weekly resume n.1

7/27/2019 Weekly Resume n.1

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Catalogue Reference:cab/66/1/13 Image Reference:0001


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188HIS DOCUMENT IS THE P ROP ERT Y OF HI S BR ITA NNI C MAJE STY'S GOVE RN ME NTTO BE K E P T UND ER LOC K A N D KE Y .It is requested that special care may be taken to

ensure the secrecy of this document.

COPY NO.

WAR CABINET3NAVAL. M LI TARY AND A P SI TUATI ON-

APPRECI ATI ON BY THE CHI EFS OP STAFF COMM TTEE.

Note by the Sejcrejt ary;.

By di r ect i on of t he Pr i me M ni st er , I ci r cul at e herw t l i , f or consi der at i on by t he War Cabi net , t he at t ached weekl y Resume ( No. l ) by t he Chi ef s of St af f Comm t t ee deal i ng wi t h t he Naval , M l i t ar y and Ai r Si t uat i on up to 12 noon, 7t h Sept ember , 1939. ( paper No. C. 0. S. ( 39) 18) ,

( Si gned) 3 . E. BRI DGES.Secret ary. .

Richmond Terrace, S.W.I 8t h Sept ember , 19390


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^DOC UM EN T IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITA NNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT j ^T O B E K E P T U N D E R L O C K A N D K E Y .It is requested that special care may be taken toensure the secrecy of this document.

COPY NO.

WAR CABINET, CHIEFS OP STAFF COMMITTEE.

WEEKLY RESUME (NO. l) OF THE NAVAL, MILITARY AND AIR SITUATION UP TO IS NOON, 7th SEPTEMBER. REPORT.

The accompanying Joint Naval, Military and Air Force appreciation of the situation as at 12 noon on the 7th September is circulated in accordance with the recommendation contained in Paper No. W.P.(G.) (39) 3, and approved by the War Cabinet on the 7th September, (Paper No. W.M.(39) 7th Conclusions, Minuted 17. 3. We should be glad of instructions as to whether, the form and substance of this Appreciation meets the requirements of the War Cabinet.

(Signed) C-.L. NEVif LL.DUDLEY POUND.S. IRONSIDE.

Richmond Terrace, S.W.1. 8th September, 1939.


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WEEKLY RESUME jNO a.) OF THE NAVAL MIL ITARYAND AIR S I T U A T I O N . %OM^THE OUTBRpK. OF H O S T I L I T I E S I N 'P O L A N D T O ' I S NOON * * " 7JM. .lssPTEMBER 195 9 o f

v A L J S xTUATlQN...,

G e n e r a l .1. The R o y a l N a v y has b e e n f u l l y e n g a g e d i n i t s t a s ko f s e c u r i n g sea c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , e s c o r t i n g m i l i t a r y anda i r r e i n f o r c e m e n t s , g i v i n g p r o t e c t i o n t o B r i t i s h and A l l i e ds h i p p i n g , and in i n t e r r u p t i n g th e E n e m y 's s e a b o r n e t r a d e .

2. The e n t i r e F l e e t has t a k e n up War D i s p o s i t i o n s asm o d i f i e d t o m e e t t h e n a v a l s i t u a t i o n w h i c h has d e v e l o p e di n the o p e n i n g d a y s o f th e w a r . The n e c e s s a r y p a t r o l sh av e b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d ,

3 . T h r e e P o l i s h D e s t r o y e r s m ade a t i m e l y p a s s a g e f r o mth e B a l t i c to the N o r t h Sea , gind w i l l , i n due c o u r s e , m a k e av a l u a b l e a d d i t i o n to our D e s t r o y e r s t r e n g t h .

P r o g r e s s i s b e i n g m ade w i t h t h e f i t t i n g out of l i n e r sas A r m ed M e r c h a n t C r u i s e r s . ,

5 . The F r e n c h F l e e t h a v e ta k e n up t h e i r d i s p o s i t i o n s asa g r e e d in the A l l i e d war p l a n s .

A t t a c k s u p o n E ne my S u b m a r i n e s .6 . S i n c e war b r o k e o u t , t h e r e has b e e n v e r y l i t t l ea c t i v i t y by G e r m a n s u b m a r i n e s in the N o r t h Sea and no s h i p p i n gh as b e e n s un k t h e r e , , M i n e s h a v e b e e n l a i d by a s u b m a r i n e , i none i n s t a n c e , i n t h i s a r e a .


