can ~e gotten at only through
Fuehrer~
N." i "_'ovr i{Gtl.w;e raih'1ay lines: 300 km under
con'str:U:~-,1j-iGn in" sector of::Eirst Army.
Civilian eC0nomy now has no more than 300
-400 km left"
4.) Fa1lrca~s 26 Jan.
Backlog: 915 trains, 49,400 Cars.
Shipmc\li; s fur tn:.Lining will be completed
on 27 Juno, Hoon.
Tan..'k. shhjL18nts as of 28 Jan. as scheduled.
45
"
46
~.'1 t S
ii' ""I)')~am', 19"1*
prvl:;> _
":t"
28 ,JanURry 1940.
47
I
1000 lJ e r.lOnst r rl,tion
of Hv o Inf. Gun Daunted on chassis
of TEl.nk I, e.ccoGpanieo. by a I-ton aJ:1Duni tion c ::'ri r
30 January 1940.
- 48
FilliUg installations: Just barely adequate.
Present ca~ac~ty 200 tons a month. Nill be ex
pa1jd.ed l'y 1 l\;.:,.'ch; 1940, to a capacity of 400
tons a Elonth; 'c~T fa.._l 400 more in Sagen<lorf,
giving a total f 800 tons a month. 700 tons
a ~on~h ~an be worked ~) in spralf.-containers;
will bal±n~PBasdd to 1,400 tons a month (spring,
1940) ~
49
rteconnaissance fartie.
Org.
protection.
Allog€ n .
31 ,j "lnuary 1940•
•
50
51
1 Februay,y 1940.
52-,
~_ ~ I
von Groi "ffenber.K; Deceptic .. -- 3order,··.traffic ~nd border
co":trol~---Movement l~rgely completed.
2 February 1940 D
53
3 february 1940.
- 54
:31..1ll1e: ConfeT'ence 0::1 de:::oto ri ZEl. cion. -- Fore s·t Guard
heg t ".I
~
m -
c.,:~ 88 Dl'Vl' sl'on l'n . ..~~Gp. B too
1 ",{JO- ~b'
LJ ...lr·QS fc~_.. r
to the rcnr.
OrganlzQtion~l mat~erf;
f) Construction of re ,r vositions.
g) Deception.
4 Febru2ry 1940
- 55
If we allow a 2~ for the norm 2 i Donthly loss
(not countiI:.g cODbat casu,2l ties), \lI!hich is
the normnl rute, new pro&lction will cover
only bf.lf th~t ~ SSe The consequence 1s ~
continuous drain on our truck strength, im
pairing the operational efficiency of our
forces.
3. F.e~ed~T f l>JoLld be to increase )roduction.
Rubber bot :;lenGcl~ (von Schell) restricts nev-J
~roduction to a naximur:l of 4,000 ;;>er r~onth
~ovar-Qll ccpacity for production for the
Ar!Jed F J"Y>ce s) l
Prereouisites for an increase in the Arry ~l
lot~drit ~re a) l~rger steel 2110cation froD
. rcy quota (1. hich can be done only by either
restrict:'ng other l)rojects or ir"cre"lsing the
tot.'ll q,uat!]); or b) curt9.iling of neTT produc
'G ion for o'Gher brlll1cil8 s of ,arr:led Servi ce s.
(At the ol'+;~":'."'eak of 'ehe VJ':'..r' ~ir J!'orces hR.d
80~ peace~iue vehicles, we at most 40%. )
- 56
After deducting 5,000 ~rucks to supply the
uni t shor't,o"ge of rtbout 5,000, 1tJe would have
11,000 lef'[j, not coun'cing ne'tJ production.
If we assUDe tae loss of 1,500 trucks per
nonth, w:--',ioh cF.tnnot be su~plied by new pro
duc ti on, the ne,w [lddi tion <to our p8.rk \hTould
be exh".usted, if there. is no o')er!J.tion, in
about half 2 Y0~r (seven ~onths).
These Lie'.18UreS, 'Ghen, would not solve our
problen. ~~ey would hnve to be sup~leDented
by a concurrent decotorizntion progr.m on u
big scn.le, which ent~ils the procure~ent of
horc3s, veI"licles :lnd f'-'<1.rnesses. Tba'c deci~' r:
sion J",ust be t·).ken in'edi'1'cely to J 'ike sure
'cr~':1. t i t would 'c'l,ke effect in tine to c!lrry
us on when the ~r~sunt single ~ddition to
our ~~r-k will hlve be~n e~1'1usted.
7'he best t;J~ng would be to 8.ppoint J. soeci1.1
C01T'l'r,'G6e (Ch.:n. bc:,ff wd Chief of _-i.roy
£qui 1)i1ont) GO deal wi th dc·c'.1il·s of the der:lO
tortz'1tion progr'LD and to deterr,ine its scope
by OX.Jloring 'J.ll 'che v:J.rious )ossibilities
in consult'1tion wiGh re~r6sent~tive bodies
of f1.r~inb, Bmal~ business, etc.
"'"
J:'hc rlOst Llport'l.nt thing, however, is to
st '~.rt '30 t once ',.;i th yrocuring vehi clee, hll.r
ness etc., witDoUt w1.sting ~ long tine for
coo)utntions ~nd conferences.
Reoedy 4: Equ~lization of truc~ strength
( su;nly tr{lins) be tWOLn _~rr:y r>.nd rlir Force.
_1. s1!gge Etion to t~:,is eft ect 11'18 been r.'lcle
to Ba..c.;. 'rhe decision lies in h'1nds of the
Fuehrer.
ILprovcr-;ent of truc~c ;-:'l,ii1te n 'lnce.
rf.) Her-Gdy 5:
Possible ~ethods :
D.) 'Vorl:snop ,)crsonnel r:ust b8 /lssigned to the
Fi e Id . .~:;~LiY!
- 57
ThG developr-.ent 0:' GLliS si tUq ti on h'l.s the
following eonsequenCds for the conduct of
ground op0~ntions:
5 i'ebruDry 1940.
- 58
Runnlrtg-tiDs of let~ars - statistics:
:20 23 oUGgolng
29 ~ 3 ~vaning incoDing
J.m Q,1I.
- 59
6.) ~il. Hq rra~ .e. OooDer~tion 7ith Fride
r~ci difficult. ~ustri~n officer who
has re~ations with Czechs.
7.) High GOL··-·r;ti1d ~ast. Force of 16,000.
£.iission is to C'lrry ou t ethnical policy.
d difficult r::ission. ~'ist~{es br..'1.ve been
nad.e o ,3ns learnt of five cnses froD re
lort of ~dgl Gono~nd ~~st, ~nd asks for
lnfv"::1atio:1 on ~ll other C''1.ses. His in
tention is to cStrry out his cOT'lplex tn.sk
in as consider~te manner as possible n.nd
J
wi th a pln~Elum of ploodsbed" HA ~v'l.nts
good rel'l.tlons witn the Aroy. Denies
p,.ny illte~tion wh~tever to set U~) '1n .n.rny
beside tbe 4J.rmy.
T~fik dt~ch ~long the frontier is work
1 TojeC1j for two !J.nd ':l h'21f Gillion Jews,
ubdH ):~"OI1isGS to look into the )In.n.
niDm18~ cl':lio~d th'l.t our troops get ~d
eU tion.-;.l food by slaughtering cn.ttle.
LbdH ~sked for details on inst'1.nces •
.diJ:EJler !:llso!:l.sserted th:1'C sor:1e offic3rs
took their ot-el.ls wi 'ch Poli sh lidldowncrs
every d'lY, ObdH ~sked for det~ils.
1500 Buhle: Org~niz~tion~l o2tters, incl. Question
whether ~rny Judges Qhould be qccorded disci
plinqry ~ower of off~cers.
1630 .dr".nd: =rtillery bUild-up ~1.Gp. 3.
nntwer0 E'lst: 4 r:ec'l. _P11S. nnd 3' Di vs. *
Antwc:i"'~)!
N'1r'ur:lO Divs. 2nd ~O ned. Bns. qnd
5)ecio.l Btrys.
Liega: 2 It. n.nd 2 oed. Bns., in 'ld
dition to 5 - 6 Divs. **
Len.ves for
Neuse fron":: 15 nixed Dcd. Bns.
5 Hv o How. '1nd 15 c~ Gun 3ns.
20 :dns.
GHg Reserve: 10 Bns. (4 ~ed. Fd~ ~0~1 nn~ p
;LO 0_": \.Tun) by 1 n:)ri ; .
_ ~_Cogether with 1 ned.
Fd. hO~ll • qnd
2 10 co Gun fror. BdE.
8 :ans. (6 Qed. Fd. hOW. ~nd 2
10 cr:; Guns) from ~~Gl:') C . .
Tr.1]:{.ing 'che 194 .3trys,. of Gtiq rlrtillery, ('ond as~,-:-.
s~~ing dGy • B con: i~s eVerything '1nd ~Gp. A
keeQs whqt it ~ns, we get ~ density of 15 Btrys.
(incl. 6 from Div. ) ~er kiloQeter on a 16 kn
- 60
front, and of 12 or l3 Btrys. (incl. 6 froM Div. )
on an qc1d.itio:·~l 20 kii1 front. 'rhere tr{ould be Cl.
total of 25 Divs. * on this 36 kQ frontage.
~~unition for 9rep~r~tion of ~ttRck: 1.33 issues.
CQu IV~ liurrent :-:P.,G tars o - - Orient8.tion for Et zdorf.-
gStJ.fety VQl va II decree. -- Phbliclltion of the
incidents in he E~st.
Gon Qu: Till:Li.s of fields in tho eV9.cu:.tion zone. -
Current Gen Qu matters •
•
6 F'ebru~ry 1940.
7 February 1940.
- 61
set in 'not: on.
~u(te:.n~.!).n lnsis~Gs on fintl1. nrDd. Div! _Ion the rigttt
,'ling i'or "tanl\. o~.~tle forw'lrd of the Heuse river •
(NB~ Thio is i~po8sible for reQsons of c~'oufl~ge,
p'ssibili ty- of tr::nsfer'ring of ~Jinth "~rmd. Di v. to
tJ.le left wing is being studied by .AGp. )
.hundsted t: "~iillth "~I·J!1d. Div. on the wrong wing" •
Direction of 0~0~2Gion (very good~) Opcr~tion is
deve::" ped' so ch·-:.t XIV (;or~s re1ches the bn.nl1: of
tha U~use at Cl ~rleville-Sedan on ~ plus 2; XIV
Cor)s follows clos~lJ behind XIX Corps (two DivsJ~
Guderian w!:1.nts to forca crossin o ' of the i'lI,m8e
~10n0 with XIX ~nd XIV vor~s on A ~lus 4.
~1.Gp~
COj~lI,:;tnrl (Blw::entritt) dis'l,)lJroves. (Suggests
to htwe XiV 0or.. . s 8trilt8 nort;i1'·1:J.rd o )
- 62
the !Jieu8t' or let the ~-I.r:l:r 0-9S. slug' it out
thci!- .01NTI~
0:1
3. 1
- 63
7. ) ProclaD~tlon for air lqnding in Eol1~nd:
Air Force.
Air Force is re~orted to have given order
to bonb eva~ything not ~ositively identi
fi'1ble '1.S Garn,J,n forces.
'i'r:.nf'fer of offic'ors is otJlieved li"'.ble to
C'luse 8cC'f0US-~illcations.
SS is ra;.Jortod to h.... V6 s~ :.rted 1~r6e-8C'71E;
reerui tinb<:r:;i V6 including q.e;G grou 23
I j)
1 <"'>
G.
).
~esse
*-r""*,,• P ro~agqnd a ex~o
1 ling the ethi
cql i~e .1s of the Gero0n soldier.
O~u IV.
8 li"ebru.'l.ry 19<-1:0.
8.)
Third A~Dd. Div. h'ls difficulties setting
~veryt _lng tJgether, es~ccially its Brid~e
GIns.., : 2ft0,~ i'~ s 'Ow:! bridi;e Cln.s. Wf1.S tiJ.l{e~
away for ~lghveenth rlrr~y.
b) ?arsonnel cL~nges in Third rlrr~d. D
Gen, St'lff Officer. iv.
,
e) rrl~~ ForcE
..nc..lois.
~rd~r on sw".stika fl~gs qnd .l.)~
- 64
Fuel ~llocat&ons for trqininb exercises.
Radio enbEtI'go "'.Jj" fuel shortage in odrmd.
units.
H5L Eig;lteeDth_...:.n:m~'L.-l~:1 XlvI COrQELL:
a.) .9:1,.);)(' J.'U2.Y_~:~.~__ !'O ree ,nd o",ni).ri s I organi za
1j:~Oii. in Gl'.:':',Y':'::. ·St.') '1 tt.'lcl~s to c.'1.tJture brld
~G s,,-- -- -·lJ f·:--i~e (;..
