Proposal by the Navy to the OKW to begin attacks on Soviet submarines in the Baltic Sea, and Keitel's approval

Seekriegsleitung Berlin, 13 June 1941
B. Nr. I. SKL. I Op. 00969/^1 Op. Chiefs
TOP SECRET!
Through officer only!
URGENT!
Vfg.
I. To
OKW/WFST/Z
Subject: Offensive action against enemy submarines in operation "Barbarossa."
Procedure: OKW/WFH/2 (I Kop) Nr. 44590/41 Chefs.
30/4/41
I. On 12 June at 2000 hours one of the two outpost patrol boats which had been carefully stationed on either side of Bornholm reported an unknown, surfacing submarine on a west-course near Adlergrund (20 sm southwest of Bornholm). It answered recognition signal after some time with a meaningless letter signal.
II. In the opinion of the "Seekriegsleitung" there is no doubt that the enemy is starting his deployment of forces in the Baltic Sea and is also moving his submarines forward into the central Baltic Sea.
III. In the opinion of the "Seekriegsleitung" it is to be considered if orders for offensive action against these submarines could not be started immediately, or in
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C-38
IV.
II. Copy: III. I Op.
the very near future, in order to keep losses of tonnage or of men of war down as far as possible. In this connection it remains to be seen if the reported submarine or additional Russian boats are already at present carrying out mining operations or if the boats are to be used for torpedoing after the beginning of hostilities.
It is urgently requested and appears possible to release orders for this offensive action with the aim of destruction without any trace of the Soviet submarines including their crews. Radio silence which most certainly is ordered for the enemy submarines will make it more difficult if not impossible for the enemy to prematurely learn of the attack', even if the complete destruction should not be successful. If necessary it may be stated that the attack was made because it was asserted that British submarines had penetrated into the Baltic Sea.
In consideration of the importance of this question an early decision is requested.
[illegible] 12 3 4
1 Nord, lb, LIK (junge), Gr Nord
[illegible]
G/SKL.
1. SKL.
Ia I Op.
TOP SECRET
High Command of Armed Forces (OberKommando der Wehrmacht)
No. Uh 986/Jfl gK, Chefs. WFST/Aht.LflOp.)
Fuehrer Headquarters, 15 June 1941.
6 copies
TOP SECRET lst COpy
THROUGH OFFICER ONLY Offensive action against enemy submarines in the Baltic 1
1 SKL. I Op. No. 00969/41 Op.
Chefs. 13 June 1941 To
High Command of the Navy—OKM (SKL)
Offensive action against submarines south of the line
Subject:
Sea.
Re:
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C-38
Memel-southern tip of Oeland is authorized if the boats cannot be definitely identified as Swedish during the approach by German naval forces.
The reason to be given up to B-day is that our naval forces believed to be dealing with penetrating British submarines.
Distribution: Chief of the German High Command [signed] Keitel
Ob.d.M. (SKL) 1st copy
Ob.d.L (Lw.Fue.St) 2d copy
WFST Abt.L 3d copy
Chef/Ktb. 4th copy
I K 5th copy
I L 6th copy