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LOCK A N D
188
KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
COPY NO. WAR CABINET3
NAVAL. MILITARY AND A I P SITUATIONAPPRECIATION BY THE CHIEFS OP STAFF COMMITTEE.
Note by the^Sejcrejt^ary;. By direction of the Prime Minister, I circulate herwitli, for consideration by the War Cabinet, the attached weekly Resume (No. l) by the Chiefs of Staff Committee dealing with the Naval, Military and Air Situation up to 12 noon, 7th September, 1939.
(Signed)
(paper No. C. 0.S.(39)18),
3 . E. BRIDGE S.
Secretary..
Richmond Terrace, S.W.I 8th September, 1939
0
^DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
j ^
TO BE K E P T U N D E R L O C K A N D K E Y .
I t is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure 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)
Richmond Terrace, S.W.1. 8th September, 1939. C-.L. NEVifALL.
DUDLEY POUND.
S. IRONSIDE. WEEKLY RESUME jNO a.) OF THE NAVAL MILITARY
AND A I R SITUATION. %OM^THE OUTBRpK. OF H O S T I L I T I E S IN'POLAND T O ' I S NOON a
*
" 7JM. .lssPTEMBER
*
ff
1959 o v ALJ S xTUATlQN...,
General.
1.
The R o y a l Navy has b e e n f u l l y
of s e c u r i n g
sea communications,
air reinforcements,
shipping,
2.
to meet
in the opening
have b e e n
seaborne
s i t u a t i o n which has
the war.
The n e c e s s a r y
t o t h e N o r t h S e a , gind w i l l ,
addition
Progress
t o our D e s t r o y e r
i s b e i n g made w i t h
as Armed M e r c h a n t
5.
and A l l i e d
trade.
as
developed
patrols
T h r e e P o l i s h D e s t r o y e r s made a t i m e l y p a s s a g e
valuable
0
the Enemy's
and
established,
the B a l t i c
4
of
to B r i t i s h
task
h a s t a k e n up War D i s p o s i t i o n s
the naval
days
escorting military
protection
and i n i n t e r r u p t i n g
The e n t i r e F l e e t
modified
3.
giving
engaged i n i t s
from
i n due c o u r s e , make a
strength.
the f i t t i n g
out o f
liners
Cruisers.,
The French F l e e t
have
t a k e n up t h e i r
dispositions
as
agreed i n the A l l i e d war p l a n s .
A t t a c k s upon Enemy 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
a c t i v i t y b y German s u b m a r i n e s
has b e e n sunk t h e r e , ,
one i n s t a n c e ,
in this
little
i n t h e N o r t h S e a and no
shipping
Mines have been l a i d by a submarine,
area.
in
Ill 7
0
coast of the British In the-Atlaniijj^ ^and
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. Type
Name
Flag.
Gross Tonnage Date
Where
By
How
s,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. ROYAL
SCEPTRE
Br.
4853
5/9
off Bay of
Biscay.
s/m.
?
s.s. RIO
CLARO.
Br.
4000
6/9
off Spain
s/m.
?
Enemy Merchant Shipping and Losses. On 1st September German merchant ships were generally 11.
erdered to leave British, Colonial and French ports and make for home or the nearest neutral ports
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. In the Far East, Dutch East Indian ports and Japanese 18.
ports are being used.
A number of German ships are still on the high seas, probably making for such refuge as is practicable. Bremen is probably at Murmansk, North Russia, hut she 13.
has also been reported at Vera Cruz and making for Mar Del Plata. Enemy Mercantile Losses. 14.
Ship
Tonnage
Date
How dealt with. Position
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
Inn
2867
6/9
near Para
JERSEY Captured
while sinking
1TEPTUNE Captured and
sunk?
Convoys. 15.
The convoy system is being commenced on certain routes. Elsewhere the controlled routing system is in force. X i. 3
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" "Scheer" W/haven "Graf Spee" Cruisers
"Hipper"
Baltic "Blucher" "Nurhberg" it
"Leipzig" "Koenigsburg" "Koln"
Mouth of the Elbe "Emden"
Wilhelmshaven 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 Horn 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. 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 hack rapidly, and must have lost fairly heavily both in casualties and in prisoners. 27.
No e f f o r t s
to
adva nee were made b y t h e Germans
i n the Poznan S a l i e n t .
