Hitler's Wartime Orders

The Complete Führer Directives, 1939–1945

Bob Carruthers, Bob Carruthers

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781473868748
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: World War II
• Index: History

An Emmy Award–winning author presents the history of WWII through the military strategies, tactics, and decisions of the infamous Nazi dictator. Edited by Bob Carruthers, Hitler's Wartime Orders is an important historical record of Adolf Hitler's war directives for the armies of Nazi Germany. From preparations for the invasion of Poland to his last desperate order to his troops on the Eastern Front, this volume provides fascinating insight into the proceedings of the Second World War and the mind of the man who launched the world into chaos. As readers will observe in this fascinating volume, the initial optimism of 1939 devolved into the disarray of later orders. How those orders were received, processed, and carried out by the upper echelons of the Third Reich would come to shape the future of military policy. This unvarnished publication reveals the true nature of Adolf Hitler as a military commander and sheds light on the events of one of the world's greatest tragedies. All the wartime orders have been typeset in a clear format and presented chronologically.

Part I

Hitler On the Offensive

Directive No. 1

For the Conduct of the War

THE SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES.

OKW/WFA Nr. 170/39 G. K. CHEFS. LI.

BERLIN. 31 AUGUST 1939.

MOST SECRET

SENIOR COMMANDERS ONLY

BY HAND OF OFFICER ONLY

8 COPIES

COPY NO. 2

1. Since the situation on Germany’s Eastern frontier has become intolerable and all political possibilities of peaceful settlement have been exhausted, I have decided upon a solution by force.

2. The attack on Poland will be undertaken in accordance with the preparations made for ‘Case White’, with such variations as may be necessitated by the build-up of the Army which is now virtually complete.

The allocation of tanks and the purpose of the operation remain unchanged.

Date of attack: 1 September 1939.

This time also applies to operations at Gdynia, in the Bay of Danzig, and at the Dirschau Bridge.

3. In the West it is important to leave the responsibility for opening hostilities unmistakably to England and France. Minor violations of the frontier will be dealt with, for the time being, purely as local incidents.

The assurances of neutrality given by us to Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland are to be meticulously observed.

The Western frontier of Germany will not be crossed by land at any point without my explicit orders.

This applies also to all acts of warfare at sea or to acts which might be regarded as such.

The defensive activity of the Air Force will be restricted for the time being to the firm repulse of enemy air attacks on the frontiers of the Reich. In taking action against individual aircraft or small formations, care will be taken to respect the frontiers of neutral countries as far as possible. Only if considerable forces of French or British bombers are employed against German territory across neutral areas will the Air Force be permitted to go into defensive action over neutral soil.

It is particularly important that any infringement of the neutrality of other states by our Western enemies be immediately reported to the High Command of the Armed Forces.

4. Should England and France open hostilities against Germany, it will be the duty of the Armed Forces operating in the West, while conserving their strength as much as possible, to maintain conditions for the successful conclusion of operations against Poland. Within these limits enemy forces and war potential will be damaged as much as possible. The right to order offensive operations is reserved absolutely to me.

The Army will occupy the West Wall and will take steps to secure it from being outflanked in the north, through the violation by the Western powers of Belgian or Dutch territory. Should French forces invade Luxembourg the bridges on the frontier may be blown up.

The Navy will operate against merchant shipping, with England as the focal point. In order to increase the effect, the declaration of danger zones may be expected. The Naval High Command will report on the areas which it is desirable to classify as danger zones and on their extent. The text of a public declaration in this matter is to be drawn up in collaboration with the Foreign Office and to be submitted to me for approval through the High Command of the Armed Forces.

The Baltic Sea is to be secured against enemy intrusion. The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy will decide whether the entrances to the Baltic Sea should be mined for this purpose.

The Air Force is, first of all, to prevent action by the French and English Air Forces against the German Army and German territory.

In operations against England, the task of the Air Foice is to take measures to dislocate English imports, the armaments industry, and the transport of troops to France. Any favourable opportunity of an effective attack on concentrated units of the English Navy, particularly on battleships or aircraft carriers, will be exploited. The decision regarding attacks on London is reserved to me.

