Rank and File
A Clerk’s War
Eve of War – late 15th June 1939
I had packed up, ready to stroll to the Bahnhof in the warm spring evening air, when I received the summons to Minister Frick’s office. Already a little nervous, the sight of armed soldiers in the Minister’s office really alarmed me. Had someone got wind of my private diary? Or perhaps my curiosity with regard to the secret Navy orders had been discovered?
I soon relaxed. The Minister’s first words were of congratulation on my performance over the past few months. My attempts to deflect the praise to my staff or to say I had just done my duty were silenced sharply (Minister Frick wasn’t so impressed that a mere clerk could interrupt him!). He was simply getting to the point in a roundabout way.
My performance in ensuring that all documents were preserved correctly had impressed several senior member of the Party, and I had been selected for a further honour.
An officer handed me a heavy package. The Minister told me in a serious voice that there would be a momentous event before dawn on the following day. It was likely that before noon we would be at war with Poland and probably the Western Allies. I tried to look suitably shocked, impressed, excited and enthusiastic, but don’t think I carried it off. It didn’t matter, the Minister had continued.
In the package were the Wehrmacht plans for the coming conflict. I was to read and understand the contents thoroughly tonight, in the office. I would not be going home. At least one guard would accompany me at all times, and arrangements would be made for fresh clothes to be brought from my house.
In the morning I would set up a special “temporary” section to concentrate on military operations. It would be my responsibility to look after the records generated by the Wehrmacht and make sure that were all available for posterity. The package had been provided so that I would understand the significance and relative importance of the documents I would receive.
A brief nod by me and an imperious wave from him and that was it. I left with my “honour guard” and returned to my office for a long night.
Once I opened the package I saw I had 6 files. I opened the first and started reading. A cover note explained that these files contained the Order of Battle and primary objectives of the 5 Armies of the Wehrmacht, with a separate file for the Kriegsmarine and a few unattached units. These are my summary notes and diagrams that I kept for reference in the weeks ahead.
The Army of East Prussia is part of Heeresgruppe East and has two objectives: Danzig and Warsaw.
It comprises three Armeekorps: I Armeekorps, XIII Armeekorps and 1 Panzerkorps. (14 divisions)
I Armeekorps:
21. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
1. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
11. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
62. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
72. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-air Regiment
XIII Armeekorps:
60. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
52. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
68. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-air Regiment
56. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
73. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Antitank Regiment
1 Panzerkorps
20. Infanterie (motorised): 3 Motorised Regiments, 1 Armoured Car Regiment
5 Panzer Division: 2 Panzer Regiments, 2 Motorised Regiments
1 Panzer Division: 2 Panzer Regiments, 2 Motorised Regiments
27. Infanterie (motorised): 3 Motorised Regiments, 1 Armoured Car Regiment
Air Support:
3rd Stukakorps: 2 x Ju 87B geschwader
1st Jagdflugkorps: 1 x Bf 109G geschwader
2nd Jagdflugkorps: 1 x Bf 109G geschwader
Army of Polen Nord (note the huge Manchukuo garrison in Berlin!)
Also part of Heeresgruppe East is the Army of Polen Nord. It too has two objectives (Danzig and Torun) and comprises three Armeekorps: II Armeekorps, 2 Leichte Panzerkorps. (12 divisions)
II Armeekorps:
2. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
32. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
3. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
71. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
23. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments
2 Leichte Panzerkorps
1 Leichte Panzer Division: 2 leichte Panzer Regiments, 1 Motorised Regiment, 1 Tank Destroyer Regiment
3 Leichte Panzer Division: 2 leichte Panzer Regiments, 1 Motorised Regiment, 1 Tank Destroyer Regiment
3. Infanterie (motorised): 3 Motorised Regiments, 1 Armoured Car Regiment
60. infanterie (motorised): 3 Motorised Regiments, 1 Armoured Car Regiment
VII Armeekorps
18. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments
28. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
8. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
Air Support:
1 Taktischeluftflotte: 2 x He 111
3 Taktischeluftflotte: 2x He 111
1 Stukakorps: 2 x Ju 87B
6 Taktischeluftflotte: 2 x He 111
5 Taktischeluftflotte: 2 x He 111
The Army of Polen Sud (Heeresgruppe East) is to take Krakow. It has 3 Armeekorps: 1 Leichte Panzerkorps, IV Armeekorps, XI Armeekorps (12 divisions)
1 Leichte Panzerkorps:
2 Leichte Panzer Division: 2 leichte Panzer Regiments, 1 Motorised Regiment
2.Infanterie (motorised) Division: 3 Motorised Regiments, 1 Armoured Car Regiment
4 Leichte Panzer Division: 2 leichte Panzer Regiments, 1 Motorised Regiment
13. Infanterie (motorised) Division: 3 Motorised Regiments, 1 Motorised Regiment
IV Armeekorps
4. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
14. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
24. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments
58. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
XI Armeekorps
9. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
15. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
29. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-air Regiment
44. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
Air support:
2 Stukakorps: 2 x Ju 87B
5 Fliegerkorps: 2 x Bf 109D
4 Taktischeluftflotte: 2 x He 111
The final Army of Heeresgruppe East, the Osterreich Army, has only one Armeekoprs, the 1 Gebirgsjager. (5 divisions) Unfortunately, due to an administrative mix-up, the headquarters unit is still in the West. This should not matter, as it is not intended to start for its objective (Krakow) for about a week.
