25 July 1941

25 July 1941 Channel Islands fortification and artillery conference

Present were the commander, chief of the general staff, operations officer and quartermaster of Higher Command XXXXIII Army Corps; Major-General Müller, commanding 319th Infantry Division; and Lieutenant-General Schmetzer of Working Staff Channel Islands.

State of the fortification work

Three degrees of construction were distinguished: field construction; reinforced field construction; and permanent construction. Field construction covered coastal strongpoints with improvised shelters, communication trenches and wire obstacles, together with all-round field defences for battery positions. Reinforced field construction added concrete shelters at the strongpoints, developed observation and direction-finding positions and command posts, gave reserves shell-proof accommodation, and provided ammunition and ration shelters and armoured-vehicle garages. Some of these works were already to be laid out with later permanent construction in mind. Permanent construction meant the final fortress-like development of the islands with concrete gun positions, fighting positions and personnel shelters.

The coastal strongpoints had so far been developed chiefly as field positions. Construction of concrete shelters was now beginning. Artillery positions had been finally selected and the fire plans completed. Infantry strongpoints were being progressively developed: communication trenches were finished and some improvised shelters completed, although obstacle construction still suffered from shortages of material. Divisional engineers, employed as instructors and construction supervisors, were to ensure systematic progress.

The troops themselves carried out field construction. Reinforced work was supported by Working Staff Channel Islands with two fortress-engineer regimental staffs, one fortress-construction battalion and one construction battalion.

Further conduct of the work

Field and reinforced field works were to be pushed forward to completion. Strongpoint shelters were to be concreted; artillery and anti-aircraft firing positions, observation and direction-finding posts, and command posts were to be developed. Ammunition and ration shelters, armoured-vehicle garages and protected accommodation for reserves were to give the island defences depth. The divisions were responsible for reconnaissance and were to choose sites that would not later require alteration.

Planning for permanent construction was to be based on the forces and mainland resources then available. Reconnaissance was to be carried out by Working Staff Channel Islands, the navy and the air force, including its anti-aircraft arm. Higher Command would issue separate orders.

Artillery questions

The command organisation was fixed as follows: on Guernsey, Higher Coastal Artillery Regimental Staff 720 under Colonel Lorenz; on Jersey, Artillery Regimental Staff 319 under Colonel Triepel. Heavy anti-aircraft fire on each island was to be subordinated to the corresponding higher coastal-artillery battalion staff (727 on Guernsey and 728 on Jersey). The captured 22 cm batteries on Guernsey were to come under Naval Artillery Battalion 604. A new battalion staff was contemplated for the mortars on each island.

The navy had proposed moving the French 15.5 cm G.P.F. cannon battery on the north-west point of Jersey because its present site was unsuitable for a permanent position. The 21 cm mortars were capable of low-angle fire; after discussion they were to remain in their existing positions, while alternative forward positions were reconnoitred.

Motorisation was intended for the mortar batteries and the 15 cm Cannon 18 batteries. Fifteen Army Headquarters had announced twelve-ton towing vehicles: six for Guernsey, four for Jersey and two for Alderney. One had already arrived on Guernsey, three on Jersey and one on Alderney; further allocations were expected. Officers were to attend courses at Rügenwalde in the improvised long-base method of artillery survey, followed by a refresher course near Cherbourg. With immediate effect the local commanders were to use the titles Island Commander Guernsey and Island Commander Jersey.

T-314 Roll 1603, T314_Roll_1603_English_Translation.docx. Source PDF pages 0111–0113 | Secret command matter | Conference record, 25 July 1941