Ti,.1etab;.G ~ li'irsYJ d~y as fQr '1S Peel L)osi
t10l1. l:..~;~ond d:lY to southern HilhelDina
, -,
\jSl.n,~.i... .Lh"l r a-, d '::.y ~ t b7'id'"
.. 50 S it eo
- 65
2l~~~Obd~; Don't we ~u~ ~oo Duch into the Gronin
gen .!1rCB by CC::l;;ji tting tne whole Cav. Div.7
c) Persc~~el matters;
r:;ick'JlToJ_f (2~7th VivO') does not look very
f~e5h, is said to have diabetes. Will hnvc
to te' re ,';lac ed. o Personnel Di v •
.orand. (20 ._h J)i Ii '2 ).. Gen tral °r::mch.
0
ly ~ctivatGQ units.
20 t'eb.
- 66
Ch,mica~ mortar ammunition:
l10,000 filled shells, on hand
in front
107,000 in the 21 Ordnance ~e
pots.
180,000 empty shells.
60,000 rounds coming from pro
duction each ~onth.
Beginning 1 Nay new materi~l for
Oile Dn. will be delivered each
n:onth.
tors * as of JulYG
- 67
qu~ntity for new fortress front; 6,500 km on
hand. 1,000 m~ltiple (20~ twin cables.
b) Artillery pa~k radio sets will be supplied to
Divs of First to Sixth Drafts by middle of
Q
10 FebruQry 1940.
- 68
von Etzdorf 2100: It~ly - 3ritain, question of co~l.
GOal- shor~age. ObdH.
Q,uescioYl 1{ihe'cb.,3r he should Gake over Section Al
,,::.<;ice-Lorraine in the .foreign Office.
11 February 1940.
1 2 lebruary 1940.
Troops.
- 69
Delivery in May~
E~~st be ectrmarked for XIX Corps.' Next for
Fourth Army; chen for Sixth Army. Six per
Com.i.Jany in GHq ~T ~..;!1Sc ; equivalent elements
may be taken out for new Divs.
BoehlEr *~ In GHq AT Bns. How many? 20
each month. Production of 5 cm uuns should be
~tarted in the meantime.
- 70
One Nlgh~-FighterG-r:,qpe (Arado 68); coast protec
tion.,
April.
TNo change~)
(In adeU tion two ~ruppen are." available on short ' .-
advance notice)~
lana flying).
21,000 m.
19 10~5 em Btrys. and 2 neplacements otrys. By
1 ~~pr. J S more, by 1 Oct .. 21 more J3trys.
622 8) 8 oo:''?try~ ).(.h~.c.Iu<fttng '?17 Z:I<l'ze-9hy~wfll' ~be
discarded 1 .clp:ro.) ~ .de-c·ii'leen .npril and October
mo~e ritryso will be delivered. 1 October 662
Btrys. and 15 neplacement 1.['r!3.l1sfer Dtrys.
94 3~7 em 3trys., later 9 more (1 ~pro), plus
20 Btrys. by 1 Oct.
- 71
391 2 em * ~~rys., plus 14 single-barrel Btrys,
11 more on 1 ·~9r., .fJlus 20 more by 1 Oct.
150 em 8earcbllgh~: 181 Btrys., plus 4 more on 1
;;p ~;.-a:nci 21 more by i vct •
on the U. So
Peace!
vel t.
- 72
2.) dull: ?eace proposals -GO neutr:otl p01,oJers.
?ormation of a front of neutrals. Peaceful
restor~cion of international trade. World
wide dis&rm rUlI6nt. Popels hel) is sought!
Our reaC Gion cannot yet be predicted~ ,vel
les will arrive in Italy on I Nar~
Italy. Increasing
rn strain between Italv and
~. v
~ngland. !ightening up of Navycert system.
/
Time of I-Galy I s entry into the WA.r must not
be allowed ~o hinge on any accidental cl~sh
over exercise of sea control.
Prince of hesse: II Uuce wants to 6nter ~he
war at any time when doing so helps, and
adds no burden on Germany. ~he nritish are
convinced that II Duce is still following
his old line. ~ew phase of British-Italian
ral~tions. rlny further deterioration of .
the situation would result in open rupture.
4.) Russo-German agreement will be signed to
night.
OQu IV: a) Demolition of bridges in 3elgium probably
only loc~l oe~sures (after completion of
civilian evacuation). Ope Sec.
b) Si tua-cion map for i'iepenbrock. . Ope
~Sec.
13 february 1940 0
- 73
---------~
14 February 1940.
.... 74
be split onGhe ..~G-p. boundary line.
e) Tha gap in our air defense system, in the
Luxembourg area, must be closed by moving
in ~ from the Home Air Districts.
f) Shortage in bridging equipment.
Conference with List: tie is endeavoring to find new
patterns for teaffi1pJork between ,;-1.rmor, ~ir Force,
and the conventional arms.
Guderian and Wietersheim plainly show lack of confi
dence in success.
Guderian: Has lost confidence. -- The whole
tank operation is planned wrong~
XIV Corps thinks it need not be alerted before
the morning of A-Day.
Conference wi"th .lAGp. A (1500 - 1600):
- 75
15 Februar: 1940
_ _ _ _ _ _ :.....aL.-. •
- 76
Memb~~s: Gercke (Railroads and Waterways).
Schell (lviotor 'i:'ransport). :£conomic experts
in ar ~dvisory function: Thomas, hannecken,
Todt, rluehnlein (execucive member for the
civilian economy). aepresentative of the
!'linis Ger of Post whenever needed. Koerner
representingche ]'our ¥ear Plan. Gercke
permanent represen'Gative with fuLL p01fler.
1tefcommendaGions for organization and opera
t~on. All work must be completed within a
fevl weeks.
16 February 1940.
- 77
3. ) yon Kluge ~laJ mQn~uver. - Talked over with
bc.lmuth.
12.) ~tscellaneous:
Dresden, Thursday.
d) irieldpost.
e) Decisions on &\XVIII ~nd XXXX mot. Oorps
Hq. 25 ire? XXXIX, XXAXII, XXYJCI (mot.);
middle of ~Qrch.
- 78
17 _~ebrLJ.9.ry 1940.
- 79
5.) Goering. 16,OO~ ~rucks. Refused.
6 0 ) l'r}lcks:
Withdrawn from ex)ort 4,000 new by 20 Ac?rch.
18 February 1940.
- 89
NO'\,lJ 1.roJe :1.;::tve rev8r·~eCc to ·the original scheme.
Discussion:
Surprise may now be regarded as assured.
- 81
It 1110uld Ghus be fi VI3 or six days, before the
main bcdy 01 Si.~cteenth Army arrives R.no. takes
up ~J()si tions} ani ·the critical stege is over
corns. S1 ~t;tJen:;h _1.!,I.'my will then be placeo. un
0.81" J.... -Pc.. C
" 'G 0
-
In Belgium we sLall have to expect enemy
tanks porth of the Meuse-S~lbre lin~; ac
cordin~ly Ghere will be no change in ori
ginal allocations. Guns on SPl<ls B.re a
good weapon~(Sixth .~my).
- 82
e) I} Ee1~~1~~, so~r.~ of the Meuse-Sambre line,
we 1"le6:l only a fi!w TanIcs III and IV (7" 5 em)
but aJ.l.:~ibe "lore Infantry and Engineer
~roolJ8 (Four'~h .Army).. Bulk of T8 .nks IV
and III, tcgether ith some II, should be
~_n tbe . .· tss<lult iJroup ('.i:welfth Army). -rL::;h
it go ..,;,1' units, heavY Inf. guns mot., E;lC.
9.) Gene1"o.l ey3.1u.§t tion of tank types.
- 83
2145 ~{e could set up:
Tuxembourg frontier: jour K 5 Guns (56 km) ~.
Five Bruno 28 em Guns
(36 km) **.
19 iebruary 1940.
0930 ObdH:
a) Shif~ing of ranks III and IV stopped.
First, Second, and fenth Divs. will be rein
forced with fanks III.
Czech tanlts for Seventh .!Jiv. (T[\nJ.ts III lr-!ill
be tnken ou~ instead).
To Sixth and ~ighth Bivs., Tanks IV.
Demonstra~ion bn. remains at disposal of GHq #.
- 84 -.
E'1'1l7l..8 t ~1rO'V,k':~ s
: From end of March until June
incl., on8 \.'0. of 3 ~latoons, e~ch with four
fl '1).lle'tnrohc:;:'3, eVery month.
DolJ2:iura:
I
rl..;, sees no lik\:.lillood of closor'volu11
1330' Lunc11con B.t 'c11e J "...... ,iJ.ik St:; ...:.raol2ssy. i"r-:;l.. r31}. 'GO
Kry.T,·lab G.
1230 G0rclt:.~: B~ ,Jort o~ revi sed 1)1.. nninb for r~.ilro ':'..CI.8.
uperr'.tionl.ll '1l1d re j"irs l)osi tion.
85
20 to'ebruary 1940.
Guderi . ; Jl :
.Hnth _.. rn:c1. Div. 400 c:t.rs '* in repAir. l~ill
be finished coc~. ~ra for the first to r~M~in
~t Jresent stations. • tGended to.
- 86
c) Bl'..u~entr~ ct: If pro jected cou-rse of opera
t~.oni!.
h) ..ifh!3.t
1'0 servo s have been earoarl\.ed '( )
Wr~t r~8erVeg Qre re~lly free? )
rtOlpJ li1.US;; ·they be grouped? )
!1.0·W move tner,1 u;/? ) Cn. *
Reservss for ~orwayl )
"I
G .:i' •
':ebr1J~:CY 1 9 40.
l~orning: :r-J{
®wn 'lilork or' ne"TtJ assel. bly orders and on or
der for feint at·tack by ..-i.G.tJ. C.
- 87
?irst off, t;wo BoehJ,er 'J:fl.nk Destroyert-Bns
(two Dtrys. f 12 each, ~nd one of 12) ~nd
2 Bns. 4 7 cm Skcda (three Btrys. of 6 eqch).
0
roF a ps.I
£..1
-,88
-
this mus·c be .r?ut on record for the history of the w-;.r.
I shall make a poi~1"C of noting down the first time the
subject is broached. Nothing to date (2 !11arch).
~vening, 2245. Leave for Dresden.
22 £ebruary 1940 0
23 february 1940~
- 89
&
- 90
•
iViuens"terei fel * e
Keitel.
.r8 inlng
'11 ' programs.
Bal1ticlil.lars~
Ope Sec.
- 91
&
- 92
1. ) 0). Sec.: ~heck togecher with Signals Sec. on wh,t
we need for operacions, ~nd for Trans). Chief, ~nd
Gen '~.
2.) Talk with Aeitel.
3.) Give OhdR documentacion for talk l,d'ch Fuehrer.
25 iebruary 1940 0
- 93
----- ----------,::.
.
\
von Bock~ 1230, at his home.
L) Reichenau I s Army is
Worr1es:
,.,reak to -c,lOl.ke HcLvn.n-ce_ge
TiOO
of its oJ)ortunities. In particulHr it neacs
more ~rmd·o Divs. so as to be able Co ex;}loi'G
a success at ~'ia_1.stricht or ha:o-_seik.
Reply: CannoG be done. ~ivin6 R. the ~rmor
would break u) -che concenGra-cion of the -1.rmd.
Echelon, as now ~lanned; Armor would then have
to be committed -GeBJ'TIed up wi t:1 Infantry.
Training: vombined ~xercises of InfanGry ~nd
Armor o
. .~ v'allable imm~~:':.ately for close su J)ort, T~ren
-Gie-Ch Div. (mc;i)) and Ghose elements for which
Ku~chl~r has no ~oom at his front.
- 94
J
26 ,tl'ebrue:.ry 1940.
I
Greif!enberg:
350 to 400 men -re st'lnding by in two
groups ~lt Crq.ilsheim *. ·~ill go tio ":>itt
burg on a-I Day. their mission is to
open the way for XIX 00rps west of Dastogne.
Fieeeler bcorch ** p~anes ***1 Tnlk
wi th ·#ald:l.u. ObdH.
b) Sixteenth . .1.rmy want s 'GO tnke c qre of its
flank. cover i'Gself, wi'cll .ddvance 0oI:lbllt
'rellffi, bu'c Ghe t'uehrer wqn'c s Storch p18.ne s
to be eI:l~loyed also in th~t 88ctor.
95
X-nour - 20 to X-¥~ur over enemy air force t~r
gets (o~era~ional airfidlds).
O1l6-thil'd of our entire Force 1,.,ri1l be com;-ji tted
as pr'eviously announced. From X-Hour to X ;!~',us'
120 mi:1'..l.t63, u-erman rl.dA will hold fire (return-:
lr.:g plane;;)"
X-Hour plus 180 minutes, n second large-scQle
effort ~08si~le, in direct sUJPort of ground
opar::-.tions C-~gainst Bri tisb.! ).
Group R1;.chi:.-0f5Il1 cool)ernting ~'Tith Sixth .i·:..rP1Y,
will not b8 i~cluded in this plan.
