From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 7 Sept 1940 . Weather Fair ground conditions dry. Our forces have landed and established important beacheads in Kent and Devon. The important naval bases and ports of Plymouth and Dover have been captured and their use denied to the enemy. Some resistance has been meet but on land this has been readily over come. The Luftwaffe and Kreigsmarine despite greater resistance are playing their roles satisfactorily. HMS Edinburgh an enemy light cruiser has been sunk.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 8 Sept 1940 Weather Fair ground conditions dry. As expected enemy has regrouped and is preparing for a counter attack but the Luftwaffe maintains its bombing raids on enemy units and lines of communications despite a high level of resistance from enemy air defences.Newbury has been captured by Luftwaffe Fallschirmjgers. Tunbridge Wells and Whitstable in Kent captured by Wermarcht forces, Exeter principal town in Devon and adjacent airfield evacuated by the British and will be occupied by Wermarcht forces in one hour. Enemy unit losses to date:2 Infantry, 1 anti tank, 4 forts, 3 destroyers, 2 light cruisers, 2 fighters.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 9 Sept 1940 Weather Heavy rain ground conditions dry- turning to mud. Bad weather which was not forecast has turned against us and prevented any Luftwaffe action against the enemy today. Despite this our forces are now engaged in heavy fighting on the outskirts of London. For final assault please send following reinforcements: 3 engineers, three artillery, three heavy weapons, three infantry, three armour, three anti-aircraft.Exeter principal town in Devon and adjacent airfield evacuated captured and occupied by Wermarcht forces. The whole of Devon and Cornwall is now under our control and subject to military control and a military governor will be appointed tomorrow.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 10 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions drying. Luftwaffe action against the enemy over London and forces north of Bristol. Our forces remained engaged in heavy fighting on the outskirts of London. Await news on reinforcements. Kreigsmarine units involved in heavy fighting with enemy ships, heavy losses being taken. More air cover required.General Hans Scmidt appointed as military governor of Devon and Cornwall.Enemy unit losses to date:4 Infantry, 2 anti tank, 6 forts, 3 destroyers, 2 light cruisers, 2 fighters.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 11 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions drying. Enemy defensive line and counter attacks around Taunton preventing are forces breaking out and joining forces in Kent attacking London. Kreigsmarine support now non-existent. Luftwaffe support is totally inadequate. Supplies and reinforcement levels now getting to critically low level. Request consideration is given to evacuation strategy, in meantime our attack on London continues. Heil Hitler.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 12 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Despite dwindling supplies we have destroyed an enemy infantry regiment in the battle for the London approaches. Our Luftwaffe detachments have managed to eliminate two flights of enemy fighters. The Kreigsmarine support has now been reduced to one U boat and this is damaged and attempting to return to port.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 13 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Heavy Luftwaffe losses now means that enemy controls air space and continues to degrade land units. No progress any longer being made, no reinforcements available. Request permission for withdrawal and sea evacuation.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 14 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Tunbridge Wells and Bournemouth lost to the enemy.Under continual air strikes, naval and artillery gunfire our troops are being forced to give ground and are conducting a fighting withdrawal to make ready for embarkation at Dover and Plymouth.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 15 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Heavy fighting around Canterbury, Oakhampton and Exeter, our units are suffering unsustainable losses and I fear there will be units left to evacuate. Request permission of The Furher to surrender and save further loss of life.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 16 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. The Generalfeldmarschall may rest assured that I will do my duty. It is my duty to report the loss of the airfield at Exeter and the town of Oakhampton. Our troops in Exeter and Canterbury are fast becoming surrounded and we have no fuel to break out with.Heil Hitler
From General Hans Scmidt Acting CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 16 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Sir it is with regret that I have to inform you that the port of Dover and principal town of Exeter have been lost to the enemy. On hearing the news Generaloberst Bamberger placed me in charge of 3rd Army and has shot himself and is now dead.
From General Hans Scmidt Acting CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 17 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Sir it is with regret that I inform you that Canterbury has now fallen into enemy hands and all our units on the Kent front have been destroyed. We have two artillery units defending Plymouth but they only have ammunition for five minutes of action, and I fear they will soon be overrun; signalling the end of operation Seelowe.Heil Hitler.
