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Enigma Intercepts

Throughout the war the Luftwaffe used over-powered radio transmitters for its radio traffic between headquarters. They were not worried about security as they believed the Enigma encryption of their messages to be uncrackable.

These messages were listened in on by the British who were able, through the work done by their experts at Bletchley Park, to decrypt them. A summary of the transmissions was regularly compiled and passed to Churchill as part of his intelligence briefing.

The following contain photos of the original briefing documents, which are kept at the National Archives at Kew. They all pertain to the battle of Stalingrad and give a good idea as to the state-of-play of the battle from the German perspective, particularly that of the Luftwaffe. 

Also included occasionally in the reports were some intercepted transmissions from enemy and neutral embassies in Europe.

(Click a file to see it)
 HW1/817 7th Aug 1942 

This report mentions German activity around the Don during the advance on Stalingrad

 HW1/818 9th Aug 1942 
Reports of strengthening resistance before Stalingrad, a counteroffensive at Rzhev and the destruction of a Soviet infantry division near Voroshilovsk. Also some interesting communications from the Japanese embassy in Madrid regarding the situation in Russia.
 HW1/832 24th Aug 1942 
The Germans report considerable gains in the Causcasus and that their forces are 35km SouthWest of Stalingrad at Sarepta.
 HW1/837 26th Aug1942 
Fighting in the Caucasus is reported as is the arrival of German forces at the Volga near Rynok. Mention is made of Soviet counterattacks there. A report from the Persian Consul in Baku to Tehran regarding the refugee situation.
 HW1/838 27th Aug 1942 
Severe fighting reported in the Caucasus. Counterattacks by Soviet tank forces in the Stalingrad area. Destruction of a Soviet force near Tinguta.
 HW1/876 8th Sep 1942 
Strong resistance before Stalingrad reported. German preparations for an assault on the city are under way.
HW1/88510th Sep 1942
Description of continued bitter fighting involving German and Romanian forces in the Caucasus. German forces reach Gorodishche in the direct thrust towards Stalingrad.
HW1/89313th Sep 1942
The 4th Panzer army enters the Southern suburbs of Stalingrad.
HW1/90920th Sep 1942
Germans report that the main part of Stalingrad is in their hands.
HW1/91121st Sep 1942
Operations in Stalingrad proceeding slowly. Luftflotte IV is attacking the northern part of the city. Plans are mooted for the distribution of anti-tank staffels across the entire Eastern front to deal with tank breakthroughs.
 HW1/918 23rd Sep 1942 
Luftflotte IV continues operations against the Northern part of Stalingrad. Some allocation of resources to attacking railway lines around Astrakhan and Stalingrad. Assessment of the future direction of the war in Russia by the Japanese ambassador in Sofia.
 HW1/920 24th Sep 1942 
Discussion of continued heavy fighting in the Caucasus. Mention of mopping up operations in parts of Stalingrad but continued heavy resistance in others.
 HW1/964 13th Oct 1942 
Luftflotte IV supporting the 17th Army in the Caucasus. Talk of the 6th Army being involved in defensive operations in Stalingrad.
 HW1/973 16th Oct 1942 
Offensive actions by the Soviets in the Caucasus. Repeated attacks by the Soviets in Stalingrad and several attempts across the Don beaten back by Hungarian and Italian forces.
 HW1/996 22nd Oct 1942 

Bad weather starts setting in. Fghting in Novorossiiisk. The western part of Barrikady cleared of Soviet troops. Large assault by fresh Soviet units between the Don and Volga repulsed. Spread of 'whispering campaign' of propaganda by Soviets.

 HW1/1004 24th Oct 1942 
More fighting in the Caucasus, Romanians repelled an attack at Baksan. Rain on the Don front. Several Soviet 'nests' seized east of Barrikady. Attacks between Don and Volga repulsed by Romanian, Hungarian and Italian forces. Report regarding second front by Turkish ambassador in Kuibyshev.
 HW1/1098 14th Nov 1942 
To and fro fighting in the Caucasus. Unsuccessful attacks on the Romanian front south of Stalingrad. Aviation fuel situation in Stalingrad and across the front becoming strained.
 HW1/1138 22nd Nov 1942 
All Luftflotte IV ground personnel east of the Don called to Karpovka to defend, west of the Don to several centres. Fleigerkorps VIII to assist the 4th Pz armee  and 4th Romanian army in defence. Romanian airforce to assist the defence of the Romanian 3rd army.
 HW1/1140 23rd Nov 1942 
Intercepts of German espionage reports (possibly misinformation by the Soviets) referring to the Caucasus and the Stalingrad region.
 HW1/1154 25th Nov 1942 
Luftflotte IV demands increased fuel supplies. Present supplies allow for only 3 days of operation.
 HW1/1171 28th Nov 1942 

Soviets reach the Don 80 miles south-west of Stalingrad. Air operations severely limited by weather.


 

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