X-rIour t<J x: J.?lp.9 60 minutes, all GerGan fig:1.ter
planes over Luxembourg. to provide escort for
the returnir-·.g first "!(.lD.Je of bombers !?nd ·to
repel a"C tac:ks on Guderian.
Buhle: a )l'ralni!1g l._:-:'gram in 'che ..::j;-s·t h::,.s been sC'''.rted;
r
)
- 96
One re;).O.~_t._is the:c the troops should be readied
il1}rg._G-..:'1JD.'~~l--Y.o ('rhnG is dift erent; from whA. t Greif
fenberg told me .. ) Ope Sec.
Southe8.st study.
Fellgiebel:
1.) ObdB, {wlb.h Lin.i son S'Ge.fT', must be near the
Fuehrer. Fuehrer's desision.
- 97
S~ys he hus: 4 ~slephon8 and 2 teletype li
nes, -co each ..n.Gp.
4 tele9hone and 2 telety?e 11
nes,to each drmy.
12 telephone and 6 teletype li
nes, to the rear.
4 telephone and 2 teletype li
n6", 'GO x.iuenst ereifel.
3.) ?ruem.
:.: rOD sevdral lTaq units, for radio ~nd field trunk
cable.
- 98
Keitel OK~ en ~hone: Con-'\lsiOl1 about S)icherer Heights,
----c;:ttE-;;-d b~:- 1- i:;';ne talk JodI with rlGp. C. Bad
business "Ito.,
Noees:
Gen -~u: If I'.1is8icD of Sixth ,dj,"l"1y is altered,
could ~hei do without S008 of their
Su.p>:.. y lilms.?
Sec. L( Corps .&:I.rtillery l..'or.l!lR.nders, 8 Re"?;tl.
. ." i.rtillery Gomr.l".nders. ."i.t wha.t time
intervals"'
Officer candidate ~)chools for three
year NCOs.
27 L"ebruary 19 L.l:O.
ObdH: Fr.>,.lkenhorst.
'I'lmetable OKiV.
- 99
4., ) Air Reconnai's sence., Not for Fuehrer report.
5. ) von Rundstedt., Guderian or Kleist?
Schmidt must get reedy soon.
6. ) Air-ground identification. '
1.,) Zone where Air Force will fire )
on anything., . ) Tng.
2.)
Zone where troops must identify ) Sec.
themselves. )
- 100
more Chern. ~ortar Bns.; one more by 1 June.
In their place we must defer the two Deconta
mination Bns., which will-not be ready before
August, unless they also become Chern. ~~ort2.r
Bns.
4.) Mt. Artillery. Recommendation of XVIII Oo:r:.)s.
Two It. Fd. Ho~. for each Mt. Arty. En.
Sodenstern: Hq with many Signal,Bns. and large OQu Sec
tion (Specialist for Kleist).
Greiffenberg: Armd. ~edge. -- FollOw up Echelon (2CCO
modations). -- Demends on Air Force.
S&lmuth (Mieth):
a) Difficul ties about Li'ge.' No change~
XVII Corps Hq unde:r Army Gp.? Nol
b) Map maneuvers, With observers from the A:rnies.
Sodenstern: Solution for Kleist (Zeitzler). OhdH.
J~cob: Todt has been boasting about 500 tons of steel.
Fuehrer "100% behind him".
JodI will speak to the Fuehrer agHin ano. eXDlain
the situation. Should the Fuehrer persist, JodI
will consult us before anything is done.
ObdH.
- 101
Re)ort from AGps. B and A that Goering has recuested
the two Cs in C to see him in his special tr~in
at Koblenz on Wednesday night.
ObdH is getting in touch with the Adj utan tis Offi
ce of ObdL about this matter. ;:..-
Greiffenberg, Roehricht, Buhle: Air - ~round identifica
tion. -SUpervision of training outside the Arm~r
area. Chemical smoke exercise. -- Porses and truck
problems~ -- Industrial Guards East.
29 February 1940.
- 102
Sixth Armd. Div. into area of Thirteenth
mot.: Second Echelon. 3 LC'..l"ch
Second mot. Div. into area of 29th mot. :
Second Echelon. 3 FE'.l"ch
Thirteenth mot. Div. an~ 29th mot. Div. = _
Tl ird Echelon. RI3ad9'~;l I\:erch
Swap Ninth Armd. Div. for Eighth Armd. Div~
Completed 7 ERrch
noon.
30) What are the subjects of the Koblenz tRlks?
movement e ) A
Gripe s aboJu_t
11.) Tng. Course for Btry. and OQ. COs. Submit t~
bulation. See Appendix ***
12.) Hq for Klc is t . Kretschmer, Ol-j.l fqr r. _(' :'st '.
Sticcesscir -{or Pe.mb8rg (repleced h'" Bpi t zc:.~,
Ib,33rdDiv.).
13.)~Glaise-Horstenau?
- 103
-
1 l'larch 1940.
- 104
Order to Zieger: Order on trRining courses conducted
by Div. Vet. Officers.
Courses in the Divisions: ~et. Officers, on feed
ing of horses: all the rest, by officers. Tlc
same in Replacement Army.
a) OQ,u cEl.nnot issue any training orders.
b) Vet. Officers would be put in cha~ge of mat
ters which were always kept. out of their hands.
Greiffenberg: uWeseruebu!}g1l .
Proposed: Kaupisch with ~art of the Ha. (Re
placemonts must be found.) .
SS Deathhead DiVision (instead of Pol. Div., Dlus
2 AA Bns. mot. Elnd one Eng. mot. p.nd MT Regt. ').
No; Fuehrer wants ordinary DiVision.
Three Czech Armd. Trains.
Eleventh mot. Brig. (ready 5 March).
Divisions: Third Mt. Div., two-thirds of 22nd Div.,
69th Div., 212th Div., 196th Di'lr. (Danzig) nill 1)e
r~Qdy Inter. ; ".
MessRge from FuehrGr Chancellery: Fuehrer docs not
want~to t~~e 22nd Div. away from the Dutch front.
Does not went the Deathhead Div. in Hollpnd. *
-Iueller - Weinknecht: Order on trninin~ of horses.
(Zieg"tp-V. Talk with OlJdH on the eUbject.
2 1.arch 1940.
- 105
•
Stat1;.IS r~orts:
Decision by ObdH:
-----, ----
a) D.enmark: KauPisch and one RadiO Co. Hamb'lE'g.
170th Div. (now in Muenster) Jutland. I\~uen
ster.
- 106
,
Hamburg.
Field-i::lign8.1 Hq.
Kaupisch, Hamburg.
Falkenhorst, Luebeck.
Born.
coast defense.
Radio Co.
Supply Services.
- 107
3 March 1940.
4 Iiitarch 1940.
1100 ObdH:
a) Speed up preparations for 1I'":eseruebung".
b) Dispute with AGp. A about j;.T:t. Troops.
I inform ObdH on my talks with Army Gp. on
3 Marqh.
1
c) IIUpstairs tl they don't underst;:md Manstein IS
transfer. Does his successor hElve the neces
sary drive?
d) A representative of Ope Sec. must be disDatch
ed with material to the Koblenz 2nd Mayen con
ferences.
- 108
1130 Ge:::,cke:
a) Keitel has been informed that the arriv~l of
the Armd. Divs. for the extreme northern ning
has been delayed. -inth Armd. Div. lrill not
errive before 9 Mar. Accordingly 10 Mar. is
the earliest a.ate on which 'Ire Cft.n be rep,ely
for attack.
b) Third Mt. Div. will be ready 6/7 ~'flr.
5 Me.rch 1940.
- 109
c) Ge.s '"'arfar-e and sl"!loke screens (Unolc.').
Gas: For 50 km of the offensive front one
million It. Fd. How., 300,000 med. Fd. How_
rounds.
By 1 Oct. stocks sufficient for F lc~go
scale F1.ttack.
1e can produce chemical ,.,{' rf.'-'rc ~nd B)'Joke
rummunition on ~ sc~ln sufficient for tVQ
mpjor ptt~ck8 ~ ye~r.
von ~reiffenoerg: a) ReDort on DrogreRs in transfer of
uni t s.
b) ReEl.dinese for operption lI":c8cr
ueb\J.ng" •
c) Clearing of Traj.ning Centers Rnd
relieving of Divisions.
von in i t zleben: 39 CM be grfldua<ft.ed, 5 nfter rd-" i 0:; ~.on£l..l
training (out of a class of 60); 16 unatrlified.
Suggestions on hOlT to modify the trc ining C0·:.:~.1se
for re-activE'ted G~n.Stp.ff Officers.
vonZiehlber~:
____ _____. .::..£2.. Gen. St~ff Offic~r' in Eleventh Brig.:
Sixt von Arnim. -- Buch~iespr is to stay With
Schoenh...-erl.
Presentation of Gen. btE'ff gift to OhdH on 22
!.ir1rch.
'Var Journal OKH. -- The Gook should be '.1T ritton
by chapters, under tt3 ti tlE:: liThe; OKH in tho
British ~;TE'r".
Yon Etzdorf: r·.or~'egian qu est ion. -- Pe£lce foelc:.:'8
Russia - Finland. Welles' tour. Conferenco nith
Fuehrer in [1. very cool atmos·ohere. The Ft o.;1:!.~er
outlined his familiar ideRs:" ive c")re the victims
of aggression. Our aim is DeRce, tho £liD of OtIT
enemies is annihilation .. Welles "'ill be 8:]1 t off
not ?ithout some hope.
7agner: Field-Police Replacement School.
Leaves re~din~ ffiRtter for me: ~conomic situa
tion. -- Qonstruction of obstpclos.
Supply for Kleist I s Group. Supply for 0 ' )0;:';:'
tion "Weseruebung 1t •
Sch1~'andner and RF:l schik: Briof inq:.
Orders for Air Reco~naissance. AllocC'.tion
for AAA. -- Training questions.
Keitel OKW: Instead of l63rd, keep F1nother Div. of
equal vrlue reRdy, in the background, to ro~luce
l70th Di v. 198th L"nd "ehr Di.v. 44th Di r.
One Regional Defense unit.
Available reserve: One Div. OKW Resrrve.
- 110
1 or 2 15 cm Bns. Pass on et once to 0').
Sec.
c) ... t
no entry. - Ed._1
6 r.rtf'.rch 1940.
- 111
Army, at the disposal of BdE. Every Co. must
ficer candidates.
- 112
Col. Schaefer: OKW deceotion meAsures •. Intim~tions of
GermAn plpns for ,on offensive from the PAlntinnte
and the Upper Rhine. Lost letter *
Iriieth: Report on tour to AGp. A.
l\bp mFmeuvcr. Dfltn for sup-.:>lemcn tpry mt2p mnneu
vcr (Jcuse crossing).
Thoma reports. Briefing on his nom job.
Greiffenbe£g:
a) Warlimont: Gocrilg is resoonsible for the
chRnges. 69th Div: n.nd Th-ird Mt. Div. h,".ve
flamethrom.::rs. Study under way to determine
Whether more ,ore needed.
tWd. Artillery: Our 15 cm guns hfl_'!c been [1.1
loc:::ted to Sixteenth, TtlTelfth FInd FOU1 th l.r
1
7 .dp.rch 1940.
- 113
Xylnnder: Reuort on the information obtained from S~iss
sources '(Bircher). XylC'ndor t s SWiss si tue,tion map
is correct as far as the Rhine front is concerned.
Follgiebel" informs me of surveillance of OKH by yoli
tic~l agencies. (How dignified!)
Report on telephone service and other communicB-~ ~c
tions in operntion "'Jesaruebung ll •
Jacob: a) Bridges over Our and Saur rivers.
b) Construction of Artillery emplacements in the
Sa[lr position.
c) 12 new Bridge Clms. Ope Sec.
d) Mine detonating "darpet".
!!£:£E.£ reports. ',Ve tplk Ftbout mission of Ar~or in fight
ing as a team 'ith Inf.
Erfurth: }~chives questions. -- ~ar JournFtl.
Weinknecht: Preparations for operf1.tion ll·,Veseruc'bung ll •.
Greiffenberg: 1I~'leseruebung\l. Conference OhdH / ~'l.Gi).
A, ~ledne sday, 13 IViE1rch. Anti-tpnk
, defense in
Eighteenth Army!
""J[1.gner: sa ~nd Police are recruiting volunteers.
~ . i.. .•
Turning in ")f Winter ~auipr1ent by
~
.-
. . . f thA Arnies
.
•. · .
Je 1 trc-..ining C fi urU3 ffir Ib .:)fficprR· (cl~6o. 0f
15). Instructor Elchlepp, Ir, 255th Div.
Centrnl Br~nch. ,Gi~ssen.
- 114
8 ~Enr ch 1940.
- 115
Mieth: Report on proposels of AGp. C And feint Qttacks
2t Kadenbronn (one Div. required, if possible
60th), and southeast of :tvreibruecken.