18 September 1940 -----------------------------------------------------------------
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 8 Sept 1940 Weather Fair ground conditions dry. As expected enemy has regrouped and is preparing for a counter attack but the Luftwaffe maintains its bombing raids on enemy units and lines of communications despite a high level of resistance from enemy air defences.Newbury has been captured by Luftwaffe Fallschirmjgers. Tunbridge Wells and Whitstable in Kent captured by Wermarcht forces, Exeter principal town in Devon and adjacent airfield evacuated by the British and will be occupied by Wermarcht forces in one hour. Enemy unit losses to date:2 Infantry, 1 anti tank, 4 forts, 3 destroyers, 2 light cruisers, 2 fighters.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 9 Sept 1940 Weather Heavy rain ground conditions dry- turning to mud. Bad weather which was not forecast has turned against us and prevented any Luftwaffe action against the enemy today. Despite this our forces are now engaged in heavy fighting on the outskirts of London. For final assault please send following reinforcements: 3 engineers, three artillery, three heavy weapons, three infantry, three armour, three anti-aircraft.Exeter principal town in Devon and adjacent airfield evacuated captured and occupied by Wermarcht forces. The whole of Devon and Cornwall is now under our control and subject to military control and a military governor will be appointed tomorrow.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 10 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions drying. Luftwaffe action against the enemy over London and forces north of Bristol. Our forces remained engaged in heavy fighting on the outskirts of London. Await news on reinforcements. Kreigsmarine units involved in heavy fighting with enemy ships, heavy losses being taken. More air cover required.General Hans Scmidt appointed as military governor of Devon and Cornwall.Enemy unit losses to date:4 Infantry, 2 anti tank, 6 forts, 3 destroyers, 2 light cruisers, 2 fighters.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 11 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions drying. Enemy defensive line and counter attacks around Taunton preventing are forces breaking out and joining forces in Kent attacking London. Kreigsmarine support now non-existent. Luftwaffe support is totally inadequate. Supplies and reinforcement levels now getting to critically low level. Request consideration is given to evacuation strategy, in meantime our attack on London continues. Heil Hitler.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 12 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Despite dwindling supplies we have destroyed an enemy infantry regiment in the battle for the London approaches. Our Luftwaffe detachments have managed to eliminate two flights of enemy fighters. The Kreigsmarine support has now been reduced to one U boat and this is damaged and attempting to return to port.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 13 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Heavy Luftwaffe losses now means that enemy controls air space and continues to degrade land units. No progress any longer being made, no reinforcements available. Request permission for withdrawal and sea evacuation.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 14 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Tunbridge Wells and Bournemouth lost to the enemy.Under continual air strikes, naval and artillery gunfire our troops are being forced to give ground and are conducting a fighting withdrawal to make ready for embarkation at Dover and Plymouth.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 15 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Heavy fighting around Canterbury, Oakhampton and Exeter, our units are suffering unsustainable losses and I fear there will be units left to evacuate. Request permission of The Furher to surrender and save further loss of life.
From Generaloberst Bamberger CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 16 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. The Generalfeldmarschall may rest assured that I will do my duty. It is my duty to report the loss of the airfield at Exeter and the town of Oakhampton. Our troops in Exeter and Canterbury are fast becoming surrounded and we have no fuel to break out with.Heil Hitler
From General Hans Scmidt Acting CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 16 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Sir it is with regret that I have to inform you that the port of Dover and principal town of Exeter have been lost to the enemy. On hearing the news Generaloberst Bamberger placed me in charge of 3rd Army and has shot himself and is now dead.
From General Hans Scmidt Acting CinC 3rd Army to Generalfeldmarschall Keitel Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) Situation Report 1800 17 Sept 1940 Weather Fair- ground conditions dry. Sir it is with regret that I inform you that Canterbury has now fallen into enemy hands and all our units on the Kent front have been destroyed. We have two artillery units defending Plymouth but they only have ammunition for five minutes of action, and I fear they will soon be overrun; signalling the end of operation Seelowe.Heil Hitler.
18 September 1940 -----------------------------------------------------------------
