2 August 1944

2 August 1944

From 00:00 to 00:06 Batteries Lothringen and 5./1265, Jersey, engaged radar-located targets approximately three nautical miles north of Jersey. The firing was stopped because the plot was believed to be false. [T-1022/2175, scans 0016 and 0020]

Marinegruppenkommando West considered two alternatives for the islands. One proposal was to retain a strongly reduced infantry garrison of roughly 1,900 men and mines; the other was to withdraw all mobile forces, including artillery with weapons, while leaving only immobile units to operate the fixed batteries or destroy their equipment. The latter proposal was estimated to release about 3,600 men. The paper admitted that the islands could no longer be securely defended against a determined major assault.

Telephone and military communications with St Malo were repeatedly interrupted. Command arrangements were improvised through the Fortress Commandant and the Harbour Commandant while the enemy approached the city. The diary stressed that the interruption of St Malo would affect both the reinforcement and the provisioning of the Channel Islands.

The diary reported fifty enemy tanks near Bois de Mesnil and an attack on Dinan. By 18:50, 2 officers and 99 men of the Granville Harbour Command and 3 officers and 57 men from the batteries of M.A.A. 608 had reached St Malo; about 40 per cent were temporarily unfit through foot injuries. At 22:15 an M.A.A. 608 outpost captured an enemy scout car at the eastern entrance to Viviers, taking three wounded men and one prisoner without German loss.

Roll 4009, PG 37596, scans 0106–0115.
Roll 2424, PG 38004, scan 0912 (St Malo Harbour Commandant War Diary).