O-Jerregierungsrnt Toos presents report on ovpr-Qll
- - - - wee.ther-situation. .
von Thoma reports on his first acts in the neTI job.
---Stress on cooperc..tion ~Tith Tng. Sec. End OI'g.
Sec.
"
Intelligence summary for the West. -- SS re
cruiting drive uses bait of deferments. -
Foreign Office wants contncts in Romo. ~18o
with Pope. To be arrang~d·~hr0ugh P&illi3
von Hesse.
Buhle: Report on his inspection tour to thp front of
XIX and XVIII Corps.
Organizationrl questions regarding Armd. Troops
and Mt. Troops.
Evening. LeQve from Gruenewald Station lor Gr~
fen-,oehr.
9 lfn.rch 1940.
- 116
Once ~blanket smoke" is recognized ps "instrument"
of success, we mUEt improve upon it and study ~nd
tr~in for its combination vith other methods. The
necessary organiz~tionnl preparRtions must be mnde
to the end of asccrtRining the flpproprip,te number
0nd disposition of smoke units ?nd to org~nize the
supply of smoke ~mmunition in order to insure ef
fective applicRtion of this weRpon, when needed.
Radio direction beam and other devices for orien
t~tion in bl~nket smoke must be furthor developed.
10 Mf'.rch 1940.
- 117
11 !, p..rch 1940.
- 119
12 March 1940.
Jeschonneck:
a) Forces detached for oper~tion "~oseruebung":
Only throe Groups~, including
one Fighter Gruppe tRken from Sixth Army
one Divebombol' Gruppe 11 n T1;'felfth Army
th:.. . ee AAA Bns. : - one n II Cnv. Di v.
one t1 n Fourth Army
one 11 II T'"!clfth Army
b) Shifting of moin 1'feight possible nhenover need
ed.
c) ';valcheren.
d) Air lan~ing operption - one more Regt.
e) No AAA for Cav. Div.
f) Storch plRne operRtion (15~~~) not on tho
southern boundC'_r1'q~*" 200 Storch plNlos, two
flights in Gudorian's sector.
g) Bridge at Canne$ #. .
h) Air observatio~. T8chnic~1 questions. We need
close-range Ron. planes. Cut down on long
rRnge ReconnnissanJe? ObdH: not at the mo
ment.
Koestring: Report from Russia.
OQu IV: Information on foreign rr:lptiGns.
Gehlen: Hq installations :1Lcwer .M.:':ine tl rend nEifel" will
be integrated intJ SYSt2~ of ncrmnnont border
fortj ficatiions r
Mieth: Problems :t'or tho ma.D I!!C).ne·~~ver 'co be conducted
by OQ,~I I soon.
Leave for Koblenz.
Conference at Koblenz.
1000 AGp. A: Outline of the basic and 8Decinl feRtures
of 9peration 11 Gelb n in line /.ri th Sod.enstern I s Me
morandum, deSigned to ensure unified conception and
Rction.· .
- 120
Fourth Army: Presentation pf plans. Air
field-S:-especially fighters, are a long rJay off;
must be moved forward Boon; transfer, if Dossible,
by air.
·e Twelfth Army:
up"
~uestion of XVIII Corps is brought
- 121
v
Army Gp.: Submit proposnls on timing~ ?ive
days after Rnnouncement.
M~terial for obstacle and position construction:
Order must be issued.
Right ling; Wit zleben! 9 103 om Etrys. hpve been
1)repared.
Signp.l communicE:t ions after trf'nsfer of Sixteenth
Army to AGu. C.
Hq AGp. C at Wittlich??
Dallmann thinks he cannot free the good Divisions
before the end of f01J.r weeks - .:Uddle of Ap:nil - •
von :'i t zleben is 800 men short in er~ch Division.
Jeschonneck *: Sperrle is sending everybody copics of
----the orders for hrmy operF,t ion lIR.'lubvogelk.ncfigtl~~*
as bacltground for his own orders. ComDrr;mises
security!
1700 Conference on gener~l questions. See matcri£l,l
t~ken to conference.
Conference with Gen. Obst. von Bock: Right wing of
.c;ighteenth Army too- compc'ct.
Conference 1'1i th HLr.h COr1f.1nnd Epst: HE've tpnl': defense ·L
ditch. built by 'an organiz~tion prtterned cfte~ Or
ganization Todt. Should not tpke chprg0 of ~GUS~~~!
ing, feeding, etc. Gehlen.
~voning~!~lk delivered ~y ~immler.
14 1Carch 1940.
--.L122
lI":!eseruebung ll plus 3, unle8s lIWeserue Ill.ng,r
provokes rcaction setting in motion ~12ns
for operation "Emergf'ncy ll. Should tho of
fensive in the West be done alone, thore
would be a fivc-day Rlert, but only until
such time when troops would hpve re~ched
level of intensified prepfl.redness; thero
Rfter, three dRYS would suffice.
von Bock 1200:
a) 207th Div. ~ill strike for Arnheim Rnd Does
burg.
227th Di v. for Zutphen by tho shorte'st route;
detaching to Devan·tar only one Regt., on trucks,
to cooperate With the Armored Tr~in.
b) Movement of SS Div. * to the Rhine is stretch
ing like a tape:~rorm; things there loo:C 1I c.ll
fouled Upll **. This mRkes 11.11. protect::'on 10Ub
ly necessary.
Fellgiebel: a) Re~ort on completion of signfl.l facili~~2~
ties for Felsennest. (Sketch 'Jill be
mimeographed.)
b) Roport on result of Rome-Berlin confe
rence.
von Ziehlberg: ~ppointments for 0 - 1 posts
------War Journal: Harbou, ~qben0u, Schmidt.
VariomB current matters.
Housinger: a) Perl #. AS·:;£l.ult Hction, tlJo ConDr'.nies.
AGp. C is notified.
b) Current mRtters, including tr~nsfer of
Hq AGp. C to Nittlich.
c) -iTuldau: 1. ) lIGroun of Storch Dlenes" west
of Bnstogne (possibly Alzet
te) •
2. ) Fighter fields must ~o ~oved
forWRrd in Fourth A~~y.
rill let us ~non.
3. ) AAA for X and IX Corps. -;ifill
let us know.
4.) An additionAl Re~t. f~om the
entraining area of 22nd ~iv.
Equipment for one Re~~. 3till
in Hannover. T2~O Regt.
from 46th Div. 1
d) Boundfl.ry of Upper Si188ia: Ne~ delimi
tation?
e) 60th Div. to be trRnsferred to 2re~ north-
vest of Kaiserslautcrn. AGp. C!
- Yes.
- 123
Evening talk by Rabenau at the OffiC0rs' Clu~.
15 Mfl.rch 1940.
16 Mm"'ch 1940.
- 124
Keitel. Pers. Div.~-~KBinrici at 0ur disDosnl effecti
ve 1 Apr. for special ]T\issions(zbV)·~ Tng.Sec.
Leyen as Infarit~y Suecielist to Blas~01itz.
1330 Lunch.
From 1430 Fuehr'"'r Conference. C in C AGp. B, with C§:s.
Eighteenth nnd Sixth hrmies •
•
17 Harch 1940.
l@ Earch 1940.
- 125
1530 to 2300: Hieth mnp m[l!1euver tlBet':;l€' of t;1::l Heusen.
19 March 1940.
20 Mn.rch 1940.
- 126
~----~~- ----~~-----------~~-----
21 Merch 1940 ..
127
b) Wednesday, 27 £J1ar., 1330, conference Leeb, ~
Felber, Witzleben, Dallmann vffith Fuehrer.
00}' Sec.
- 128
French Armies e~e alreedy beaten and that the bulk
of the enemy reserves is tied down on the mnin
front.
Evening. Oelebration in Brauchitach's home of his 40th
service anniversary.
22 Mp.rch 1940.
23 IV~("'rch 1940 ~
Gen
~ Sec. ',vinter:
1. ) Details for the Fuehrpr conference on 27 March.
I
2. ) Inquiry to Army Gps. rel!ard in2; o:'J\;ration
II Gruen II " '.
3. ) Data for Opcra~len·Ynp~~'Rhino. ,
4.) Calculation of time nopded for assembly of
Italian forqe s on thl')" UDDer Rhine._
.'. -:~24- -Me..;reh-:~ 1940 ..:- !E~s-oGr ,~'Sunaay') .. ' ~ .. 25 'LI,:",r.c'h 1940.'
- - (EF'ster', r~ond."'.JT, .,. Berlin.)
.
,.
_ l
, .
..
129,
! ••
1+ I,
26 March 1940.
- 130
in sufficient strength, which requires
long preparation. It would be pointless,
in pursuing this objective, to combine
the operation with an operation through
Savoie.
2.) If the operation is designed to contain
enemy forces, it must be launched con
currently with our big offensive. Inas
much us in that case it would have to
be called on short notice, it would of
necessity be a weaker effort, at least
in the initial phase •
• On no account ~ust the operation be
allowed to divert our attention from
the ~ajor operational objective, so
long as we can see any possibility of
attaining it. That objective is the
lower Seine.
Map Winter. !:Tap Heusinger.
d) The suggestion might be made to change over
to plan "Gruen" in the event that the re
suIt s of the Belgian offensiva aro,- . _
inconclusive, and to launch a strong ~pper
Rhine offensive within the framework of
operation "Gruen".
I have no sympathy at all for tpis scheme
which is reminiscent of LUt].cndorff t S policy
of uncoasing attacks in 191e. It would mean
the adoption of the stra'tegy of attrition,
a policy that is sterile of succoss.lf we
reach that point I'd rather pass to the
defensive.
e) Meanwhile some more intensive work must be
put into co~putation of stre~gth reqUire
ments, especially Artillery and bridging
equipme~t, ~nd into planning the disposit
io~ of troops for battle, the initial
attacks and the individual missions.
Even n00 we can be sure that the Italians
will yet make heavy additional demands for
AAA, med. Artillery and Bridge Construct
ion uni ts.
Also take along: Material on preparations
for pillbox destruction.
Holland: Falkenhnusen7 Ope Sec.
•
1700 - 1900 Conference at ObdH uith Gen.Obet. von Leeb
and Gen. Felber on "Gelb", "Gruen" and "Braun".
- 131
27 March 1940.
- 132
~hile all this is going on he seems to be
keeping a wary eye on the situation in the
East. French actions aiming at a rupture ~ith
Russia are evidently just what he wants. He
is pleased with the recall of the Russian
Ambassador from Paris.
In conclusion he expresses his satisfaction
wi~h the good use made by the 7ehrmacht of
the forced inactivity of the past six months
and aoknolledges the efficacy of the prepara$
ions effected, ~hich inspire him with faith
in full SUQcess. (Never since IS70 has there
been such a favorable balance of political
and military strength.)
5.) Afteruardsconference of the Fuehrer with ObdH
and Chief of Gen. Staff on continuance of the
operation folloDing the first assault, and on
an offensive on the UpDer Rhine.
Regarding "Gruen": At the moment a decisive
major offensive against the Maginot Line is
ruled out by a lack of the requisite means.
However, as the situation develops and the
French forces are inflicted punisbing bloDS,
it would be possible to follow up with this
attack even with comparatively weak forces
reinforced by Italian troopS,within the general
scope of operation ((Gruen Ii ..
Regarding "Gelb": 17e must gain a better jump
off line in the Saar for a subseouent offen
sive !rithin sco:?e of operation 11Gruen". On the
Upper Rhine we ~~st drop the plan of a feint
attack.
On continuance of the m~in offensive: It would
be desirable to push the offensive all the
ray to the Seine, leaVing Paris aside. Then ,When
the enemY'attac~s the front of T7olfth-and .
Sixteenth Arwies, we must str~ke in the direct
ion of the Plateau de L&ng.-"os LLnd destroy the
enemy in northeastern France by an offensive
from the sector of AGpoC, using also Italian
forces.
Regarding "Braun": For this offensive \7e may
reckon with ahout 20 Italian Divs. At the
outset of the offensive, Italy Dill be re
quested to get ready. Italy viII need two
weeks for mobilization. During those two weeks
it will become clear whether or not we have
any prospects of a major success.
If the prospects are good, Italy is sure to
march. It TIill take the Italians 20 days to
get their troops .over to us, so that if every
thing goes according to plan TIe should be
able to strike on the ~pper Rhine about six
- I 33
weeks after X-Day. Op.Sec.
Chief Ope
2~ March 1940.
- 134
With that force he is to conduct an operation
for the capture of the Burgundian Gap and the
western edge of the southern Vosges Mts.,which
would permit continuance Qf the operation in
either western or southwestern direction.
We must ascertain 7hether our forces would be
sufficient to supDort this offensive by a
drive from the Saarbruecken area. Thought
should also be given to planning for extension
of this operation toward Baccarat in the event
that substantial forces should become av~il
able in consequence of failure of the northern
operation to push through.
List of demands for Italy.
Notes for ObdH:
a) Request order for High Command East.
