General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Re: The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565
Posted by:
Platon Alexiades
()
Date: February 14, 2015 04:55PM
Hello Francesco,
You might be interested to read "Operation Mincemeat" by Ben Macintyre, a very good study on the subject. There are also other sources at the National Archives.
However I have to agree with you that the effect of this operation appears to have been minimal on Axis strategy. A little correction: the supposed objective of Mincemeat was not the Dodecanese but the west coast of the Peloponnese where the 5th and 56th Divisions were supposed to land.The Dodecanese and Sicily were supposed to be feints. While doing my research on the Corinth Canal I came across files indicating the Germans took the threat with some seriousness but did not have the means to oppose it. Apparently units from the Brandenburg Division were moved to the Peloponnese and minefields were laid off the Peloponnese west coast but not much to deplete the Sicilian defences.
Macintyre mentions that the 1st Panzer Division was moved to Salonika. Perhaps, but I do not think that it went to the Peloponnese. At that time, the Germans were probably more concerned on the upcoming operations against the Kursk salient to divert forces to Greece.
A couple of minor corrections: the submarine involved was HMS SERAPH, the operation was HUSKY.
All the best,
Platon
You might be interested to read "Operation Mincemeat" by Ben Macintyre, a very good study on the subject. There are also other sources at the National Archives.
However I have to agree with you that the effect of this operation appears to have been minimal on Axis strategy. A little correction: the supposed objective of Mincemeat was not the Dodecanese but the west coast of the Peloponnese where the 5th and 56th Divisions were supposed to land.The Dodecanese and Sicily were supposed to be feints. While doing my research on the Corinth Canal I came across files indicating the Germans took the threat with some seriousness but did not have the means to oppose it. Apparently units from the Brandenburg Division were moved to the Peloponnese and minefields were laid off the Peloponnese west coast but not much to deplete the Sicilian defences.
Macintyre mentions that the 1st Panzer Division was moved to Salonika. Perhaps, but I do not think that it went to the Peloponnese. At that time, the Germans were probably more concerned on the upcoming operations against the Kursk salient to divert forces to Greece.
A couple of minor corrections: the submarine involved was HMS SERAPH, the operation was HUSKY.
All the best,
Platon
Subject | Written By | Posted |
---|---|---|
The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565 | Francesco Mattesini | 06/26/2014 03:18PM |
Re: The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565 | enielsen | 07/23/2014 05:08PM |
Re: The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565 | Francesco Mattesini | 02/11/2015 09:49AM |
Re: The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565 | Platon Alexiades | 02/14/2015 04:55PM |
Re: The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565 | Francesco Mattesini | 02/18/2015 03:52PM |