1 Gebirgsjagerkorps
1 Gebirgsjager Division: 3 Gebirgsjager Regiments, 1 Pioniere Regiment
2 Gebirgsjager Division: 3 Gebirgsjager Regiments, 1 Pioniere Regiment
3 Gebirgsjager Division: 3 Gebirgsjager Regiments, 1 Pioniere Regiment
4 Gebirgsjager Division: 3 Gebirgsjager Regiments, 1 Pioniere Regiment
6 Gebirgsjager Division: 3 Gebirgsjager Regiments, 1 Pioniere Regiment
Air Support:
2 Taktischeluftflotte: 2 x He 111
Heeresgruppe West has two Armies: Benelux and Westwall. Its mission is to hold the West from Denmark to Switzerland until the forces in the East have conquered Poland.
The Army of the Westwall is responsible for the border with France. It has 2 Armeekorps (V and VII), and the fortifications which line the border provinces. Its air support is to cover the industrial centres of the south. (9 divisions)
V Armeekorps
5. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
25. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
55. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-air Regiment
45. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
VII Armeekorps
7. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
10. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
17. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
27. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-air Regiment
37. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
Air Support
4 Fliegerkorps: 2 x Bf 109D
2 Fliegerkorps: 2 x Bf 109D
The Army of Benelux is to defend the border with Denmark, the Nordsee coast, and the borders with Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. It also may be called upon to invade Denmark, should this become necessary in the view of the OKH. Its air support is to protect the cities of the north and centre. It has 4 Armeekorps. (17 divisions)
VI Armeekorps
6. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
16. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
26. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-air Regiment
46. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
XI Armeekorps
19. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
31. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
12. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
13. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-air Regiment
X Armeekorps
20. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
22. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
30. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-air Regiment
50. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
XII Armeekorps
33. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Anti-tank Regiment
34. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
36. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
61. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
69. Infanterie Division: 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment
Air Support:
6 Fliegerkorps: 3 x Bf 109D
Other Forces: direct command
The Marine Sturmkorps will receive orders direct from OKH.
1 Marine Sturmkorps
1 Marine Sturm Division: 3 Marine Regiments, 1 Pioniere Regiment
2 Marine Sturm Division: 3 Marine Regiments, 1 Pioniere Regiment
Naval bombers will receive orders direct from OKH.
1 Seeflotte: 2 x Fw 200C “Condor”
2 Seeflotte: 1 x Fw 200C “Condor”
Transport planes and ships will receive orders direct from OKH
1 Truppentransporterflotte: 3 Truppentransporterflottille
1 Truppentransporterluftflotte: 1 x Ju 52
Kriegsmarine will receive orders direct from OKH
Nordseeflotte:
1 x Battleship: “Bismark”
1x Battlecruiser: “Scharnhorst”
3 x Heavy Cruiser: “Deutschland”, “Admiral Scheer” and “Graf Spee”
7 x Light Cruiser: “Nurnberg”, “Leipzig”, “Konigsberg”, “Karlsruhe”, “Koln”, “Emden”, “Stuttgart”
2 x Destroyer (Z1 class): Zerstorergeschwader 4 and 8
2 x Destroyer (Z17 class): Zerstorergeschwader 5 and 6
Baltischeflotte
2 x Battlecruiser: “Schlesien” and “Schleswig-Holstein”
3 x Destroyer (G7 class): 1, 2 and 3
II Unterseebootsflotte
3 x Unterseebootsflottille (Class IIB): 2, 3 and 4
1 Unterseebootsflotte
2 x Unterseebootsflottille (Class IX): 5 and 6
2 Unterseebootsflotte
2 x Unterseebootsflottille (Class IX): 10 and 11