Lot 326 Historically Important Operation Overlord D-Day Invasion Plans, Maps, Documents and Intelligence Reports of Huge Historical Significance. SAS & US Airborne Divisions Interest

Historically Important Operation Overlord D-Day Invasion Plans, Maps, Documents and Intelligence Reports of Huge Historical Significance. SAS & US Airborne Divisions Interest
Historically Important Operation Overlord D-Day Invasion Plans, Maps, Documents and Intelligence Reports of Huge Historical Significance. SAS & US Airborne Divisions Interest. When it comes to military paperwork and ephemera it doesn’t come much better than this collection. Relating to the Invasion of the Normandy Coast, Operation ‘Overlord’, the deception operation codenamed ‘Cockade’, as well as Operation ‘Eclipse’ and the establishment of the BOAR. This lot is made up from documents, letters, plans, maps, and personal ephemera. The overlord aspect of this collection is made up from ‘Top Secret’ and ‘BIGOT’ marked files, of which stands for ‘British Invasion of German Occupied Territory’. This really emphasis the importance and rarity of this plans. The main focus is upon the Allied airborne operations to take place leading up to and on D-Day itself. The units of mention are of the 1st SAS Regiment and the two US Airborne Divisions, the 82nd and 101st. The first example to give is a letter in typewritten format, addressed to General Montgomery from the ‘Headquarters First United States Army’. Marked upon the top with ‘BIGOT’ and ‘Top Secret’ in red, dated 26th May 1944. This letter is outlining plans and adjustments to the 101st and 82nd Airborne Division prior to the Normandy invasion. Some of the extracts from the letter are as follows, ‘2. The 101st A/B Division will be dropped as originally planned except for one regiment in the vicinity of ST MERE EGLISE. This regiment will be dropped further south in order to strengthen the defence from the south opposite CARENTAN. The 82nd A/B Division to be dropped with one regiment in the vicinity of ST MERE EGLISE and two regiments just west of MEDERET and the north of the DOUVE.’ This nicely highlights units and towns of which were to become infamous with the Normandy campaign. Another extract from this letter is, ‘In view of the fact the Peninsula is more strongly held, it is believed that an estimated phase data of the D+15 on taking the port is more accurate than D+8.’ Here discussing the probability of reaching the port town of Cherbourg in the original 8 days as planned to be unrealistic. The last note, number 11, tells us the following. ‘That the matter be brought to the attention of the supreme commander at the earliest possible time because our time is short. I still feel that unless this airborne operation is carried out in connection with the assault on the UTAH beach, that the whole operation on that beach must be cancelled.’ Fascinating in itself the comment in which describes the Utah beach landing potentially being dropped due to the airborne and ground elements not coinciding, especially being only just over a week away from the original invasion date. Signed upon the bottom, ‘(Signed), O. N. Bradley, Lieutenant General, US Army Commanding’. Great piece of Overlord history, from Lt Gen Omar Bradley to General Montgomery in the lead up to the assault. All of this is detailed on a single two page document, of which is implied at the bottom only 5 copies were produced. The next pieces to look at in detail are instruction sheets and planning for SAS troops in North West Europe that will be in support prior to the Normandy landings. Firstly, one dated 30th May 1944 and titled, ‘SAS Troops Operation Instruction No.1’ and addressed to ‘Commander SAS Troops.’ Who at the time was Brigadier Roderick McLeod. This document gives us the operations in detail to be carried out by the SAS and how many men shall be assigned to each task, where they should recce, the liaison with SOE & local Maquis resistance troops and their targets, i.e. Railway lines etc. These include, Operation ‘Titanic’, the assisting in dropping dummy troops on the night of 5/6 June 44 to deceive the Germans. Operation ‘Bulbasket’, an ill-fated operation in the Poitiers area in SW France which saw a number of ‘B’ squadron’s SAS troops, Local Maquis and a USAAF airman executed. Operation ‘Houndsworth’, carried out by ‘A’ squadron 1st SAS, to disrupt railway lines with the aid of local resistance to prevent the movement of German reinforcements to the Normandy area, mainly that of the 2nd SS Panzer Division. An extract on the Houndsworth Operation section reads, ‘To land a small recce party with a Jedburgh team at a reception point to be arranged by SFHQ in the area NIEVE (MORVAN Mts)’ and ‘Priority targets are :- Railway DIJON-PARIS’. All the other major operations are also listed, ‘Dingson’, ‘Samwest’, ‘Cooney’, ‘Jockworth’ and ‘Moses’. The document continues with the following outlined subjects, ‘Liaison with SFHQ and Resistance Groups’, ‘Aircraft’, what types to be used in operations. ‘Security’ and ‘Inter-communication’. Print signed at the bottom by Lt General Commander, Airborne Troops, 21st Army Group, who in this instance would be Frederick Browning. The second document titled ‘Outline Plan For The Movement of SAS Troops In Overlord’ is marked also ‘Top Secret’ and ‘BIGOT’. This is the plan in which details Advance Recce Parties, Main Recce Parties and Base Parties and their deployment in aid of the Overlord operation. This gives us the basis as to what the usual procedure is for an SAS operation of these larger scales. One extract reads, ‘Main Recce Parties: Two parties each of eight men (incl one wireless terminal) will be landed on the night D-1/D in each base area’. And ‘Brittany: In addition to the recce and base parties already described, two troops (120 all