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I l l

In the-Atlaniijj^ and coast of the British Isles, German submarines have definitely made their presence known as far South as the coast of Portugal. There are also reports of German submarines in the Caribbean probably based on Curacao. 8, There is no reliable information of submarines having passed through the Channel, but a steamer is reported to have been blown up off Shoreham in the afternoon of 6th September. No details yet received. This may have been due either to a submarine or to a mine laid by a submarine. Enemy submarines are reported and have been attacked in the Western Channel. 9. A number of attacks have been delivered upon enemy submarines but detailed reports, which would enable a definite opinion as to their success to be given, have not yet been received. 10. List of British and Foreign Merchant Vessels sunk by the enemv up to a.m. 6th September, 1959.

Gross Type Name Flag. Tonnage Date Where By Hows,s, ASHEN IA Br. 13581 3/9 off Ireland s/m. Torp.s.s. BOSNIA Br. 2401 5/9 off Spain s/m. Gun.s,s. ROYALSCEPTRE Br. 4853 5/9 off Bay ofBiscay. s/m. ?s.s. RIOCLARO. Br. 4000 6/9 off Spain s/m. ?


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Enemy Merchant Shipping and Losses. 11. On 1st September German merchant ships were generally erdered to leave British, Colonial and French ports and make for home or the nearest neutral po rts 0 Those neutral ports most in favour are Brazilian and Spanish ports, especially the Canary Islands and Vigo, and also Italian ports in the Medit&jpjpanean and Red Sea. 18. In the Far East, Dutch East Indian ports and Japanese ports are being used. A number of German ships are still on the high seas, probably making for such refuge as is practicable. 13. Bremen is probably at Murmansk, North Russia, hut she has also been reported at Vera Cruz and making for Mar Del Plata. 14. Enemy Mercantile Losses.

Ship Tonnage Date Position How dealt with. Olinda 4576 5/9 off River Plate AJAX Sunk..Carl Friten 6594 5/9 off River Plate AJAX Sunk.J.Molkenbuar 5294 5/9 off Norway JERSEY Capturedwhile sinkingInn 2867 6/9 near Para 1TEPTUNE Captured andsunk?

Convoys. 15. The convoy system is being commenced on certain routes. Elsewhere the controlled routing system is in force.


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X i.

Enemy Mines. 16. The Germans have declared a mined area in the North Sea, and there is evidence that laying has commenced.

Mines have also been reported in the Southern part of the North Sea and definitely located off the North Forelands. 17. The Germans have also broadcast the limits of mined areas in the eastern North Sea and the entrances of the Baltic.

Movements of Enemy Warships - German Main Units. 18. On 1st September, the disposition of the German units appeared to be as follows:-

Battlecruiser "Gneisenau" neighbourhood "Scharnhorst" of Armoured Ships "Deutschland" W/haven "Scheer" "Graf Spee"

Cruisers "Hipper" Baltic "Blucher"

it"Nurhberg" "Leipzig" "Koenigsburg" "Koln" Mouth of the Elbe "Emden" Wilhelmshaven


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19. The information received concerning the subsequent movements of these vessels is very scanty, but it would appear that no vessels have left German territorial Waters except two cruisers possibly "Koln" and "Konigsherg"accompanied by two destroyers which were sighted about 60 miles N.W. of Ho rn ?s Reef at-0715, 6th September, returning to Germany., It is possible this force was employed in covering minelaying activities in that area. Light Forces. 20. On 1st September, the German Destroyer Flotillas are believed to have been divided evenly between the Baltic and North Sea ports. It is probable that the majority are now stationed at North Sea ports. The Torpedo Boat Flotillas are still believed to be in the Baltic.

Other Warships. 21. The old battleship "Schleswig-Holstein" has been in the vicinity of Danzig since 25th August; she has been engaged in bombarding Gdynia.

The old battleship "Schlesien" is believed to have been based at Wilhelmshaven since 1st September, Raiders. 28. No reports have yet been received of any German raider activities.


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MILITARY SITUATION. FRANCE. 23. French troops are reported to he in contact with the forward elements of the Siegfried Line in the Saar, hut no further details are yet available. POLAND. 24. The German forces crossed the Polish frontiers at 5.55 a.m. on 1st September. The first moves came from Pomerania into the Corridor, from German Silesia into and North of Polish Silesia, and from Moravia and Slovakia across the Carpathians. A further move from East Prussia South and Westward soon became apparent. From the outset the Poles were at a grave disadvantage in that they had only some 30 infantry divisions with which to face the initial heavy German concentrations against them; they have few mechanized units, their transport is largely horsed, and their air defence inadequate. 25. By 4th September the Polish Corridor was to ail intents and purposes in German occupation, so that East Prussia could be easily rei and as a result the drive on Warsaw increased in strength. 26. It was early apparent that the German attack from Silesia was being made in great strength and with mechanized formations, with the result that the Poles had to fall ha ck rapidly, and must have lost fairly heavily both in casualties and in prisoners.


