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188 THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

TO BE K E P T U N D E R LOCK A N D K E Y .

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 SITUATION-APPRECIATION 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. (paper No. C. 0.S.(39)18),

(Signed) 3 . E. BRIDGE S. Secretary..

Richmond Terrace, S.W.I

8th September, 19390

^DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT j ^ TO BE K E P T U N D E R LOCK A N D K E Y . It 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) C-.L. NEVif ALL. DUDLEY POUND. S. IRONSIDE.

Richmond Terrace, S.W.1.

8th September, 1939.

4 0

WEEKLY RESUME jNO a.) OF THE NAVAL MILITARY a

AND AIR SITUATION. %OM^THE OUTBRpK. OF HOSTILITIES IN'POLAND T O ' I S NOON

* * " 7JM. .lssPTEMBER 1959 o ff

v ALJ S xTUATlQN...,

Gene ra l .

1. The R o y a l Navy has be en f u l l y engaged i n i t s t a s k

of s e c u r i n g sea communica t ions , e s c o r t i n g m i l i t a r y and

a 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 d

s h i p p i n g , and i n i n t e r r u p t i n g the Enemy's seaborne t r a d e .

2. The e n t i r e F l e e t has t aken up War D i s p o s i t i o n s as

m o d i f i e d t o meet t h e n a v a l s i t u a t i o n which has d e v e l o p e d

in the open ing days o f the war . The n e c e s s a r y p a t r o l s

have been e s t a b l i s h e d ,

3. Th 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 passage f rom

the B a l t i c t o the N o r t h Sea, gind w i l l , i n due c o u r s e , make a

v a l u a b l e a d d i t i o n t o 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 made w i t h the f i t t i n g out o f l i n e r s

as Armed Merchant C ru i s e r s . ,

5 . The F rench F l e e t have taken up t h e i r d i s p o s i t i o n s as

agreed i n the A l l i e d war p l a n s .

A t tacks upon Enemy Submar ines .

6. S i n c e war b r o k e o u t , t h e r e has been v e r y l i t t l e

a c t i v i t y by German submarines i n the No r th Sea and no s h i p p i n g

has been sunk there , , Mines have been l a i d by a submar ine , i n

one i n s t a n c e , i n t h i s a r ea .

70

Ill

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 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 5/9off Bay of

Biscay. s/m. ? s.s. RIO

CLARO. Br. 4000 6/9 off Spain s/m. ?

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 ports0 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 Captured

while sinking Inn 2867 6/9 near Para 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" W/haven

"Scheer"

"Graf Spee"

Cruisers "Hipper" Baltic

"Blucher"

it "Nurhberg"

"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 t o adva nee were made b y the Germans

i n the Poznan S a l i e n t . The movement with wh ich the

P o l e s were f a c e d was a p i n c e r movement f r om Eas t P r u s s i a

and f r om S i l e s i a ,

28. The p r o g r e s s of the two arms of the p i n c e r s f rom

r e p o r t s r e c e i v e d up t o mid-day 7 th September i s as

f o l l o w s I ­

( a ) N o r t h (German Fifth Group). The Polish forces are r e s i s t i n g the German

a t t a c k s some m i l e s North of Warsaw. Wh i l e t h e

a t t a c k s appear to be held up for the moment N.W.

o f Warsaw there are i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t the main

German drive may be designed to pass East o f

the Capi ta l - .

("D) South (German F i r F t and Second G r o u p s ) .

In the South the Poles a r e h o l d i n g the

Germans on the l i n e Sxeradz - P i o t r k o w South o f

Lodz and there is 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 Piotrkow., "but the Germans c l a i m

the cap tu r e of Kielce,, a l t hough the P o l e s have

n o t y e t adm i t t ed i t . Th i s d r i v e i s v e r y

s e r i o u s for not only does it bring the German

f o r c e s 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 i n the

Poznan S a l i e n t being c o m p l e t e l y surrounded.

South of the attack on K i e l c e the s i t u a t i o n

i s s t i l l obscure . The Germans have c l a i m e d

Cracow and there i s little doubt that t h i s

p o c k e t must go before long.

11 *y i. -1 /

29 . The main cause o f the g r e a t d i f f i c u l t i e s with,

which the P o l i s h a rmies have been f a c e d has b e e n the

ove rwhe lming German 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 s

have "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 n

o f t h e i r war i n d u s t r i e s have been put out o f a c t i o n ,

and t h e i r meagre a i r f o r c e has been r e d u c e d t o a s t a t e

o f impo t ence .

N e v e r t h e l e s s the l a s t o f f i c i a l r e p o r t s s t a t e d

t h a t the mora l e o f the P o l i s h Army r ema ined h i g h .

GERMANY.

30. German d i v i s i o n s on 7 th September have been

i d e n t i f i e d as f o l l o w s

Wes te rn F r on t i e r , . 24 d i v i s i o n s .

C e n t r a l Germany. 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 . 54 d i v i s i o n s .

Grand T o t a l ­ 96 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 and Landv/ehr d i v i s i o n s

have p r o b a b l y b e en fo rmed.

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 the German f o r c e s o p e r a t i n g

on the E a s t e r n F r on t are d i v i d e d i n t o f i v e g roups and

t h a t the taskg o f t h e s e g roups a r e as f o l l o w s : -

F i r s t Grmro.

To oc cupy 0rac ow.

Second Group (moto r i z ed , g r o u p ) .

To a t t a c k j u n c t i o n o f P o l i s h Second and T h i r d

A rm i e s and t o advance f rom Eadomsko t o 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.

52. Latest information is that areas of Aachen and

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 East 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.

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 German 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, Germany had available about 1,000

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

n o

sg.uad.rons to be formed.. The reserves of modern aircraft behind 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

German 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.

101 tj JL

The a t t a c k was c a r r i e d out a t a l ow a l t i t u d e i n the

f 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 by f i g h t e r s and A . A .

f i r e . Seven o f our a i r c r a f t f a i l e d t o r e t u r n .

40 . I n a d d i t i o n f l i g h t s o v e r Western Germany have

b e e n c a r r i e d out each n i g h t i n o r d e r t o d i s t r i b u t e

propaganda pamph l e t s . O p p o s i t i o n has b e e n s l i g h t ,

and has b e e n c o n f i n e d t o spasmodic A .A . f i r e . No

f i g h t e r s have been e n c o u n t e r e d and i t i s e s t i m a t e d

t h a t some 9 ,000 ,000 pamphle ts have dropped i n Germany.