ranks) will be landed on the night D+1/2 in a broad band from REDON – ST MALO in order to harass enemy lines of communication between WEST BRITTANY and the remainder of France’. The final sheet associated with the SAS operations is a fold out table, named ‘Appendix A’ in which the previous sheets described are linked to by means of referring to the particular section on the table. This details, Areas, Code names (Ops), The Unit (1st SAS, 4th French Para), and then the days in which what will be carried out. This has to be one of the most significant pieces of original Overlord Airborne & SAS related paperwork to have at hand, the detailing of these covert missions is staggering. All kept in a paper folder, with the ink written title of ‘Overlord, Engagement of Airborne Forces’. The map selection on the Normandy coast is just as important, with initial plans and expectations prior to the engagement. One map detailing the ‘Build up of Divisions’ teaches us of the intended landings, of which was then carried out, showing the beaches from Utah to Sword and the units of whom where to land there. The map is divided by red lines predicting the advance by days. For example, ‘D Day’ for reaching the outside the city of Caen and ‘D+8’ for Cherbourg. Which as we know would turn out to be a different affair. Other maps included are of the Normandy sector marked ‘Operation Neptune’ with circular numbers, something which will need further research. Several other maps from the NWE theatre of operations accompany the lot. Amongst the collection is an Intelligence report from the 15th Scottish Division, dated 23rd July 1944. It makes interesting reading for it analyses the German position, strength, moral and general condition. One extract details the capture of a German document of the 130th Panzer Lehr Division from the 6th – 22nd June. Also, the capture of two Austrian troops at La Valtru, labelled deserters, having been fighting previously on the Eastern front for 2 years, make remarks on unwilling to surrender to Russian troops. ‘When our tps (troops) recaptured their posn (position) they found these men killed, with their eyes picked out and their ears cut off’. This is referring to finding fellow Austrian soldiers having surrendered then discovered later. The document also reveals the men of the SS harassing local French civilians and looting. Great insight to the Normandy campaigns ground battle. In addition to this lot which ties in nicely with the Operation Overlord plans, is a large folder containing a very interesting and extensive array of ‘Most Secret’ plans from the ‘War Cabinet, Chiefs of Staff Committee’. The large selection on files relate to many subjects prior to the invasion, for example. ‘Fighting French – Participation in Western Europe Theatre of War. A translation of General De Gaulle’s letter and instruction.’ This outlines De Gaulle’s proposition for the use of French forces in conjunction with the allied effort to regain control of occupied France. The rest focuses heavily on ‘Operation Cockade’, an allied deception plan in September 1943, with the operations, ‘Starkey, Wadham and Tindall’ under its umbrella. The majority are for the personal use of the Home Forces C-in-C, who at the time was General Fredericick E Morgan. Other names which make an appearance on these forms who were present for meetings about these operation include, General Sir Alan Brooke, Sir Dudley Pound, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Sir Charles Portal and Sir Hastings L Ismay. This tells us the real gravity of these plans and their upmost secrecy. Other files of note are ‘Operation Rankin’, another on ‘Fire support of seaborne landings against a heavily defended coast’. And lastly, an annex for the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, on reports from the Chiefs of Staff on the use of Commando forces for Overlord. One extract reads, ‘General Montgomery has asked that the whole of the 2nd SAS Regiment which consists of about 640 British all ranks, trained in parachuting and commando type warfare, should be made available for Overlord’. This lot features multiple maps and secret files on areas of Belgium and Germany, focused on the eventual divide of Berlin and ‘Operation Eclipse’. Also included is ‘Ike’ D-Day letter as well as the following ones issued, and the personal messages from the C-in-C Montgomery. A letter for ‘cease fire’ on the 5th May 1945 is in amongst the collection as well as one very interested and particularly unusual file. Titled ‘Silver Bullets: Werewolves For Destruction’ and dated 7th May 1945. This document is strange in the sense that it is referring to a secret weapon or captured technology which is due to be tested, the weapon described as the silver bullet and the target a Werewolf. To give example of the style in which this is written would best define this file, ‘It is requested that the possibility of obtaining an issue of “Bullets Silver Anti-Werewolf” for trial’ giving the impression this is some form of weapon and ‘Mil Gov are requested to obtain a supply of Werewolves for experimental purposes. If this is impossible REME will be instructed to construct mock ups based on a specification to be produced by G (int), ‘A’ and Mil Gov’. This makes for fascinating reading and something which will require much further research to decipher the real objects in question. On conclusion this whole collection is a great insight into military planning by General Chiefs of staff, troop movements, training and deployment in preparation for the eventual invasion of enemy occupied France. We are delighted to offer this rare opportunity to obtain something with great historical significance. Strongly advise to view this lot due to the detail being to vast to describe. Categories: D-Day & Invasion of Occupied Europe