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2 7 . No e f f o r t s t o adva nee wer e made by the G e rma nsi n t h e P o zn a n S a l i e n t . The movement wi t h w h i c h th eP o l e s w e r e f a c e d was a p i n c e r m o ve me nt f r o m E a s t P r u s s i aa n d f r o m S i l e s i a ,

28 . The p r o g r e s s of t he two ar ms of th e p i n c e r s f r o mr e p o r t s r e c e i v e d up to m i d - d a y 7 th S e p t e m b e r i s asf o l l o w s I -

( a ) N o r t h ( Ger man F i f t h Gr oup) .The Pol i sh f or ces ar e r e s i s t i n g th e German

a t t a c k s some m i l e s Nor t h of W a r s a w . W h i l e t h ea t t a c k s appear t o be hel d up f or t he moment N.W.o f War s aw t her e ar e i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t th e m a i nG e rma n dr i ve may be desi gned t o pass E a s t o ft h e C a p i t a l - .

(" D) S o u t h ( Ger man F i r F t and Second G r o u p s ) .I n t he Sout h t h e Pol es a r e h o l d i n g th e

G e rma ns on t he l i n e Sxer adz - P i o t r k o w S o ut h o fL o d z and the re i s a r e p o r t of a P o l i s h c o u n t e r a t t a c k near Pi ot r kow. , "but t he G e r m a n s c l a i mt h e c a p t u r e of Ki el ce, , a l t h o u g h t he P o l e s h a v en o t y e t a d m i t t e d i t . T h i s d r i v e i s v e r ys e r i o u s f or not onl y does i t br i ng th e Germanf o r c e s ver y c l ose t o "one Pol i sh. I n d u s t r i a la r e a S,E, of War saw but al so' , i n c o n j u n c t i o nw i t h th e at t ac k f r om Eas t P r u s s i a , t h e r e mayb e g r a v e danger of al l Pol i sh f o r c e s in theP o zn a n S a l i e n t bei ng c o m p l e t e l y s u r r ou n d e d .

S o u t h of t he at t ack on K i e l c e t h e s i t u a t i o ni s s t i l o b s c u r e . The G erm a ns h a v e c l a i m e dC r a c o w and there i s l i t t l e d o u b t t hat t h i sp o c k e t m u st go bef or e l ong.


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11 *yi . -1 /

2 9 . T he m a in c a u se o f t h e g r e a t d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h ,w h i c h t h e P o l i s h a r m i e s h a v e b e e n f a c e d h a s b e e n t h eo v e r w h e l m i n g Germ an a i r s u p e r i o r i t y . P o l i s h r a i l w a y sh a v e "been h e a v i l y a t t a c k e d , a c o n s i d e r a b l e p r o p o r t i o no f t h e i r w a r i n d u s t r i e s ha v e b e e n p u t o u t o f a c t i o n ,a n d t h e i r m ea g re a i r f o r c e h a s b e e n r e d u c e d t o a s t a t eo f i m p o t e n c e .

N e v e r t h e l e s s t h e l a s t o f f i c i a l r e p o r t s s t a t e dt h a t t h e m o r a l e o f t h e P o l i s h Army r e m a i n e d h i g h .

GERMANY.3 0 . G erm an d i v i s i o n s on 7 t h S e p t e m b e r h a v e b e e ni d e n t i f i e d a s f o l l o w s

W e s t e r n F r o n t i e r , . 2 4 d i v i s i o n s .C e n t r a l G erm an y. 18 d i v i s i o n s .E a s t e r n F r o n t i e r . 5 4 d i v i s i o n s .

G ra nd T o t a l 9 6 d i v i s i o n s .I n a d d i t i o n f u r t h e r r e s e r v e an d Landv/ehr d i v i s i o n sh a v e p r o b a b l y b e e n f o r m e d .

E a s t e r n F r o n t .5 1 . I t i s b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e Germ an f o r c e s o p e r a t i n go n t h e E a s t e r n F r o n t a r e d i v i d e d i n t o f i v e g r o u p s an dt h a t t h e t a s k g o f t h e s e g r o u p s a r e a s f o l l o w s : -

F i r s t G r m r o .To oc cu py 0rac ow.

