"Oberkommando des Heeres HQ 07 may 1941
Gen St d H Op Abt (IIa)
Nr 811/41 Gkdos
Concerns Isabella
1) It is not excluded that England, in case of the fixing of the mass of the German army on the eastern theatre of war in the summer of 1941 will attempt - maybe with a simultaneous fixing in the Tanger area- to create a new mainland position on the Iberian peninsula with the objective:
a) to prevent Spain to join the Axis powers
b) compensate the loss of prestige and give the USA promising conditions for entering the war
c) take possession of important coastal places to secure its sea routes and as a basis for its fleet
d) create for itself a broadened basis for operations of its airforce against our fleet and airforce bases on the atlantic coast
e) gain more terrain in front of Gibraltar to secure it against a German attack
A landing will have to expected in the first place in Portugese harbours, less in harbours in the north of Spain. A simultaneous landing in France is hardly possible given the transport means and forces available to the enemy.
2) From the other countries it is to be expected:
a) France will wait how things develop. With an armed intervention of France in favour of England is not to be counted
b) Spain will resist the actions of England , however will not militarily be able to resist strong english forces for the duration without German help.
c) Portugal will give in to an english landing under protest.Whether it will resist an adance by German forces into Portugal , will decisively depend on the strength of the landed english troops and the pressure exercised.
3) In case of a british landing or an advance from Gibraltar it is intended to attack the british on the iberian peninsula with the objective to destroy the english forces or at least drive them out, to take possession of the most important spanish and portugese harbours on the atlantic coast and create favourable preconditions for a later attack against Gibraltar.
4) the operation has the name "Isabella" Its preparation and execution is assigned to OB West"
to be continued
Operation Isabella
Re: Operation Isabella
Isabella continued
"5) In the execution of the operation, it will at first be necessary to reach the plateau of old Castilia and Valladolid and Madrid with strong forces from the occupied part of France in order to according to the deveopment of the situation
either gain the most important harbours on the Portugese coast
or advance to the south spanish coast
Fast partial forces have to be advanced immediately to occupy the spanish north coast from Vigo to San sebastian
The utilisation of the spanish railroads is to be widely aimed at.
A collaboaration of italian forces is not at first envisaged.
6) The Luftwaffe will, besides air defense and air support of the army units advancing into Spain and Portugal, attack from the air the basises and harbours occupied by the enemy.
7) The forces for the operation- about 6-8 divisions- are to be taken from the troops which are ultimately left for OB West
An makeshift motorisation in the same form as prepared for "Attila", is to be provided for "Isabella".
With the feeding in of 2 further divisions 15. welle can be counted from 16.6 so that ultimately OB West will have in total at its disposal;
4 divisions 3.Welle(filled up by 15.6)
6 divisions 3.Welle ( partially equipped)
3 divisions 6. Welle
9 divisions 13. Welle
8 divisons 14. Welle
7 divisions 15. Welle
1 Panzer brigade
There is no idea yet on whether further forces, especially fast units can be provided by OKH.
8) In case of Isabella :
a) a securing of the coast with a minimum of forces must be ensured
as well as a sufficient securing of the demarcation line must continue
On the other hand the guarding of the north east line can be dropped
A simultaneous execution of Attlila is not to be counted with
However preparations for Attila have to be made in such a way that according to the case "Isabella" or "Attila" can be excecuted . The readiness for Attila can therefore not be dimished by preparations, particularly division of forces for Isabella.
9) A specific order will folow for the preparatory measures on the logistical side."
to be continued
"5) In the execution of the operation, it will at first be necessary to reach the plateau of old Castilia and Valladolid and Madrid with strong forces from the occupied part of France in order to according to the deveopment of the situation
either gain the most important harbours on the Portugese coast
or advance to the south spanish coast
Fast partial forces have to be advanced immediately to occupy the spanish north coast from Vigo to San sebastian
The utilisation of the spanish railroads is to be widely aimed at.
A collaboaration of italian forces is not at first envisaged.
6) The Luftwaffe will, besides air defense and air support of the army units advancing into Spain and Portugal, attack from the air the basises and harbours occupied by the enemy.
7) The forces for the operation- about 6-8 divisions- are to be taken from the troops which are ultimately left for OB West
An makeshift motorisation in the same form as prepared for "Attila", is to be provided for "Isabella".
With the feeding in of 2 further divisions 15. welle can be counted from 16.6 so that ultimately OB West will have in total at its disposal;
4 divisions 3.Welle(filled up by 15.6)
6 divisions 3.Welle ( partially equipped)
3 divisions 6. Welle
9 divisions 13. Welle
8 divisons 14. Welle
7 divisions 15. Welle
1 Panzer brigade
There is no idea yet on whether further forces, especially fast units can be provided by OKH.
8) In case of Isabella :
a) a securing of the coast with a minimum of forces must be ensured
as well as a sufficient securing of the demarcation line must continue
On the other hand the guarding of the north east line can be dropped
A simultaneous execution of Attlila is not to be counted with
However preparations for Attila have to be made in such a way that according to the case "Isabella" or "Attila" can be excecuted . The readiness for Attila can therefore not be dimished by preparations, particularly division of forces for Isabella.
9) A specific order will folow for the preparatory measures on the logistical side."
to be continued
Last edited by Aida1 on 04 Feb 2020, 21:30, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Operation Isabella
operation Isabella continued
"
10) the need for secrecy is to be pointed out in all preparations
11) Workdocuments …..
12) OB West communicates to OKH
By 15.05
a) operational intentions with timeframe, command structure and division of forces; the earliest time for operational readiness and the shortest prewarning time have to be specified
b) requested army troops(only available to a limited extent)
c) requests to the Luftwaffe
d) requests to the Kriegsmarine
e) the intended changes in the division of forces in the command area of OB West in terms of the readiness for "Isabella" and "Attila" and the time at which the new division of forces can be completed.
I doing so it is to be strived at to use the immobile units in coastal defense
A regrouping of forces should only happen after approval by OKH. "
to be continued
"
10) the need for secrecy is to be pointed out in all preparations
11) Workdocuments …..
12) OB West communicates to OKH
By 15.05
a) operational intentions with timeframe, command structure and division of forces; the earliest time for operational readiness and the shortest prewarning time have to be specified
b) requested army troops(only available to a limited extent)
c) requests to the Luftwaffe
d) requests to the Kriegsmarine
e) the intended changes in the division of forces in the command area of OB West in terms of the readiness for "Isabella" and "Attila" and the time at which the new division of forces can be completed.
I doing so it is to be strived at to use the immobile units in coastal defense
A regrouping of forces should only happen after approval by OKH. "
to be continued