26 June 1941

26 June 1941 Island command relationships and artillery transfer

On 26 June, 319th Infantry Division handed over command of its former mainland area. It transferred the sector on both sides of the Vire estuary, occupied by I and II Battalions of Infantry Regiment 583, to 83rd Infantry Division. II Battalion, Artillery Regiment 319, which had been deployed there, was relieved by I Battalion, Artillery Regiment 319, previously corps reserve, so that it could move to Jersey. The western sector, occupied by III Battalion, Infantry Regiment 583, and Pioneer Battalion 319, passed to 716th Infantry Division. Panzerjäger Detachment 319 moved to the Carentan area as corps reserve.

Jersey and Guernsey remained subordinate to 319th Infantry Division. Divisional headquarters, comprising the division commander and operations staff, was to move to Guernsey; the division commander would simultaneously serve as Island Commander Guernsey. The previous Commander of the British Channel Islands and his existing staff would take over the duties of Island Commander Jersey. The quartermaster department of 319th Division would remain at Granville and receive the island commanders’ supply demands directly. The Guernsey island staff was to be reinforced from 319th Division, while Higher Command would arrange any necessary reinforcement of the Jersey staff.

Alderney was placed under 83rd Infantry Division, which was to propose the detailed local command arrangement and an island commander. The intended construction organisation comprised one fortress-construction staff for Jersey, one fortress-construction battalion for Guernsey, a staff and three companies of a fortress-construction battalion for Jersey, and one fortress-construction company for Alderney. Further orders were to follow.

T-314 Roll 1603, T314_Roll_1603_English_Translation.docx. Source PDF page 0019 | Original document page 2; Source PDF page 0103 | Higher Command XXXXIII Army Corps, Section T/Ia No. 304/41 Secret Command Matter, 26 June 1941