Change of Mission?
b) O~f: Policy on the Kaiser.
c) OKW: Mine laying by Air Force.
d) Plane landing incident.*
e) Guard Bn. Godesberg. Regular Army ? Yes
1700 - 1900 Conference vrith Ohili.
- 135
Fromm:l.) Ready for shipment: 6 Apr.:Seven (41) Hv.
How, Bns" some with two (2) and some with
three Btrysw (5).
25 Apr.: On~ Hv. How.Bn. of three Btrys.
Early May: three Bns.
Beginning 1 June: Two Bns. per month. Org.
s.eo.
2. ) Divisions from the East. Org.Sec.
3. ) Replncement Bns. East o - - Regional Defense Bns.
Org. Sec.
4.) Donrt give Todtany planning figures. ObdH
is going to talk with Todt himself on Monday.
Gen Qu.
AGp. C is reported to be sending back all old
men. Shortages still open. Org.Sec.
6.) Fieldpost reorganization reportedly 7i th
exclusion of General Army Office.
Trauch reported in charge. Gen.Qu.
7.) Promotion Langendorff.
g.) Harness~s' critically short. Gan.Qu.
- 136
Buhle: a) Retrenchments in trucks and horses.
b) Replacement Transfer Bns. for all D.ivs~ of
the First to Fourth Drafts by 15 April.
c) Withdrawal of all Tanks I from Fifth Armd. Div.
disa~)proved•
30 March 1940 0
- 137
Op. Sec.:Current matters.
Gehlen: Main battle line of Busch in southern Luxem
bourg.
Evening Leave for Frarucfurt by special train.
- 138
II. After dis¢ussing the role of operation "Klei
ner Falke", the following modifications are
proposed:
Burgundian Gap: 4 German Divs. (southern
sector)
2 Italian Divs.(northern
sector, Neuf
Brisach)
2 Alpini (behind right wing)
4 Italian Divs. in reserve
1 German Div~ in reserve
~erman and 8 Italian Divs.
=
13 (as before).
Central Vosges: 3 German Divs. (northern
sector)
4 I~alianDivs.(southern
sector)
3 Italian Divs. in reserve
3 Gerrlan Divs •. and 7 Italian
Divs.- 10 Dive.
(as-before).
hGp. Reserves: 6 Italian Divs. (as before).
Northern Vosges: (Of Gerrlan Divs. only Static
Di vs 0 )
4 I-+';al:tn.:'l Divs •
~rtess than before).
- 139
above a comparatively low level. His reports
are of indifferent quality. He shows good
will, b~t may not h~ve the required aggressi
veness. Ia Offic er, Degen, recei.ves high !,)raj"se.
Ib Offiger, Gartmayr, is rated very good. Suit
able as Ia. Any change as late as possible,
honever.
Other problems and sugGestions:
a) Large phBur.lntic boats (56 on hand). Can be
carried qn ammunition trailers.
b) Counter battery fire is problem. Has no Obser
vation Bn.! Teamwork with Air F'orce is not
sr.1ooth.yet. Op.Sec., Eng. II Org.Sec.
c) Hq. pile~ hir.1 with too Dany orders, e.g. wet
socks should be dried, drainage must be provid
ed for' in' snow clearing, etm. Central
Branch.
d) Corps (Arty. COr.1mander 109) has directed 79th
arty, Regt. to submit efficiency ratings on
over 100 Officers and on 300 Technicians down
to gun pointers. *
e) Replacements frOD ZI are of disappointing
quality.
f) Person'1el transfers to othc:r un! ts.. Change of
COP.ll:1anders. 'l'ransfers by name ordered by Eng.,
Signal, Arty. cO:Jponents wi thout consultation
of the Division. Pers~ Div o
- 140 ':""
1 April 1940.
ably on 8 Apr.
~einkn8cht: ~conomic measures prepared for pros~ective
Ourrent matters.
2 April 194.0.
- l4t
In Rll, ~e shflll be able to form R~~ut 90 ser
viceable Clms. out of 145 ~>rmy Clms. Thcnreti
c~lly that le.::'.ves ,BB Dr>-rsl")nnel Clms., ~~utl :"c
tunlly I"Inly 30 crn be reem'!J10yCr1. (~_i:;ht 8ven
tur:lly be re-equim)ed. with B('l:!i r.-n truc):;:s.)
These estimated 90 GHg fruck Glms. must meet
our requirements for Li~ge" the EasGern Divs.
and the o~erations on the upper Rhine.
c) 'i'rucl-<. .. osi tion~ Sixteenth and Eighteenth Armies
now apparently satisfactory. In the Twelfth
Army still di:t'flcult" .Lnspection tour Koblenz
fu ayen - bittburg o
,"l •
Buhle -~rei~fenberg'
horst in tloll~nd.
5 plus 3 =
8 Landwehr Divs.
- 142
For tine being three be ~andwehr UiVS.(M~Y
assigned elsewhere).
Up to eight i le5 ional Uefense Divs. from the
newly acquired area of rligh Com-n.und i!jest.
~wo rte~lQce~ent uivs~ (frow the ne~lace~ent
units of the Landwehr uivs.O ~ot to be
called riepl'lce
ment vi VS.
GRq 'iroops.
IV.lil" Distr o I:
~Jlil. Distr o ~'1q.
Border Guard•
agen,~reportso .
3 l1.pril 1940.
- 143
Duhle: a) iolish Artillery for ~andwehr Divisions in
the Last. (Letter to rro~1).
b) ReMote-con trolleu r..ineclearing aPl)ar9. tus.
End of hay 50, 100 on order.
c) h q of Elsenbrunn ~roop Tr~ining Center.
Col.~ueller A~). C rc~orts on dr~ft pl~n for
oper Pl• tion lI.:3raun. II
4 fi.[Jril 1940.
- 144
b) Susgension of ~elecoDlliunication tr~ffic.
Lffective A-I it will be a practical
lwpossibility to telcvhone to enemy countri0s.*
Only vhAnnel left is through Italy.
c) Ins) cted Sif~~l Regt. for Kleist. Everything
all ri~ht. SOGe difficulties about Dotor
vehicles will be straighten(?d out. funber of
frequencies barely suffici~nt.
d) {:ji)erlltion Itljeseruebung" fully pre'lared•
• e) Clash with ~oering** over susvension of work
on tha 1,000 Kd trans~itters. ~ill now be
finished by v nn., 1941. ~eed 300 - 400 skil
led technical workers~
Lt. Col. ~~ench: Tr~nsferred fron 45th Biv. to OKJ,
SE:;c. L. ~hHl', rel)Orts.
~ener2l Thon~s: Show hie our intclligGnce naterial.
Lt. Col. Br~un: Report on Turkey and hoonnill. Asks
for front Ilssignnent.
von 'Ziehlbcrg: iransfer of Gnq: A-I, arrival of
snaIl ,dd vance ~I).rtie s (sev8r.!1l affic ers ).
~ -1, about 1400, dejartur0 of the Ohief
of the Gen. btaff with skeleton Stl).ff,
arrival G300, 0~erativ0, 0600.
-,hen will Oedn follow'?
0Q;u I remqins be:1ind with sn.'lll stllff
a 1r1.<).i ting code\'lorcl. JJrt l1 zig or ~~ubSl..JUr6- TI.
Follow by '?ir~ .
Bulk of )ersonnel will be alerted on ~ Vay,
at 0400, and will arrive in the evening.
Otc ~J..
Suhle: Obdrt wants re-E'qutpnen't of 0£l.v,Div,. with 1918
ty)e 6uns.. ,jill take 8 - 10 o.ays" nequires
entirely new issue of materiel and flrJDunition.
InconvenienG, but can be done.
Six-barreled liD II rocket lJroj ectors: Or,; ani zn
tion in Reginents next f~llo
Oontingent on availability of amounition. For
the tine being test firing •
.
.dctivations: NinE; l:!;ng. Ens. will not get ready
in tine (elate set w~s 10 .d.~)r.. , now ag.qin post
~:"oned to 25 A1)r. ).. rteason: Short3.ge of trucks,
bacnuse Fuehrer w~nts nobilization of the ~lghth
~raft speeded up (15 .dpr. )
- 145
Fuehrer wants third ntrys. for the ~ivs. of
Seventh Draft. Obdci.
(vvill t9.ke until !.J.,:\y). -- It would be ';)ett er
to let theD go with two Btrys. ~nd give sone
Arty. also to the Divs. o~ rli~h Cowr.and ~ast
(Sixth to &inth) (to nid-JuneJ •
• 0930 ObdH:
1.) Qgrreslti0ndence with vodl on overtltion
rnun •
2.) (Reply) OK,{ directive of -1 ~l)r. Discussions
with Roattn will ~t first be through OK~
only.
3.) Leeb's Jroposal and ny co~ents.
4.) Reconn~issance nission for O~. Sec.
5.) Stuelpnqgel Liaison Staff. &eat Berlin
GOl1.esberr~
(zo b. V. :... Obdri - ~'lieth.. O~u - O~u I)*
Gyldenfeld~ to Stue~~na;el)
1<-0itel
o
Stuel)na~el ~re8ent
at
first confarence. RC-'jly ~vOK:.
LPoints 1. ) -5.) 8.re bracketted bYJ i3r''1un' ..
6.) neor~anization of rli~h Gonr.nnd ~~st. See 2
.L~_)r., 19'.1:0. JJr.'1ft J!rob>os~l 0)0 Sec.
- 146
d) nDo n 8ix-b~rreled Rocket Projectors to be
organized in negioents only if ~~unltlon
~vailable. Uenonstr~tion before O~dH soon
(18 AiJr. ).
e) Third Btrys. for Seventh .lJraft·1 Detter
let high CODw~nd ~ast ~ivs. (Sixth to Ninth)
have sODe ~rtillery~
f) ~xtra equipnent for ~t.~iv. (truc~,kss~ult
btry., pneuQatic boats on trailers).
Ob<lu order forthconing.
8.) Lsicl ~ransfer of GHq; see 4 ~pr. rteport
on Felsennest.
9.) ~eQth0r forecast.
10.) ~iscellaneous.
- 147
d) 9 ~)r., ~orning, notificaGton of the Cs in C.
e) Proposal Kleist - Reinhardt Guderiftn.Check
logistic~l ca9~bilities. Gen ~. Ope
Nust be SQQothly running by Diddle of next
week~ 10 ~~r. Gvening.
Re.;.)ly to Arny Gp.
f) Tr~ininG of nrmd. Divs. von nock w~nts ~
cor.b:i.ned exercise Ninth .drnd. i>iv.l1nd SSe
• Needs fuel" .c.;xercise on -iond!'J.Y. Tnt?;. Sec •
Gen ~u.
~) Schriid t - D9.nltwart. * i·r!1.inin~ course Ilt v'vahn
bo.c'Lly n.qnfJ.boc. [fwo sylibols Illegible.J
brand.
h) Activations: F'ror:i;~ to see the ~"uL;hrer on
Sunday.
ReGion~l ~ef8nse Dns., one 9.fter ~nother.
OQrtS. Sec.
i) &~~ ~ightetnth ,d,rny has one Dn. for X C01';1S.
l~ot yet clear:.<l) \vhether .tL~ uni ts will
'~ollow our troovs into
rlolland when airfields aTe
noved forwar(. ':rhe sane fJ.bout
~tl of C~va Div.
b) nir defense on the Meuse nust
CO t~ken over oy LUft~lJ.u**,
so tn.qt all fo~qrd Cor)s r.9.y
take their L~~~ with theD.
k) Witzleben: Greater c~ution in 9atr~11ing
(Elf'lbushes ),! :De'cter l.)!'el)ar'3.tion., Stron;ser:Too
costly~ ~o ordersJ nagner g
6 April 1940.
- 148
0930 Greiffenberg: Current subjects discussed at
yesterday1s conference with ObdH.
1020 Gercke:
a) hailro~ds must maintain state of alert for
operatlons o
b) Tr~nsfer to Godesber3o-- ~here will iransport
t
Chief!s personal office be after moving1
c) rteorganizatlon of nioh Connand ~ast.-
Preparations for "~raun".
1120 OQ,u IV Tipl.Jelskirch:
Rintelen on Brenner conference: Muasolini: Itnly
- 149
orien t then on II vreseruebung II and to di scuss
l1
11 Sofortfall ).
- 150
b) War strength of the italian uivs. 10w.No modern
GHq Artillery.
c J ~oints to be discussed prior to conference
Roatta/Rintelen.
1000 OQ,u IV reports that everything connected. with "\ve_
seruebung" has been going according to plan.
The impression is gained that the enemy is
not aware of anything as yet.
Roehricht:
oJ FurloU!3~hs at the start of the opera tion. ~v'.hr'1 t
o,re we __going to do about the furloushed men?
Have them repr'lrt t r ) their R!Dl. v_ni ts.
