"Hitler's War Directives 1939-1945" ed. by H.R. Trevor-Roper,

Directive No. 18 issued on 12th November 1940 on the seizure of Gibraltar:

__________________________________________________ ________
Directive No. 18

(Part 1 talks about relations with France)

2. Spain and Portugal.
Political measures to bring about the entry into the war of Spain in the near future have already been initiated. The aim of German intervention in the Iberian peninsula (cover-name 'Felix') will be to drive the English from the Western Mediterranean. To his end -

(a) Gibraltar is to be captured and the Straits closed.
(b) The English are to be prevented from gaining a footing at any point on the Iberian peninsula or in the Atlantic Islands.

The preparation and execution of this operation is planned as follows:

Phase I
(a) Reconnaissance parties (officers in plain clothes) will draw up necessary plans for action against Gibraltar and for the capture of airfields. With regard to cover and collaboration with the Spaniards they will conform with the security measures of the Chief, Armed Forces Intelligence Division.
(b) Special detachments of the Armed Forces Intelligence Division, in secret collaboration with the Spaniards, will undertake to secure the Gibraltar area against any attempts by the English to enlarge the area they control or to discover and interfere prematurely with our preparations.
(c) Formations detailed for the operation will be concentrated at a considerable distance from the Franco-Spanish frontier and without previous briefing of troops. Three weeks before troops are timed to cross the Spanish-French frontier (and after the conclusion of preparations for the occupation of the Atlantic Islands) a warning order will be issued.
In view of the low capacity of Spanish railways the Army will detail chiefly motorized formations for this operation, so that the railways are available for supplies.

Phase II
(a) Units of the Air Force, summoned through observation in the Algeciras area, will set out from French bases and make a well-timed air attack on English naval forces in Gibraltar harbour. After the attack they will land in Spanish airports.
(b) Shortly after this attack units detailed for operations in Spain will cross or fly over the Franco-Spanish frontier.

Phase III
(a) An attack will be made with German troops to seize Gibraltar.
(b) Forces will be made reaady to invade Portugal should the English gain a footing there. Formations detailed for this purpose will enter Spain immediately behind the forces intended for Gibraltar.

Phase IV
After the capture of the Rock, the Spaniards will be assisted to close the Straits; if necessary, from Spanish Morocco also.
The strength of the formation destined for 'Undertaking Felix' will be as follows:

Army.
Formations detailed for Gibraltar must be strong enough to capture the Rock even without Spanish support.
A smaller force must also be available to support the Spaniards in the improbable event of an attempted English landing on another part of the coast.
Motorized forces will be employed in the main for a possible invasion of Portugal.

Air Force.
The forces detailed for the attack on Gibraltar harbour must be sufficient to ensure a resounding success.
Dive-bomber units, in particular, are to be transferred to Spain to engage naval targets and to support the attack on the Rock.
Army formations will be allotted sufficient anti-aircraft artillery to allow them to engage targets on the ground also.

Navy.
Submarines will be used to engage the English Gibraltar squadron, particularly when it leaves harbour, as is likely after the attack.
To support the Spaniards in closing the Straits, preparations are to be made, in conjunction with the Army, to bring over single coastal batteries.
Italian participation in the operation is not expected.

(Rest of the directive talks about the operation in North Africa, the Balkans, Russia and England)
signed: ADOLF HITLER

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if in doubt....Panic!!!!

now let us imagine germany and axis powers invading gib and controlling the STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR

thanks for the info for everyone yo see

Dear friends:
Your message:
"hello speak spanish yeah here in gibraltar lots nazi activity across the border during the war ,by the way we speak spanish and english here ,hope to exchange info"

Queridos amigos: Acepto vuestra amable invitación. Buscaré información, Foros, noticias, y páginas web hablando sobre el tema. Encantado de intercambiar información. Dentro de pocos días, vuelvo a intervenir. Intervendré en español.

Estoy seguro que lo pasaremos bien.

Juan

P.S. Una búsqueda rápida: Operación Félix - Buscar con Google

__________________
La llave de la libertad es la sabiduria. El cerrojo de la esclavitud la ignorancia

U-Historia, Ubootwaffe 1939-1945 History of UBootwaffe in Spanish
http://www.tradiweb.com/ta.htm Translator Web
http://www.forospyware.com In Spanish

de acuerdo hasta luego

I find this post in another Forum, I hope in your interest: Why Was Gibraltar Not Invaded? - World War 2 Forums. Added also a trackball for it.

__________________
La llave de la libertad es la sabiduria. El cerrojo de la esclavitud la ignorancia

U-Historia, Ubootwaffe 1939-1945 History of UBootwaffe in Spanish
http://www.tradiweb.com/ta.htm Translator Web
http://www.forospyware.com In Spanish

Added a trackback in another Forum in English: Axis History Forum :: The Axis and Gibraltar=



Jan.

__________________
La llave de la libertad es la sabiduria. El cerrojo de la esclavitud la ignorancia

U-Historia, Ubootwaffe 1939-1945 History of UBootwaffe in Spanish
http://www.tradiweb.com/ta.htm Translator Web
http://www.forospyware.com In Spanish