Report of the Commander in Chief, Navy, to the Führer on 21 May 1940 at 1200.
1. Report on the sea defense of Norway: The plan for coastal defenses is as follovs: First, a 15 cm. battery is to be installed at Trondheim, then batteries at Namsos, Mosjoen, and Mo, to hold off light enemy forces and landing operations; subsequently further batteries for the protection of coastal traffic.
Trondheim is to be fitted out as the main base.
2. The Führer decides that the EMDEN is to return.
The THEODOR RIEDEL is to return only if replaced by other vessels (torpedo boats).
3. Transport tasks:
b. Merchant ships are returning from Bergen and Stavanger.
Up until now twenty six steamers have returned through the North Sea without incident.
5. Naval operations:
Plan: The ships are to operate in the northern North Sea and the Arctic Ocean to relieve our land operations in northern Norway, and to defend the Skagerrak and southern Norway by threatening enemy communications between the British Isles and northern Norway.
Operations from Trondheim will be conducted later.
b. Both PT boat flotillas moved from Norway to the German Bight for operations in the Hoofden-Channel area.
c. Submarine warfare:
(2) Hoofden: Four boats are operating there now, another three boats will be ready by the end of May to act as reliefs.
(2) Ship "36" [Orion] (commanded by Weyher) has sunk one steamer in the North Atlantic.
She is proceeding through the Pacific for mine-laying duties off Australia and warfare against merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean.
(3) Ship "21" [Widder] (commanded by von Ruckteschell) is on her way to attack merchant ships in the North Atlantic.
Is it permissible to bombard the French-occupied island of Aruba?
The oil installations belong to Standard Oil, an American company.
The Führer decides this should not be done for the time being.
b. Coastal defense. The Commander in Chief, Navy, considers that only a few heavy and medium batteries are necessary, as we need not reckon with landing operations in view of our air superiority.
The Führer agrees.
He believes that the batteries will need protection against aerial bombs.
This cannot be provided quickly.
8. The political situation in Norway is discussed.
9. The Führer and the Commander in Chief, Navy, discuss in private details concerning the invasion of England, which the Seekriegsleitung has been working on since November.
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