Attacks on the English homeland are to be prepared, bearing in mind that inconclusive results with insufficient forces are to be avoided in all circumstances.

Signed: ADOLF HITLER

Directive No. 2

For the Conduct of the War

THE SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES.

BERLIN.

3 SEPTEMBER 1939.

8 COPIES.

1. After the declaration of war by the English Government, the English Admiralty issued orders at 1117 hours on 3 September 1939, to open hostilities.

France has announced that she will be in a state of war with Germany from 1700 hours on 3 September 1939.

2. The immediate aim of the German High Command remains the rapid and victorious conclusion of operations against Poland.

The transfer of any considerable forces from the Eastern front to the West will not be made without my approval.

3. The basic principles for the conduct of the war in the West laid down in Directive No. 1 remain unchanged.

The declaration of war by England and France has the following consequences:

a) In respect of England.

Navy.

Offensive action may now begin. In carrying out the war against merchant shipping, submarines also, for the time being, will observe prize regulations. Intensified measures leading to the declaration of danger zones will be prepared. I shall decide when these measures shall become effective.

The entrances to the Baltic Sea will be mined without infringing neutral territorial waters.

In the North Sea the blockade measures envisaged for defensive purposes and for the attacks on England will be carried out.

Air Force.

Attacks upon English naval forces at naval bases or on the high seas (including the English Channel), and on definitely identified troop transports, will only be made in the event of English air attacks on similar targets and where there are particularly good prospects of success. This applies also to action by the Fleet Air Arm.

I reserve to myself the decision about attacks on the English homeland and on merchant shipping.

b) In respect of France.

Army.

The opening hostilities in the West will be left to the enemy. Commander-in-Chief Army will decide on the reinforcement of our forces in the West from such reserves as are still available.

Navy.

Offensive action against France will only be permitted if the enemy has first opened hostilities. In that case the same instructions apply to France as have been laid down for England.

Air Force.

Offensive action against France will only be undertaken after French attacks on German territory. The guiding principle must be not to provoke the initiation of aerial warfare by any action on the part of Germany.

In general the employment of the Air Force in the West will be governed by the need to preserve its fighting strength after the defeat of Poland for decisive action against the Western powers.

4. ‘Order X’ issued on 25 August 1939, with OKW No. 2100/39 g. K.WFA/L. II is extended to all the Armed Forces with effect from 3 September 1939.

The conversion of the entire German economy to a war basis is hereby decreed.

Further measures for mobilisation in civil life will be introduced by the High Command of the Armed Forces on the request of the highest Government authorities.

Signed: ADOLF HITLER

Directive No. 3

For the Conduct of the War

THE SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES.

BERLIN.

9 SEPTEMBER 1939.

8 COPIES.

1. Operations against the Polish Army and Air Force will continue with the necessary forces until it is safe to assume that the Poles are no longer capable of establishing a continuous front which can tie down German forces.

2. Should it be clear that some part of the Eastern Army and of the Air Force are no longer necessary for the completion of this task and for the pacification of occupied territories, arrangements are to be made to transfer these forces to the West.

As the Polish Air Force becomes progressively weaker, further air defence units may be made available for use against our Western enemies.

3. Even after the half hearted opening of hostilities by England, at sea and in the air, and by France, on the land and in the air, my personal approval must be obtained:

a) For any crossing of the German land frontier in the West.

b) For all flights beyond the Western frontier of Germany, unless they are necessary to meet heavy enemy air attacks.

c) For air attacks against England.

The Air Force is, however, free to operate in the German Bight and in the Western mined areas, and in immediate support of naval action at sea.

d) For the Navy the instructions given in Directive No. 2 paragraphs 3a and b remain in force. No offensive action at sea is to be undertaken against France.

Signed: ADOLF HITLER

Directive No. 4

For the Conduct of the War

THE SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES.

FÜHRER HEADQUARTERS.

25 SEPTEMBER 1939.

7 COPIES.

1. The final form of Government of the former Polish territory in the area between the...