6 December 1943

6 December 1943 Implementation of artillery reorganization and rearmament

Top secret. The weapons listed in the enclosure for 3/669, Graf Waldersee, Thüringen, Reichenau and III/669 have been requested and will be delivered. Orders will follow on exchanging weapons within corps after their arrival and employing the twelve released 7.5 cm field guns 16 n.A.

Personnel are not yet available for the retained equipment of Graf Waldersee and Reichenau. Temporarily, 8/709, using Reichenau personnel and the newly allotted 15.5 cm howitzers 414(f), is to serve in the eastern part of the Cherbourg defence area under II/709; attach the old heavy howitzers and remaining vehicles to it. Make corresponding arrangements for the Graf Waldersee personnel and equipment in III/716’s sector.

Divisions arrange formation of their divisional artillery staffs and batteries. Artillery Commander 118 handles personnel arrangements for army coastal artillery units. Divisional artillery takes over personnel from the equipment batteries assigned to it; later exchanges between units may be needed. Artillery Commander 118 arranges the use of personnel detached to equipment batteries that become coastal batteries. Divisions report divisional artillery shortages and Artillery Commander 118 reports coastal artillery shortages by 1 January 1944.

The ordered coastal artillery reorganization and formation of additional army batteries require tactical regrouping. The attached administrative organization largely meets this need. Reach agreement with Naval Commander Normandy; Artillery Commander 118 conveys corps proposals to him.

Enclosure on source page 1272: regional map of the Cotentin peninsula and Channel Islands, with plotted military positions. The labels are faint; the original map is reproduced.

Translation note: Several detailed weapon and personnel clauses are faint.

Original source image | Source PDF page 1270 | Entry dated 6 December 1943

Original source image | Source PDF page 1271 | Entry dated 6 December 1943

Original map | Source PDF page 1272 | Entry dated 6 December 1943

T-314 Roll 1604, T314_R1604_English_Translation.docx. 6 December 1943 | Source PDF pages 1270–1272. Selected island-related text; document or report date governs placement.