Hitler’s Wartime Orders: The Complete Fuhrer Directives 1939-1945 by Bob Carruthers

Author:Bob Carruthers [Carruthers, Bob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / World War II
ISBN: 9781473868731
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2018-07-29T23:00:00+00:00

Directive No. 38

THE FÜHRER AND SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES.

FÜHRER HEADQUARTERS.

2 DECEMBER 1941.

17 COPIES.

1. In order to secure and extend our own position in the Mediterranean, and to establish a focus of Axis strength in the Central Mediterranean, I order, in agreement with the Duce, that part of the German Air Force no longer required in the East be transferred to the South Italian and North African areas, in the strength of about one Air Corps with the necessary anti-aircraft defences.

Apart from the immediate effect of this movement on the war in the Mediterranean and North Africa, efforts will be made to ensure that it has a considerable effect upon farther developments in the Mediterranean area as a whole.

2. I appoint Field Marshal Kesselring to command all forces employed in these operations. He is also appointed Commander-in-Chief South.

His tasks are:

To secure mastery of the air and sea in the area between Southern Italy and North Africa in order to secure communications with Libya and Cyrenaica and, in particular, to keep Malta in subjection.

To cooperate with German and allied forces engaged in North Africa.

To paralyse enemy traffic through the Mediterranean and British supplies to Tobruk and Malta, in close cooperation with the German and Italian naval forces available for this task.

3. Commander-in-Chief South will be under the orders of the Duce, whose general instructions he will receive through the Commando Supremo. In all Air Force matters Commander-in-Chief Air Force will deal direct with Commander-in-Chief South. In important matters the High Command of the Armed Forces is to be simultaneously informed.

4. The following will be subordinate to Commander-in-Chief South:

a) All units of the German Air Force stationed in the Mediterranean and North African areas;

b) The air and anti-aircraft units put at his disposal for the execution of his tasks by the Italian Armed Forces.

5. German naval forces in the central Mediterranean remain under command of Commander-in-Chief Navy.

For the execution of the tasks assigned to him, Commander-in-Chief South is authorised to issue directives to the German Admiral with the Italian Naval High Command and, if necessary, to Naval Group South (for the Eastern Mediterranean). Operation orders will be issued by the Naval Headquarters concerned in agreement with Commander-in-Chief South.

Requests by Commander-in-Chief South for combined operations by allied naval forces will be made exclusively to the German Admiral with the Italian Naval High Command.

6. The duties of Commander Armed Forces South-east and of the German General at the headquarters of the Italian Armed Forces remain unchanged.

Signed: ADOLF HITLER

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