Guderian - Operation Barbarossa 2nd Panzergruppe in Russia June 21 1941

Directive No 32
The Fhrer and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces

A. After the destruction of the Soviet Armed Forces, Germany and Italywill be military masters of the European Continent - with the temporaryexception of the Iberian Peninsula.1 No serious threat to Europe by landwill then remain. The defence of this area, and foreseeable future offensive action, will require considerably smaller military forces than havebeen needed hitherto.
The main efforts of the armaments industry can be diverted to the Navyand Air Force.
Closer cooperation between Germany and France should and will tiedown additional English forces, will eliminate the threat from the rear inthe North African theatre of war, will further restrict the movements ofthe British Fleet in the Western Mediterranean and will protect thesouthwestern flank of the European theatre, including the Atlantic seaboard of North and West Africa, from Anglo-Saxon attack.
In the near future Spain will have to face the question whether she is prepared to cooperate in driving the British from Gibraltar or not.The possibility of exerting strong pressure on Turkey and Iran improvesthe prospect of making direct or indirect use of these countries in thestruggle against England.
B. This situation, which will be created by the victorious conclusion ofthe campaign in the East, can confront the Armed Forces with the folthe campaign in the East, can confront the Armed Forces with the fol2:
1. The newly conquered territories in the East must be organized, madesecure and, in full cooperation with the Armed Forces, exploited economically.
The strength of the security forces required in Russia can only be forecast with certainty at a later date. In all probability, however, about sixtydivisions and one Air Fleet will be sufficient, with allied and friendlyforces, for our further duties in the East.
2.The struggle against the British positions in the Mediterranean andin Western Asia will be continued by converging attacks launched fromLibya through Egypt, from Bulgaria through Turkey, and in certain circumstances also from Transcaucasia through Iran.
(a) In North Africa it is important that Tobruk should be eliminated andconditions thereby established for the continuation of the German-Italian attack on the Suez Canal. This attack should be planned for aboutNovember on the understanding that the German Africa Corps will be bythen brought to the highest possible efficiency in personnel and equipment and with adequate reserves of all kinds under its own hand (by theconversion of 5th Light Division into a full armoured division), so that itis not necessary to move further large German formations to North Africa.
The preparations for the attack require that the tempoof transportbequickenedbyallmeans available, including the employment of portsin French North Africa and, when possible, the new sea route fromSouthern Greece.
It will be the duty of the Navy, in cooperation with the Italian Navy, toarrange for the necessary tonnage by chartering French and neutral shipping.
The possibility of moving German motor torpedo boats to the Mediterranean will be examined.
The Italian Navy will be afforded all support in improving unloading facilities in North African ports.
Commander-in-Chief Air Force will transfer to the Africa Corps sufficient air units tfhd anti-aircraft artillery for the operation, as these become superfluous in the East. He will also reinforce Italian protection ofseaborne convoys by the use of German air formations.
In order to coordinate the handling of transport, the Supply and Transport Office of the Armed Forces Overseas [Heimatstab Ubersee] hasbeen established, which will work on the lines laid down by the HighCommand of the Armed Forces, in cooperation with the German Generalat Italian Armed Forces Headquarters, and with Commander ArmedForces South-east.
(b)In view of the expected British reinforcement of the Near and Middle East, especially for the defence of the Suez Canal, a German operation from Bulgaria through Turkey will be planned, with the aim of attacking the British position on the Suez Canal from the East also.To this end plans must be made to assemble in Bulgaria as soon as possible sufficient forces to render Turkey politically amenable or to overpower her resistance.
(c)If the collapse of the Soviet Union has created the necessary conditions, preparations will be made for the dispatch of a motorized expeditionary force from Transcaucasia against Iraq, in conjunction withoperations mentioned in paragraph (b) above. (d) Exploitation of theArab Freedom Movement. The situation of the English in the MiddleEast will be rendered more precarious, in the event of major German operations, if more British forces are tied down at the right moment by civil commotion or revolt. All military, political, and propaganda measuresto this end must be closely coordinated during the preparatory period.As central agency abroad I nominate Special Staff F, which is to takepart in all plans and actions in the Arab area, whose headquarters are tobe in the area of the Commander Armed Forces Southeast. The mostcompetent available experts and agents will be made available to it.The Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces will specify the duties of Special Staff F, in agreement with the Foreign Minister where political questions are involved.2
3. Closing of the Western Entrance to the Mediterranean by the elimination of Gibraltar:
Preparations for 'Undertaking Felix', already planned, will be resumed tothe fullest extent even during the course of operations in the east. It maybe assumed that unoccupied French territory may also be used, if not forGerman troop movements, then at least for the movement of supplies.The cooperation of French naval and air forces is also within the boundsof possibility.
After the capture of Gibraltar only such forces will be moved to SpanishMorocco as are necessary to protect the Straits.
The defence of the seaboard of North and West Africa, the elimination ofEnglish possessions in West Africa, and the recovery of the areas controlled by de Gaulle, will be the tasks of the French who will be grantedsuch reinforcements as the situation requires. The use of West Africanbases by the Navy and Air Force, and possibly also the occupation of theAtlantic Islands, will be facilitated by our control of the Straits.4. In addition to these contemplated operations against the British position in the Mediterranean, the 'Siege of England' must be resumed withthe utmost intensity by the Navy and Air Force after the conclusion ofthe campaign in the East.
All weapons and equipment required for this purpose will be given priority in the general armaments programme. At the same time German AirDefences will be strengthened to the maximum. Preparations for the invasion of England will serve the double purpose of tying down Englishforces at home and of bringing about a final English collapse through alanding in England.