German High Command Papers on the Dieppe Raid (1942) (Irving File 312-504)

The file contains a series of secret and high-level German military documents relating to the Allied raid on Dieppe, 19 August 1942. The material includes both strategic situation reports and internal administrative directives issued by:

• AOK 15 (Armeeoberkommando 15)
• Oberbefehlshaber West
• Heeresgruppe D
• Various subordinate infantry, artillery, and supply units (notably elements of the 302. Infanterie-Division and attached formations)

The documents cover:

1. Enemy intentions and German assessment

Includes analysis taken from captured Allied orders describing the intended objectives of the Canadian-led force, including unit compositions and landing plans.
Examples appear in reports detailing planned landings by Royal Regiment of Canada, Essex Scottish, Fusiliers Mont-Royal, South Saskatchewan Regiment etc.

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2. German defensive deployments at Dieppe

Organizational charts show the precise layout and strength of the German units holding Dieppe and its approaches.
One illustrated page titled “Geheime Kommandosache – Gliederung der im angegriffenen Abschnitt der 302. ID. … vorhandenen Gesamtkraefte” charts infantry, artillery, Luftwaffe, Marine, and auxiliary elements.

3. Orders, circulars, and command correspondence

Includes top-level directives such as:

• Gefechtsbericht über Feindlandung bei Dieppe (Combat report on the enemy landing at Dieppe)
• Communications signed by senior staff officers, including Generalmajor Zeitzler.
• Orders to destroy superseded annexes for secrecy.
  Example: directive instructing the destruction of old Anlage (annex) documents.

4. German evaluation of the Allied attack

Reports estimate Allied casualties and prisoners:

• 2095 prisoners, including 617 wounded,
• 500–600 killed,
• Unknown number drowned.

Hitler’s personal message to OB West praising the defenders is also included.

5. Operational critiques of Allied planning

German officers comment on the Allied orders being overly complex (121 pages, many code names), causing confusion and limiting junior officer initiative.

6. Logistical and administrative material

Later pages include fuel allocations, supply movements, transport unit structures, Feldgendarmerie staffing, and mis-typed or poorly reproduced forms.
Examples include large tables of fuel distribution (Otto and Diesel allocations).

DISCLAIMER

This document is a wartime German military record produced by the Wehrmacht High Command in 1942. It reflects the language, perspectives, assumptions, and reporting standards of the German armed forces at that time. The content may include biased assessments, inaccuracies, propaganda, obsolete terminology, and descriptions of military operations conducted under a totalitarian regime.

The presence of this material in the archive does not imply agreement with, endorsement of, or validation of any viewpoints expressed within it. It is provided solely for historical research, transparency, and documentation. Users should critically evaluate all statements and consult additional sources when forming conclusions.

Some sections may also contain operational details, casualty figures, or terminology that can be disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Condition Note

This file is a digitized compilation of wartime German High Command correspondence and reports relating to the Dieppe Raid of August 1942. The physical originals were produced on thin wartime paper stock and exhibit the expected ageing typical of mid-20th-century military records.

Observed issues in the scanned copy:

• Paper Degradation
Pages show consistent yellowing and tonal darkening, characteristic of acid-bearing wartime paper. No critical loss of legibility is apparent in the scans.

• Ink Fading
Several pages display light-to-moderate ink fade, particularly on carbon copies and duplicated sheets. Text remains readable but occasionally faint.

• Edge Wear
Minor fraying, soft corner folds, and small edge abrasions are visible on certain sheets. These appear stable and do not intrude into text areas.

• Punch Holes
Many pages show original binder or file holes on the left margin. These do not obscure any substantive textual content.

• Annotations and Stamps
Original German registry stamps and clerical markings survive clearly. Occasional pencil notes are visible, though often faint.

• Photostat Quality Variation
Some pages appear to derive from wartime photostats or later office reproductions, resulting in uneven contrast and slight blurring in localized areas.

Overall, the digitized file is complete, stable, and fully legible, with imperfections typical for archival German military documentation of the period. No intervention is recommended beyond standard digital preservation.

4 Page Sample German High Command Papers on the Dieppe Raid (1942) (Irving File 312-504)