Don't have all of then sent to the front
( 150, 000 ) • -;:. .
b) The' ·d.rnl e s are keel)ing Inf. squads WflY blJ.ck
with the field kitchens, 80 as not to ~~ve
too nany men at the front.
c) Training unner ndE jurisdiction av)~rently
needs to be controlled more closely by us.
(Olbricht will look after that).
- 151
~nd on nilitary conversations with the Italians.
Jacob Gehlen:
a) .L~ction taken with res.L)ect to request 'by J.~GJ.1. C
for allocation of construction material (steel)
so that work on construction .LJrojects for
Infantry would not have to be ne31ected over
construction projects for Artillery.
b) Orscholz defense syste8. ~endln0 questions
will be sett18d by Jacob in versonn1 inter
views on the spot.
c) ~e Dust requisition from Clnef of Arny
Armaoent 16,000 tons of steel for the next
four months.
d) Steel turrets e~rnarked for ~ast Prussia nust
be kept available for the \46S G for tine bein~.
e) 15,000 kn of (to.l.)J.)Gr cO-"01e in the Por'!ernnl!1.n
and O~er fortificQtions Dust be released for
cl.isnantlin.:s.
f) EXi)eriences i th Dine c:'0ton-:. tin.:; nets.
1N
Heusinc;er 1900~
- 152
There is still action off Christiansand.
Fighting at Oslo. Landing at il.l.oss and DroebDk.
b) Dennark under protest has accepted the Gernnn
conditions e Troops hnve bean ordered not to
resist~ Occupation of Jutland and of the
islands entirely according to ~lan.
c) Air lorce conmenced o~eration at 0730, as
, schec1r.led. Order has been siven to attack
Military targets at Oslo.
d) 0515 SS Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in action
west of the Lofoten Islands. No new reDorts
up to now, en;a~enent ap~ar ntly broken off.
1000 t8.1k wi th CoL ,~a?ner on J..)re.l.)arntions for tf3kinp';
Dennnrk under our adninistration.*(Gcn Qu).
Gercke: 198th and 214th Divs. which will be used ~s
reinforce~ents f0r ~orway, instead of Denr.Rrk
Dust be d.irectecL to the Dal tic ports between
Luebeck Rnd Stottin.
von Brnuchi tsch: -~ew Elan to rt";.l.)lace .:3ec~{er ....-Acti vate
now Cor)St1qs (nid~~le of A,)ril), but leave
[D~")ointlJent of COT1r.1anc;ling GenG~o..ls open.
I sur.::::es G Col. .:)uhle (or n.l so l:Jt''lJ.)f and Gei b)
to re)lace oecker. v. bra n~s Dockelberg in
rinr1.
vV'a,-;ncr: a) Reports on survey in the .:>lack Fore st.
b) nuerkel rather than Sprenger ~s Civil
srlnin e Chief in First Arny or we shall
never see tho end of that tu~-of-war.
c) Su~))ly base Vienna (fuel, c'lj"1ilunition).
d) Ste~s to vreclude carele8s destruction
of econo~ic ass~ts (collection of booty,
JrOja~Rn~a, order throu~' Gen. Staff
ch'lnnels ).
Gen. Jacob: ,tt'riction with 'J:odt (Orscholz barri er
i)osi tion).
Kinzel, Report on tour:
l~) hun~arian ideas on no~~nia. rtun~ary requosts
early conference of ~X~0rts, to en~blc her
tor in Trnnrylvania.
- 153
Horthy insists on role of Commander-in-uhief.
Demands Italy must be informed if sucn 'conversa
tions are going to take place. (Not of substance,
but of the fact.)
We would have to look after our own logistical
arrangeoentso-- rlungarians will mass forces
against Northwest*.
ReDly by ObdH.
22)~xchange of views on XU60s1avia. Agreement.
3. )DoD.estic situation: Jews, clergy, nobility.
4. )Disappointment over our failure to deliver
arms •.
5. )Hungarians are not going to fortify Carpathian
border.
1630 .£nl landing o.J?erations COLll)le ted, except at Oslo.
1800 Oslo in our hands; proclamation asking popula
tion to return"
1900 Gen. Jodl:
a) Occupation completed. Uonpletion of defensive
preparations ~ot yet assu~ed] owing to delay
in arrival of trans~)orts ~1Tlth requisi te
forces. Air Force will hal~ out o
b) Wour Air TransJort Gru~)en scheduled for
cargo lift will be u8ed for shipment of
additional forces to ~orway instead o
Ope Sec.
,.
Norway: Narvik without loss~s, only weak resist
- 154
Christians~nd: Heavy fighting, losses.
Egersund and Arendal: Slight resistance.
Oslo was alerted.. 0p~Josi tio!} of the shore Btrys •. ,
especially in the Droebak strait. S.S~Luetzow
s~nk~ She carri~~ the Hq,. of 163rd Div., parts
of Hq. of XXI COrlJS, a!1d 800 men•. Bombers
silenc~d shore Btrys. with two Bns.. we now are
in full control of the city. ~ third Bn. will be
moved in yet today (of 163rd Div., Engelhard).
Tonorrow four to six additional Bns.!
NorNegian Governnent has fled to Hamar. Par~1":·)
troops have been sent after it. Losses: S.S.
Luetzow, some mine sweepers, one transport
vessel, 9 Junkers, two Heinkels, Coastal
fortificRtions are all in our hands;
Troops: 196th Div. is now in transit in the Belt.
198th Div •. will er.foark in Hamburg tomorrow. Will
go through. the Kiel canal to l'Jorviay.
1930 Bogatsch again raises the questlonsef Long
.~ I
range~ Rcn Staffeln.
The Air Force does not want to give us the
required nunber of Staffeln, unless we release
Long-range Staffeln (~rmy Gpsv and GHq).
Bogatsch states that this obstinacy is without
any r.easonable foundation. Tile cJ.ose-range Rcn.
St~ffeln could b8 activated (four we8ks) also
without cutting down on the Long-range Staffeln.
10 April 1940"
- 155
,
Gen. Brandt:
a) Recent deliveries of Lt. Fd. ~ws. show un
accountably great drop of muzzle velocity.*
lvia·cter is being investigated (.Baur.lholder )**
b) Artillery ~ourse for non-Arty. Officers in
Artillery dqs unnecessary for time being.
c) Very good impression of Flettner helicopter
seen at demonstration at the Rec.i.llin Testing
Stationn
- 156
Italy: .
l'1ussolini reCeives our Ambassador: I(German action
-justified and necessaryll.
action.
!?-~gres8ivee
1.Qlland: Vague.
t France: atmospherE depressed. nritish units show
nervousness.
11 dpril 1940.
- 157
Wagngn~~~ Buerkel to become Civil Admin f Chief First Army
at the earliest (not later than 20 Apr. )
Pfeffer for Holland or Belgium.
b) Denoark transferred from OKW to OKH control.
c) Clothing situation only fair.
ObdH: a) Situation: Many british submarines in the
Skagerx'ak and K a ttegat .dri tish report 13
3
- 158
We have made an official request to Sweden for
permission to use the Swedish railroads in
connection vith our occupRti0n operption. ~o
MsWer yet.
b) RODania: ,veizsaecker believes the only way to
iopress Rooania is by making her realize t~at
we would act with greater dispatch and v~gor
than the British. In any event he is partial
to the forculation lI against Rooania ll :t?ather
than II for hor::ania '.1. '
Russia has SODe unsettled scores with Romania,
e. g • .3essarabia. ~ve carillOt prevail on Russia
to give an official promi~to oaintain a hands
off policy. Russia will not start anything, but
neither will she make any prooises which we
could exploit in negotiations with Romania.
Bulgaria will keep quiet of her own accord, and
Doreover we would always be able to control her.
Hungary pursues a policy of doing
nothing without our approval.
If we want to induce RODania to adopt ~, nc~ntive
attitude toward a British landing, this could
be Dost readily accoopllshed through the
M:ilitary Attache,.not through diplomatic chan
nels •
.dS to Bulgaria, it is belleved that any L:,nglo
French invasion atteo?t fro~ the South. would
Deet real opposition.
Italy will CODe to the SUP90rt of Rooania in
the event that RusL.2.a should disturb the peace
on the Balkans; in case the :Uri tish break the
peace there, Italy will probably consolidate
her position in Albania and perhaps occupy
Croatia J without declaring war on anyone or
taking the side. of the one or the other party.
~urkey is positively against war. ~ut she Day
tolerate a Larch through her territory, under
protest. Co'JDitDents arising froD her alliance
with the rlllied powers becoDe operative only
if hostLlities involving Italy spread to the
eastern ~editerranean.
c) Situation in the ~/es t: j:i'rance has offered her
protection to nelgiu~. The King and the Cabi~ct
have declined.
Holland is reported to have closed her frontier
today.
- 169
12 April 1940.
bulletins.
Godesberg/Felsennest.
- 160
~lso discuss: rolitical situation (Talk with
\~'ei zsaecker).
-- Close-range Rcn. Staffeln
(letter to Goering). -- Official designetion of
battles*. -- Furloughs in the eVent of operRtions.-
Mail eobargo in the event of operations.-
~fter return from Derlin
von Greifr~n~erg: a) Liaison officers to Armies. (30ck
objects).
b) ~lercing of reserves for Southeast.
c) Liaison~* with Copenhag3n and in
structions for XXXI Corps.
Gen Qu: a) Sixteenth, Twelfth, Fourth, Sixth, Eighteenth
ArIJies: ifruck strength satisfactory.
b) 50~ of skilled workers for ZI MT Depot have
arrived. Situation inproved.
c) Rubber assured for six months. Rubber blocks*'~-lf
remain a headache.
Trucks: oy the end of July a totati of 3,000.
(1,000 for the' Field Ar.cy; requirenents
5,000. )
13 April 1940.
- 161
Weser - ,wuerzburg get anti-aircraft protection
from ~ransport Protection Coooand equipped with
2 CEl A...-l. Guns.
d) Fuehrer has disapproved cancellation of the
preparations (concentration)for lI@:elb". Now
24 hours' notice for jw~p-off.
ObdH: a) Responsibility for coastal defense in Denmark~.
b) l-i.ed.. .d.rtillery for Denr:lar!U Perhaps . A rtillery
of 170th Div. or ~lev6nth Brig. mot.
c) 3ue:.~kel; Stuckart pl"'otests.
OQu IV: Current oatGcrs.-- Ke~piag eye on Southeast.
Letter to Gen. Werth*~
OQ,u II, O~u I: Planning data for lI.jraun II. Conclusion:
We do not have enough drtillery to extend the
offensive by an attack from the Saarbruecken
sec tor.
a) Suc~ a plan would require additional 360
med. Btrys., i.e. the entire GHq Artillery.
If we drop operation II Tiger ll , we 1t!ould 118.ve
I
- 162
gJ Q,uestion ,of separate Commands for all cocbat
echelons.
h) Po,ssible cosplication by summer-floods.
von Greiffenberg: Current matters.
Jacob: Steel shutters of pillboxes on Upper Rhine ~~E~~~~
ed pierced by eneoy fire. Apparently new ~~§n§h
weapon (2 ~ 2.5 em caliber) penetrating 10 em
armor plate.
ObdH 1430: Situation report.
Check whether any Railway Troops are included in
the Norway force.
Tank OOffimand 40* must be pulled out as soon as
possi ble.
What has been taken away by Air Force**1
Chief, Central Branch: Current Gen. Staff matters.-
.L1.U thori zation to wear uniform of Gen. Ste.ff*-lH-.
- 163
Agent re90rt froQ LuxeQgg~~g.?~~§~~ht~~~~~si~n
Deutsch Oth, south of Esch, alerted yesterday
afternoon, .t'·rench planes over Luxembourg terri
tli>ry "
Luxe,mbourg: dll railroads on week~~y schedule
to~ay. Jews have started running away.
(T.hrough Army Group~~*
iest;erc1ay I s strategy conference ~ If things get
ugly up North, we won!t force the issue, but
turn to the Ivest~ In eight or ten days.
AGp. A: Th~ee Bns.** nave not completed their
firing prograQ. AGp. A will send one to Wahn,
one to Schwetzingen~ih" ObdH.
AGp. B: Two Bns. have not coopleted their firing
prograo. aGp. B will Lsentence ler~ unfinished.~
Ed.J
Troop Training Centers.All filled up. ObdH.
Talk with Gen. Obsta vants to see the ,tl'uehrel' at ,1200.
1400 Gen. Obst. von nrauchitsch comes back from ~he
Fuehrer. Results:
Ho~es have been abandoned to hold Narvik.
1I-1]e have had bad luc!': ". The 3ri tish apparently
penetrated into the ~jord and effected a
landing. ~he destroyers in th0~e must in all
irobability be writ~en off as l03t n The
. . ·uehrer does no'~ int-end to thl'.:.r\i' core troops
into the northern operation. It is a question
what Sweden's attitude would be in the event
of a nritish advance on the Swedish iron
ore region, which certainly is intended.
Goering believes the Swedes would resist, the
Fuehrer does not think so.
