SZ/AEAF/3/4/1 - Enemy rail requirements at the time of "Overlord", 18/3/44

Reference code

SZ/AEAF/3/4/1

Level of description

Item

Title

Enemy rail requirements at the time of "Overlord", 18/3/44

Date/s

1944

Quantity & Format

8 pp.

Creator

Great Britain. War Cabinet. Chiefs of Staff Committee. Joint Intelligence Committee.

Scope and content

JIC (44)106(O) (Final)

This report to the War Cabinet was signed by V. Cavendish-Bentinck, C.A.G. Nichols, J.M. Kirkman, F.F. Inglis, and G.C. Vickers. The Committee had been directed to estimate the level of essential rail traffic neede by the Germans "at the time of OVERLORD and subsequently". It gives estimates for the periods D-Day plus 5 weeks and D-Day plus 5 weeks to the beginning of 1945. The report assumes that the Germans already have, or are putting in place, "their broad dispositions to meet OVERLORD", some 54 divisions. Its authors do not, therefore, anticipate "large reinforcing movements into France, Holland or Belgium" before Operation Overlord begins. It also assumes that the Germans will be expecting "widespread bombing of rail and road communications" and will have made contingency plans.

Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory's copy.

SZ - Zuckerman Archive
- SZ/AEAF - [Allied Expeditionary Air Force]
  - SZ/AEAF/3 - [Air Ministry]
    - SZ/AEAF/3/4 - [Air Ministry. War Cabinet Joint Intelligence Committee]
      - SZ/AEAF/3/4/1 - Enemy rail requirements at the time of "Overlord", 18/3/44