1327

Description

A file of signals intelligence reports, messages, and correspondence issued by the Government Code and Cypher School and sent by the head ('C') of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) to the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. This file includes the following reports on North Africa: a day report from the 5th Panzer Army for January 18, stating that an Allied thrust north-west of Heidous was repulsed; on heavy fighting north-east of Bou Arada; on the expectation of Allied reinforcements; and that a German armoured car claimed to have sunk a submarine by gunfire; of the Panzer Army under Rommel's intentions for January 21, including a planned withdrawal; and that the Army HQ is moving to Agelat, south-west of Sabratha; Naval Headlines, covering that the Scharnhorst and Prinz Eugen are preparing to leave Gdynia for Northern Waters; and that an Italian Admiral was to leave Tripoli together with his Staff, on January 21, but that the harbour entrance was blocked, and the tank, pier and dockyard installations were destroyed.

Keywords

military situation reports, invasion of French North Africa, Operation Torch, German army, defence, military operations, Allied powers, casualties, tanks, submarines, patrols, operations planning, naval intelligence, German navy, warships, German U-boats, blockades, Italian navy, shipping losses, convoys