- 164
3.) Southeast: Fuehrer has been informed on the
over-all timetable.Also was told of Werth's
message. Fuehrer approves direct contact with
the Hungarian Gen. Staff. Keitel will forward
us written directive, which will be based on
the E.ssumption that the Romanians have
allowed the British to land and so will be
regarded as hostile. In that event Hungary's
~claim to Transylvania will be automatically
recognized by us. Rai~road preparations under
high priori ty. OQu I, Op., OQu IV,.
Adjutant. Central Branch.
Must urge Keitel to give us directive in
writing. Then advise Fuehrer office middle
next week that we are ready to present report.
Adjutant.
4.) Transfer of Hq. Fuehrer appreves our plans.
He, too, will Dove his Hq. Central Branch.
5.) Leeb successor of Becker*.
1830 Heusinger:
AGp.A: One Arty.l3n. to WE'.lm )
O~e or two Ers.tG BauL-·)4 /' , . ueys of trainirg
J. u.J...L.
holder ) II
15 April 1940.
- 165
2.) Pl~n to turn ~ren east of thG Vistul~
over. tn S6. I advise Dg~inst it.
von Greiffenberg: Conference wi th iialdau. Gen. Staff
of the .Air Force has not yet given any atten
tion to planning for the Southeast. All work
~s been left to Fourth Air Fleet.
Exchange of views on division of labor between
O~u I, O~u II and Ope Sec.
- 166
Question of the evacuation of the Narvik area
not yet cecided.
OQu IV; Sweden1s role in the Norwegian conflict.
Yugoslavia:· Prince neg6nt has pro-Gerr.lan
sympathies. Is distrustful of Italy ~nd·Russia.
lvlolotov wants iron ore from our mines •.
16 .!-1.Jril 1940.
\
- 167
French i)[lOSpho.i:'.ls S ·'01" e. Demonstpa tion of six- .
barreled Chemical·~rojector at ~uenster, 18 Apr~
0930.
Capt. Loyke (~) "line barrages in the Skagerrak.-
British landing in Denmark unlikely.
Gen. von Stuelpna?el: Distribution of work within "
Stuelpnagel s Group.-- Cooparation with Op.Sec.,
Transp. Ghief, Gen Qu.-- Command set-up on the
Upper Rhine.
Gen. Gercke: ~ilroads in ~orwaY.-- rias to go to Oslo
to set things right.
Bogatsch: Summary report on activities of Air units
attached to Ground Forces on the~vestern front
during the nast six months.-- Flettner heliocopter.
von Ziehlberg-: FalKenhorst has complained that securi~y
was poor in the issuance of war maps.-- Transfer
of former Gen. Staff Officers to the Ge~. Staff.-
Current matters.
Difficulties in fuel allocations The Army
CGs have been thrown into a pother by ObdH.
17 April 1940.
tion.
disruption at Voss:
gress).
- 168
Tippelskirch: Fuehrer does not like ,the idea of a
Resident Representative of Reich Supreme Court;
would make German influence too apparent •.
admira]. Tamm (Sweden) has gone to the Fuehr'er.
Good.! .
Supply movements through Sweden will probaoly
s tart today.
Three writish cruisers are shelling Stavanger.
Gercke: N - 3-not JSel;*•.
Thoma: Reeort on gunnery equipment and combat efficiency
of erman and enemy tanks, and on the effectiveness
of AT weapons on both,sides.
Heusin8er: ~ports about Narvik from a Naval Staff
fficer evacuatad by plane. Destroyers had fired :11
all their amillunition, and so their Artillery
was of no use any longer. have been beached.
G rews of destroyers are almost completely on
shore. They have taken over operation and protec
tion of the ore railroad line.
·, Railroad bridge on Swedish border blasted.
Transhipment possible. Morale of troops good.
Noon Fnrewell to Finnish Attaches.
Afternoon Mieth submits dtaDtsof his plan for the
offensive on the Upper Rhine.
Kossrnann: rteport from Denmark.-- No one is cooperating
with Kaupisch.-- Internal order Maintained by
Danish Government.-- Army demobilized, one
Company left in every garrison.-- Bulk of arms
deposited at aalborg.-- Police service maintained
by Denmark, no German Police. -- heplacement
uni ts can be stationed in .lJenmark.. Ope Sec.
Gehlen: Current oat'Gers.- Also ar.munition for Mil. Distr.
XVIII~ Labor for high CooQand East.
- 169
18 April 1940.
/
19 ~pri1 1940.
0830 - 1200 : Ue~onstration of bridge launchers at
- 170
ftlausdo rf•
Deoonstration of reQote-controlled mine deDoli
tion apparat,~.
( 3. )
To Narvik: Only one train with medical
(
supplies and food for beached naval crews.
( 4.)
OK"v· has been inforf.led of reorganization
( in High Uommand East. No objections.
East Successor gor Gienanth: ~bvrth~Mittel
(
( berger. Koerner must be taken out, together
( with nockelberg. Vogel, Deputy Chief of
( Staff.
South
( 5. ) OKW directive not yet signed by Keitel,
east ( bEcause of Hungary. 1 inter's Memorandum.
(
Vienna Supply Dase.
South. 6.) Italy: First delays.
-
1'71
-
21 April 1940.
- 172
I
I
the reI:lainder goes to new activations in the
ZI). Of these, the first 800 or so will be sent
to new activations at the front (Signal units
for ,'';:) II
l.uraun, Gen ~u, etc. ) •
- 173
b) Six-barreled Rocket Projectors good only for
area fire; large dispersion.
c) Court-oartial questmons. Desertions are in
creasing.
d) Miscellaneous current matters.
Erfurth: a J 8equence~ ~he great strategic picture.-
Ind.i vidual studies (Ezura, * etc,. )-
Of1'icial history of the W a r . , ·
,J b) WGr Journ~IS.-- ~ctivity reports.**(New
directi~l<i?s).
- 174
b) Assignrr.ent of Labor Service uni ts to High
Command .i;ast.
von~r.eiffenb6rg:
23 april 1940.
- 175
Ger. Obst. Keitel:
1300 Gen. Obst. Keitel: Only Mountain troops are suited
for fighting north of Oslo.Accordingly, the Fueh
rer has ordered Second Mt. Div. to be ooved north
through Oslo~at the earliest. Report requested as
to when Second Nt. Div. ~o~ld be ready for shipment.
Destina tion (Stettin or,i~.lborg) will then be
decided by the OKW.
In its place, 170th Div. is released as of now*
(or else substitute Police troops).
Base.
- 1'16
Gercke: rteports on conferences at the Reich Chancel
lery .Cooplete Duddle.
uGelb u evidently not acute at the moment.
von Ziehlberg: von B~ttlar proposed as Ia officer to
Falkenhorst, who says tl~t his present Ia is no
good.
24 April 1940.
- 177
Fuehrer is afraid rtungary 8igh~ want to use
force against Romania. That certainly would
not fit into our policy of maintaining peace
'on the Balkans, but we are sure t Hungary could
do nothin~ of too t sort 'by hp'rq: If. ;iOilld 'set [1,
licking. ~he btate is ripe for internal
collapse. Last sua~er he was assured Hungary
could not wage war for more than three days,
for lack of ammunition~etc. Accordingly, they
would irroediately piie us with enormous
denands.
II iluce has done his best to keep Hungary
quiet, but evidently has not been completely
successful. Fuehrer theref0re has got in touch
with II Duce through Mackensen, and will make
his decisions dependent on II Duce1s.
He wants to leave the Southeast entirely to
the Italians.
It is not unlikely that the Htmgarian p' are -being
egged on by the British. Press rumors on
Geroan troop concentrations on the Hungaro
Slovak frontier are evidently launched by
Hungary to get the Balkans stirred up. It
would serve Britain's interest very well to
have the oil fields blazing, and it would
not matter who puts the matcn to the8. ~ve
vltally need the oil deliveries from the
Ronanian wells, at least until next spring.
After that we should be fre3r.
Fuehrer has advised II Duce:aj Hungary ~~s
made no sacrifices at all to date. b) Hungary
m~st be restrained frOB acting alone, if only
because of Yugoslavia. c) Precipitate action
by hungary might draw ~ussia to the Balkans,
which would be a Dost serious business.
Initiative is left to II DUC0.
b) Gen. Staff convers~~10ns with rlun~ary would
not be exped.ient at this tir:16. vVe night go
as far QS very discreet talks (with werth)
on railroad qU6stions~ (~nglRnd and Hungary
one heQlt and one soul. horossow, the nan
who played with us, has disappeared*. )
Italy's attitude on the Balkans questlons
will deteroine the character of our conver
sations with the tiungarian Gen. Staff. Gen.
Staff conversations on a broad basis are
ruled out. "Only norQal exchA.nge of views
and no three-power conferences, which night
be misconstrued and start interpret ruoors. ii
(The Fuehrer has not yet forgiven the Hungar
ians for not letting him in the Polish
caopaign use the Kosice railroad, which they
owe to hiEl.) ,
- 178
c) ItalY: II Duce has informed his provincial
chieftain9 that it may be only a matter of a
few weeks before Italy enters the war on
Germany I s side. (Rel)Ort from U. S. )
25 April 1940.
• (German) •
•
OQu IV: a) SS Regt. ~ordland: Start with one Bn.,one
- 179
b) Report by Liss on the British in Norway.
I
c} General political* situation (Fuehrer confer
ence of 24 ~pr. ).
Roehricht: 0urrent ~atters of ~ng.Sec.: Administrative
care of GHq rleserves o - - Security regulations'
for wartime field exercises.-- Daumholder, etc.
must be declared lIessential for war effort ll .**
)
OQu I, II, Chief Op.Sec.: Presentation of plans for'
0l)eration II Brc..un 11 and issue of orders to AGp. C.
2100 belgian Cabinet has'resigned.
Reich Uhancellery states on inquiry that this
does not change the situation.
26 .t"l.pril 1940.
•
organize in GHq unit.
- 180
e) Nine rtegional Defense Divs. will be ready in
the East by 1 June;
nrtillery: only one £try. Short on cOMPlemen
tary services!
f) Light Artillery Clms.* of Sixth Braft Divs.
will be taken out, giving us 20 Clms.
Gen. Obst~ Keitel: I warn hin against doing anything
)
wi th :ariti sh p~v IS, that might boomerang on
German officer prisoners (interrogation in
presence of journalists).
Brand: Report on factors res~onsible for the shorts
in It. Fd. nows. (Miscalculations in the firing
table, daop powder'?).
Infornational . handbook for Corps and Army
=rty. vo~~anders.
Hun6arian OQu IV, Uizasz~ ~alk on the Balkans.
')
- 181
27 April 1940.
(8unday, Berlin).
von Tippelskirch:
a) Exchange of letters Reynaud/I\~ussolini. Reynaud
proposed a talk. Mussolini1s reply neG~tive,
cool. Echo in the press.
b) Trade nei?;otiations bet peen Germany 8.210. 8 .7ec~en
are running into snags, v'i th 8"'eo.en insisting.
on freedom to carryon her foreign trCl.de nit. in
existing treaties also outside the B~ltic 8e~.
c) OQu IV tour to Bucharest - 80fia - Belgrade.
Mission for 80fia.
Vieinknecht: Letter from Kaupisch regarding q.cti -Im.tion.
---()f 88 Nordland in Denmark. Instructions for let·;~er
to Keitel, OK'7: 1) Ackno't"ledgement. 2.) i"ission.
3.) Regulation of relationship with the political
and military representatives.
- 182
29 April 19~0.
t
Liss: New intelligence on the British Army extr~cteQ
from documents c0ptured in Norway: The five.Divs.
of"thc"Sec0nd lJraft which were thought" toh~vG been
Qctlv,1.ted~ do not e'xist yet. A;Jllrt rroin~t11.il5sE;'~jJfr:,~
=..gY,Jt, - th~re are on~y tW?'5 .Dl'vs. of F~rmor, one 9.t ',home
~nd, '(!)ne.:J:u France; hn:rbrw'1.Y ,.they h'1V8- t'\'lj'l .3;pign.m::tde
up of independent Bns., and the 49t J;)iv. (tllC
former at Ano.c.lsnes, the latter at Namso 8 and
Narvik). In addition, four French Bns. of ChD.Gseurs
Alpins have been identified.
von Greiffenberg
r
Current matters. (Employment of the
elements eft behind by the Divs. non in !~rryay.t
Conference with Air Force.
VOil Stuel~agel: Status of Italian preparations. Have
made no progress. -- Marras. -- Proposal to launch
the offensives against Holland and Belgium not
at the same time. (Rejected)
ffaldau: Report on Nor~ay. Transfer of air units to t~at
(
- 183
30 April 1940.
1 Vlay 19<10.
- 184
Smoke to cover crossing; troops must get sooke
candles 1 (With Roehricht.)
