3 December 1941

3 December 1941 Directive for permanent fortification

Hitler had ordered the Channel Islands to be made so strong that an attack was to be considered hopeless even before an invasion of Britain. Overall direction of both strengthened field works and permanent construction rested with the Inspector of Western Land Fortifications. Fortress-construction staffs and troops were to be used primarily on the islands whenever planning and supervision permitted.

319th Infantry Division directed detailed reconnaissance, planning and construction on Guernsey and Jersey, including Sark and the Îles Chausey; 83rd Infantry Division performed the corresponding work on Alderney. The construction inspectorate and the participating naval and Luftwaffe offices were to be involved. Coastal strongpoints came first and were to provide uninterrupted coast watching even in the worst visibility.

The divisions were to reassess the artillery requirement jointly with the Navy and Luftwaffe and determine it solely from tactical needs. The Navy’s principal tasks were engagement of sea targets and harbour barrages; remaining tasks generally fell to the Army. Anti-aircraft artillery was to be incorporated into the overall fire plan wherever the air situation allowed. The permanent signals network had to cover communications between the islands and with the mainland, and all service branches were to be involved.

Obstruction of the airfields on Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney and the siting of anti-aircraft defences were Luftwaffe responsibilities; the Army was responsible for the other defensive measures. The divisions were to exercise particular care in reconnaissance, planning and unified control. The construction inspectorate was invited to propose underwater obstacles and floating flame devices.

The tactical and technical plan, including naval and Luftwaffe requirements, was to define the final organisation, the necessary weapons and ammunition, garrisons for fortification and field-mobile defence, installations and their construction standards, communications, and economic and supply facilities. 319th and 83rd Infantry Divisions were to report urgent works for a first building stage. The first stage included the airfield and stockpiling work needed for reconnaissance and artillery-co-operation aircraft with fighter cover, the heavy battery planned for Guernsey, and mainland batteries at Paimpol and Cap de la Hague. Monthly reports were due on the fifteenth in triplicate as overlay maps with explanatory tables.

T-314 Roll 1603, T314_Roll_1603_English_Translation.docx. Source PDF pages 0174–0179 | Higher Command XXXXIII Army Corps directive of 3 December 1941