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Memorandum to military commanders on the planning for the invasion of Norway and Denmark (operation "Weseruebung"), which Hitler has asked Keitel to take over

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Authors

Wilhelm Keitel (Field Marshal, Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces)

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Wilhelm Keitel

German field marshal

el Mariscal Keitel
  • Born: 1882-09-22 (Helmscherode) (country: German Empire; located in the administrative territorial entity: Duchy of Brunswick)
  • Died: 1946-10-16 (Nuremberg) (country: Allied-occupied Germany)
  • Country of citizenship: Germany
  • Occupation: military officer; military personnel; politician
  • Member of political party: Nazi Party
  • Military rank: general field marshal
  • Military branch: artillery
  • VIAF ID: https://viaf.org/viaf/74027425

Date: 27 January 1940

Literal Title: Re. Study "N"

Defendants: Hermann Wilhelm Goering, Alfred Jodl, Wilhelm Keitel, Erich Raeder

Total Pages: 1

Language of Text: English

Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)

Evidence Code: C-63

Citation: IMT (page 1079)

HLSL Item No.: 450838

Trial Issues

IMT count 2: crimes against peace (wars of aggression) (IMT) Wars of aggression

Document Summary

Staff Evidence Analyses

C-63: Photostatic copy of document signed by Keitel, concerning the organization of the staff to plan the Norwegian invasion

Berlin, 27 January 1940
The Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces No. 22045/40 Top Secret WFA/Dept.L
TOP MILITARY SECRET Chief Matter Through officer only
. 5 copies
Copy No. 2 [illegible notations]
Re: Study "N" .
Ref: 22039/40 Top Secret WFA/Dept L (I) 23 Jan. 1940
The Fuehrer and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces desires that work on the Study "N" be continued under his personal and immediate influence and in closest collaboration with the conduct of the war as a whole. For these reasons the Fuehrer has ordered me to take charge of the further preparations.
For this purpose a working staff will be formed within the High Command of the Armed Forces; this staff will at the same time represent the nucleus of the future operations staff.
I request the High Commands of the Service to appoint each one officer suitable as la and, if possible, trained in questions of organization and supply. The Office for Intelligence Abroad (Ausl./Abw.) will furnish the Ic, and Armed Forces General Staff Dept. (WFA) will furnish the transport expert, 1 officer for signal communications and 1 officer for general questions of territorial administration.
The date when the staff will convene will be communicated later.
All further preparations will be conducted under the codeword "Weseruebung."
[Signed] Keitel
[Marginal note in handwriting:] "M.K.A. is informed and takes over the appointment of the officer (probably Sea Captain Kamke la [initial illegible] 29/1)"
Distribution:
Supreme Commander of the Army...........
Supreme Commander'of the Navy...........
Reich Air Minister and Supreme Commander of
the Air Force.........................
Armed Forces General Staff Department...
Department Air..........................
Copy No. 1 " No. 2
" No. 3 " No. 4 " No. 5
883

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