Roehricht: Technique of the Rhine crossing
Ttactical questionss). Employment of.smo~e ~o.
cover the crossing; what is to be done aftcr DC
are on the far bank? OQv. I,' !fn@. Sectj.on.
b) Terboven must release Raeder.* Gen Qu [lVS'~ to.1k
V7i th .inistry of Interior and Party. C-cn Qu.
c) BdE has been directed by ObdH to dra~ up [).
developement progr~m for all Teapons, 1.,·i th c..
viery to reducing the number of types. __ ftcr-'·o.rCl.s
joint conference Gen Staff and BdE. Or:-;. Sec.
d) Hungary, S~eden: Ask JodI.
e) Current questions: Who is responsible for ro
habilitation of depleted Divs.? - - ss rordlanCl..
Letter to JodI. -- Additional Generals on snccio.l
assignement (zbV) (Foehrenbach, Weiher).
Tank III. (Progress of reconditioning lork at
Baumholder.) --nunCl.etedtis recommendation cO~Qcrn
ing Artillery.(ObdH approves appointment of snaIl
number of Corps and ArlilY Artillery Conffi2nde:"s t )
. .
1230 Canaris: Revieli! of current matters: SS in l.ory!['.y.-
Women will be excepted in 2ttacks.~~- Southeast. -
Boetticher.
1600 Buhle:
- 185
We have at present 103 Divs. with one, 20 Divs.
vlthout any med. Bn. GHq has at present:
33 10 . em q.un Bz:18. .
21 Mixed BDs. .
42 nn Fd. HOthJ;3ns.
16 hv. How. Bz:1s.
6 med. Gun Bns.
II8 Bns., excl. of Railway Artillery.
Deli veries from prQcluction betrreen I·.1ay and Aucust:
. .
2 10 Qm Gun Bn!?
5 med. Fu~ Hoq. Bns.
5 med. Gun Bns.
12 hv. How. Bns.
24 Bns.
In addition, io med. Fd. Hovr. Bns., horse c1I'E'.'."l1,
for Inf. Diva.
Heim: Current matters: Relaxation of rules for t_niDing
exercises prior to commissioning and promotion of
Party Leaders, similar to procedure in trc S~.-
Radio broadcasts on Army Leaders, etc.
Heusinger: Alert to be ready for attack order no of
4 Uay, noon. -- Current matters.
186
\
von Etzdorf is asked to keep ObdH currently in
formed on instructions sent to our Minister in
Sweden.
- 187
Lio.ison Off. at Army Hqs: Bri efing for A-DG~r 0
4 May 19~0.
- 188
Operations completed in southern and centrel.
Norvmy; novoJ northern Norvray is being cloc,ned up.
Sorry the British did not send larger forces.
Concerning the American stA.tement: III thL1k tho
undertone of threat ringing through 0.11 of
Roosevelt 's uttern.nces is sufficient rTo1..'.nds for
us to be on our ~uard ~nd bring the ry~r to ~ close
as qUickly f1.S possible. 1I
S "eden: We deli ver A-AA in return for o.rr,1S tl"C.nsi t
to Narvik. In the negotiations '>'i th t;lC Hili to.ry
Attach~, Sl.eden at first gave an evasivo anS10r
pointing out that the problem was one involving
the entire complex of neutrality, but convol"sat
ions '71i11 be resumed o.fter examination of the
question by the Cabinet. Meeting Ribbentrop -
Guenther? .
I ,
•• Italy: 1,he State Secret 0 ry believes, tl1[',t Ito.ly
is determined to attEwl~ YugoslaviA. in C.ny cnse,
once she enters the ·-·[1,r. Attolico has' corro1)o:c"o.t
ed that interpretation.
ObdH: Fourth Fortress~ivir Column from Ei htt and Seventh
----- Dr2fts, Nor~[1,Y. -- Artillery with restricted nobili
ty.
Jacob:
a) Rosenheic: * The i1ecessarv number of uRhine
Engineers 11 from OKH -rill be' collected from h01')1'e
units (Speci:t1 Tr!lining 3n). Bn. ~-;ill be ac'civat
ed on 10 FQ..y Emd st[',rt training f'.ftc: -n1itsun •.
b) LZ bridges.** Ten have been prepf'.red.
c) Penetration of armor plates ~nd turret8 by
2,5 cm.projectiles. Additional protection ordered.
d) Craco iT •
e) Labor Service ~C'..nts to be sent to t~e frontlinel
~), 34,500 tons of steel for period 1 JUIy.~ 1 Oct.
(against 78,000 tons in the last quarter).21,OOO
tons reqUired for ~i~e obstacles alone. -.
Buhle: Organizational matte~s. -- Equipmel).t.Qf L1f. Divs.
for operations in hill country: 100 co.J,"ts .".110. p:.:wk
animals for t':!O Regts. of e.!lch Div.', i.e., 200 per
Di v. Equipment Qvhl'lD.ble for four Di vs •• In o.ddi t
ion, each one of these Divs. could be sup~lieCL-with
a ,,:'ountain Vehicle Cl~. from rUle District XVIII,
A.nd two Pack Clms. from the Pfaelzer.~f'.ld.
Chief OPt Sec.: A-Day: Earliest date 6 ~n.y, postponcuent
to 7 rtRY probable; if the offensive stc.rts on 3 May,
order nill come n0t later tl)n.n 5 Ilby.
In the evening we 1eQrn of the vas sing of Frau Major
Zrl, my mother-in-law.
- 189
1000 von st.uelpnag~t Report 01'} plan (for. operati...o n "BI'o.un II •
'"Apart from a. "' minor pOlnts. estlmate or forces
for Luxembourg, only German troops committed on f~omt
of left wing,) tbe proposal of AGp.C is absolutcly
sound.
von ~i~blberE:..
Request of Army Hq that von Vorf.1£1..nn be re
lieved.·Will be replaced by Faeckenstedt, Pohlmann Ia?
Central Br8.nch.
Fuehrer conference: Reviery of the Italian situ£1..tion: II
-Duce has for ~'arded three letters to -the-FueErcr: .
1.) Reynaud I S letter "a piece of craven '~rhil1ilig", to
which II Duce replied in a manner nhich forQcrly
would have been grounds for ryar. .
From The Pope, preaching a peace of justicc. Re
ply; . The Allies had a chance to mal:e 'such £1.. peace,
but they chose Versailles and so causca tiw con~
flict.
On Roosevelt1s steps in Rome (covcre{ b~ c£1..7lier
information from the Foreign Office).
- 190
the brunt of the \,<Hr set off by him, -Till o..n nnti
war party rise in the country.
Russia: The P.l.ntagonism bet'-'een Itfl.ly .no. nus sin
affords us excellent opportunities in t e political
field •
.
/'
I1Heth: Conference ,crith Leeb on "Braun". Results.
-Southeast Studies turneq. over to OQ,u I. -- Courses
of action opening in the event of a pe~ceful
settlement VIi th Hollnnd. -- Plans for the event
that we must do lIBrnun ll 1'1..lone.·*
von Etzdorf: Neizsaecker: Ito..ly's entry into the Do..r
- - - wiTl-Set the Balk0ns nblaze.,Italy must secure.for
herself the bastion Greece. This ~ould bring 7urkey
into the confliot. The Bnlkan~ TIill be on fi~e.
It1'1..ly1s attitude: Mussolini Dill oome after De have
gained-one or t":70 spectuoular 8u'Ccesses in the l:fest.
British preventive Hction agninst Italy is not
feHred, because BritAin does not ~nnt to force o.n
Italian decision.
Moscow: Russo-Itnlinn relntions. ~olotov 10.S sound
ed-our-Arnbassp.c1or as to c'hether "uhe Iti'.linn Govern
ment has exprei?sod nny rendinoss to excho..nr;e envoys.
Schulenburg: Ycs.-- The Russian Government eVidently
is in no hurry. Sohulenburg: The tension betDeen
Russia and Ito..ly is cnuse~ by ItFlly's objeotion
against the projected understanding betDeen RUGsla
and Bulgarin.
At the moment, economic negotiations o.re in yrogress
bet'7een Russia and Yugoslflviao The pres s in :loDe and
Berlin differs in the interpretation of British
naVAl concentrFltion§ in the Aediterrane~n.
Knupisch: a) 198th Div. Proposal regardir:c; 17i tllE1:uvral,
- - - .". - - . timing, replacement, etc. ':Till . e sLbni tted.
b) Admiral C~rl thinks that f1. lnndinc nttcopt
by ~otor torpedo boats on the D~nish coo..st
must not be ruled out (Jf1.mmcrbuFt). '7e con
sider this unlikely, .fl..:L.this tiDe. It r.1o.y
not be impossible later on, nhen tl~e niliiary
politi~~l situation has chnnged; henco, ~o
must org~nize defense of the co~.st. LIobile
forcesl
- 191
c) Danish ~eapons: Will eventually be removed for
use else'l."here. Ordnance Teams must be provided
in time.
d) Danish Officers Corps must be given.soDeth1n~
to do. ObdH h 0 s been .eighing the iden of re
cruiting volunteers for German ·Army, th~t is,
theoreticnlly. My standpoint: Can be done only
after preparatmny propagandizing; severance of
inner ties to Engla~d.
e) Utilization of ~orkshopR, shipyards, etc.
f) All sorts of dubious chnracters are E'.I'rivin~
frpm Thomns' office (black market opcrntoI'sJ.
g) Handling of press releases througl the FOI'nign
Office tEl.kes too Ii:lUch time. CuIturE'.1 propE'..~;['.l;1da? 1
von Brauchi tsch informs me on his talks _1""1i th Kr'.upisch,
- ~hIch are subst'lntiD~l·Ythe same as mine.
von Qr£i!f~n£e£g_-_B~h!el
- 192 -'
- 193
Railroad Belgrade - Nish not out of Question*,
Defenses in good shape~ They ~nat no BritiRh
military operations in their country.
Foreign Armies West: Dutch radio at 1700 rcc~led
- - - miTitary-personnel f~om furloughs.
I
von ~i~hlb~.rK:_
- 194
, .
- 195
Mobilization continuos. -- Humors that French
and oritish tanks have landed~-- Leaflets drop
ppa by planes.-- Rumors that three Corps are
deployed on Albanian border (in reality three
1..'-- ...
Divs. ) -- The facts are that the Serbian army
has b~en brought up to war strengh, but Reserve
Divs. probably have not been mobilized.
Jod.l:
,
i
~ a) Inquiry re Ley's Training Course (Hauptschu
lungsleiter W Schmidt) at Burg wannsee School:
Schooling for administrators of territories to
be occupied in the West, which will be the
prospective neich Gaue 43 - 45.**
120 Kreisleiter*** attend first class, closing
on 9 May. New Class starting 18 May.
b) !Iolland ~ 3elgium: French _. British operation
to mine lJutch river estuaries "Bgmont" minor
naval forces, both surface craft and submarines
7/8 May.~ .
von Stuelpnagel: IIrl r 'aun ". Preparartions in AGp. C
completed.-- ~estion of interpreters and
dic'l;ionariea~ -- ~erial photographs. -
~rtillery/~ngineer/ Signal Corps conference.7
~irplane charts.dff -- Light signal pistols.-
Ground lnarkj,ngs. -- ~ij,'" preparations all set.-
&.~ defense is being checked .. -- Signal network
~'Till be comj;Jleted by 20 June o - - ' Reinforcements
fer Signal Troops in .d,Cpe G and Army Hq 7 in
preparatlon.~- Railroad negotations with Italy
now completed.
Yugoslavia; Foreign Office (i~eizs9.eC'1{er) eXpects
military action by Italy against Yugoslavia.
"Essential ll mea::3Ure of Navy to safeguard the
Adriat:i.c Sea.
von Greiffenberg~ 10 May. 0535.###
Kei tel Pers. Di v.: Cochenhausen (Nuernberg) disap:::>roved
for SOldan's post; ~rfurth is to do it.
.... 196
~oose sheet inside Vol. III~
Geheioe KommnndosRche
Linison Officers.
- 197 ...
Geheime Komoe-ndosaehe
January.
23.)
25. )
26. ) Godl. esberl.t! /
Armor ( 27.
( 280) Personnel units for Eight Drr'.ft. Stnrt 0 f re
29. )
30. )
31. )
50 .;md 60.
Org. Sec.,
organi.ze-tion of Lr'.nd'Mehr.
Tr~nsp. Sec.
I
F e,~ I' u ~ r y •
IInreh.
. .
( Se;venth Drnft Hv. ** Dot .Di v. ref1.c'.y for operp.t
1. ( io n. 1:10 t. Ip.. tel'.
(
( 163r~; 170th 198th (Seventh Dr~ft)
( 831"'0. (Czech)t (Sixth Dr~ft) #
( XXXX. ##
- 198
20. 168th, 183rd, 196th, 197th (Seventh Draft).*
31. ~ 82nd (Strangles!) (Sixth Braft.)*~
Apr 1 1.
~
.# .l.J.J.J.
7tTt
~. . 4.:J.#
ly;p.rrTt
- 199
,
\
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