Poles
were
and f r o m
28.
movement with w h i c h t h e
f a c e d w a s a p i n c e r movement f r o m E a s t
Prussia
Silesia,
The p r o g r e s s
reports
The
of the t w o arms of t h e p i n c e r s
r e c e i v e d up t o m i d - d a y
7th September
from
i s as
follows I ­
(a)
North
(German Fifth Group).
The Polish forces are r e s i s t i n g
attacks
some m i l e s North of Warsaw.
attacks
appear to be held up for the moment N.W.
of
the
D
While
the
Warsaw there are i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t t h e m a i n
drive may be designed to pass E a s t o f
German
(" )
t h e German
Capital-.
South
(German F i r F t and Second G r o u p s ) .
In the South t h e Poles a r e h o l d i n g t h e
Germans
Lodz
and there is a r e p o r t of a P o l i s h
attack
the
on the l i n e Sxeradz - P i o t r k o w S o u t h o f
near Piotrkow., "but the Germans c l a i m
capture
of Kielce,, a l t h o u g h the P o l e s h a v e
not y e t admitted
serious
forces
counter­
it.
This
drive
is
very
for not only does it bring t h e German
very close to "one Polish. I n d u s t r i a l
a r e a S , E , of Warsaw but also', in c o n j u n c t i o n
w i t h the
attack from East P r u s s i a ,
t h e r e may
b e g r a v e danger of all Polish f o r c e s
Poznan
Salient
being c o m p l e t e l y
surrounded.
S o u t h of the attack on K i e l c e
is
still
Cracow
obscure.
in the
the
The Germans h a v e
situation
claimed
and there i s little d o u b t that t h i s
p o c k e t must
go before long.
11 *y
i. -1 /
29.
The m a i n c a u s e
which the P o l i s h
of
h a v e "been h e a v i l y
of
meagre
superiority.
attacked,
t h e i r war i n d u s t r i e s
and t h e i r
difficulties
with,
armies have been f a c e d has b e e n
o v e r w h e l m i n g German a i r
of
the g r e a t
air
Polish
a considerable
have b e e n put
force
out
the
railways
proportion
of
action,
has b e e n r e d u c e d t o a
state
impotence.
Nevertheless
that
the morale
of
the
last
official
t h e P o l i s h Army
reports
stated
remained high.
GERMANY.
30.
German d i v i s i o n s
identified
as
on 7 t h S e p t e m b e r h a v e
follows
Western Frontier,.
24
divisions.
Central
18
divisions.
54
divisions.
96
divisions.
Germany.
Eastern Frontier.
Grand T o t a l ­
In addition
further
have probably been
Eastern
51.
reserve
and Landv/ehr
divisions
formed.
Front.
It
is believed
on t h e E a s t e r n F r o n t
that
been
the
taskg
of
that
are
these
t h e German f o r c e s
divided
into five
g r o u p s a r e as
operating
groups
and
follows:-
F i r s t Grmro.
To oc cupy 0 r a c ow.
S e c o n d Group
(motorized, group).
To a t t a c k
Armies
junction
of P o l i s h
S e c o n d and
and t o a d v a n c e f r o m Eadomsko t o
Third
Warsaw.
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. Latest information is that areas of Aachen and 52.
Osnatorlick are heing reinforced hy German troops and a new
reserve 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 st to West.
a
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. 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 present
contemplate 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 us
to stop helping the Chinese. AIR SITUATION. Strength, of German Air Force. 36.
The estimated strength of the G rman Air Force e
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 rmany had available about 1,000 e
troop transport airoraft, of which it is estimated that 500 are in troop transport units.
She also had available
a 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 no
sg.uad.rons to be formed..
The reserves of modern aircraft
behind the first line units are estimated, at 100%.
German Operations in Poland. German air attacks have so far been directed 38.
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 rman Air Force has therefore been able to obtain a e
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. 101
tj JL
The
a t t a c k was c a r r i e d o u t a t
face
of
considerable
fire.
40.
Seven of
propaganda
our a i r c r a f t
fighters
out each n i g h t
pamphlets.
and has b e e n
that
o p p o s i t i o n by f i g h t e r s
In addition f l i g h t s
been c a r r i e d
a low a l t i t u d e
confined
failed
in
order
to
return.
spasmodic A.A.
pamphlets
have
is
have
distribute
O p p o s i t i o n has b e e n
to
the
and A . A .
o v e r W e s t e r n Germany
h a v e b e e n e n c o u n t e r e d and i t
some 9 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0
to
in
slight,
fire.
No
estimated
dropped i n
Germany.