S e c o n d G ro up ( m o t o r i z e d , g r o u p ) .T o a t t a c k j u n c t i o n o f P o l i s h S e c o n d a n d T h i r d

A r m i e s a n d t o a d v a n c e f r o m E a do m s k o t o W a r sa w .


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Third, and Fourth Groups. These have cut off the Corridor and are now

reported to he mopping up the isolated Polish forces. Fifth Group.

This group advanced from East Prussia. Western Front. 52. Latest information is that areas of Aachen and Osnatorlick are heing reinforced hy German troops and a newreserve division has heen identified opposite the Dutch frontier. An unconfirmed report stated that troop trains filled with mechanized troops, etc., were seen on 5th September in the neighbourhood of Berlin moving from E ast to West. There is no confirmation, however, that these troops are being moved from the Eastern Front.

U.S.8.R. 33. There have been rumours ever since the German- Soviet non-aggression pact was signed on 22nd August that a military pact was also contemplated. Certain Soviet Officers have gone to Berlin but there is no confirmation yet that a military pact will be concluded. The reports of Soviet military concentrations on her Western frontiers are not conclusive and appear, at present, to be no more than is reasonable under the present circumstances. There are few signs that the Soviet is yet likely to abandon the policy of leeting other nations fight, while she waits to reap the benefits later.


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34. The partial withdrawal of Japanese troops from the vicinity of Hong Kong, together with other local indications, suggests that the Japanese do not at presentcontemplate any major operations against Hong Kong. 35. Japan has, however, "been quick to take advantage of the European war situation, and has presented demands to Great Britain and other countries involved in the present European conflict to withdraw troops from regions under Japanese control. Japan has also asked usto stop helping the Chinese.

AIR SITUATION. Strength, of German Air Force. 36. The estimated strength of the G erman Air Force on the 1st September was as follows.'

1750 long range "bombers (858 in North West Germany) 580 short range bombers , 1215 fighters 670 reconnaissance and Army Co-operation 305 Coastal and ship borne. Total 4320

37. Apart from the aircraft listed above, which are all of modern types, G ermany had available about 1,000 troop transport airoraft, of which it is estimated that 500 are in troop transport units. She also had availablea considerable number of aircraft of obsolescent types including aircraft taken over from the Czech Air Force. Reports have been received that Germany is forming reserve squadrons out of these second line aircraft, but no confirmation can be obtained of the number of


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n o

sg.uad.rons to be formed.. The reserves of modern aircraftbehind the first line units are estimated, at 100%.German Operations in Poland. 38. German air attacks have so far been directed against aerodromes, aircraft and engine factories, and rail communications, as well as against the Polish forces. Casualties to civilians have "been caused mainly by bombs falling in the vicinity of the objectives aimed at. There is no confirmation of the reports from Polish sources that the Germans are using mustard gas bombs. Although the aircraft factories and the flying training schools must be regarded as now out of action, the alternative aerodromes which had been prepared for use by the operational squadrons were well concealed, and it is understood that they have not yet been located and. attacked. The Polish Air Force consisted, on the outbreak of war, of 494 aircraft of which only some 30 bombers were of modern types. The G erman Air Force has therefore been able to obtain a complete ascendency and is now in a position to concentrate almost entirely in support of land operations.

British Air Operatipns. 39. An attack against German warships was carried out on 4th September, 1939, by two squadrons of Wellingtons and two squadrons of Blenheims, The results reported were - two hits with 500 lb, bombs on a warship in the S chillig-Roads, and one hit on the side of the lock alongside a warship at the entrance to the Kiel Canal.
http://sg.uad.rons/http://sg.uad.rons/


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101tj JL

T h e a t t a c k w as c a r r i e d o u t a t a l o w a l t i t u d e i n t h ef a c e o f c o n s i d e r a b l e o p p o s i t i o n b y f i g h t e r s a n d A . A .f i r e . S e v e n o f o ur a i r c r a f t f a i l e d t o r e t u r n .

4 0 . I n a d d i t i o n f l i g h t s o v e r W e s t e r n G erm an y h a v eb e e n c a r r i e d o u t e a c h n i g h t i n o r d e r t o d i s t r i b u t ep r o p a g a n d a p a m p h l e t s . O p p o s i t i o n h as b e e n s l i g h t ,a n d h a s b e e n c o n f i n e d t o s p a s m o d i c A . A . f i r e . N of i g h t e r s h a v e b e e n e n c o u n t e r e d a nd i t i s e s t i m a t e dt h a t som e 9 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 p a m p h l e t s h a v e d r o p p e d i n G e rm a n y .


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