TOP SECRET
WFSt/Op (L)
Fuehrer's Headquarters November 21, 1942
5 copies, 5th copy
Subject: Landing of British Freight Gliders in Norway. [Illegible signature] 2/40/43
430
508—PS
Note
Supplement to situation report OKW/WFSt/Op. 21 Nov. 42.
Air Force 5, G-2 Capt. S. Lilienskjold reports 21 Nov. by telephone to inquiry:
1. Following supplementary report is made about landing of a British freight glider at Hegers in the night of November 11:
a. No firing on the part of German defense.
b. The towing plane (Wellington) has crashed after touching the ground, 7 man crew dead. The attached freight glider also crashed, of the, 17-man crew 14 alive. Indisputably a sabotage force. Fuehrer order has been carried out.
2. In the same night a second freight glider landed East of Stavanger. 3 men of the crew were captured by the Norwegian police on November 21. They .state that after it was detached the freight glider made a crash-landing at the Lyse Fjord in the night of Nov. 20; it had a crew of 16. Supposedly several dead and wounded. The landing occurred on the North shore of the Fjord, opposite the electric plant of Floerly (supplies Stavanger).
The plane has not yet been found. Each and every possible measure to find it and also to seize the other members of the crew has been initiated by the service district.
The towing plane has apparently returned to England. The radio communication was monitored by Air Fleet #5.
[signed] W Went out Nov. 11, 42
Distribution:
Chief of Operational Staif of the Armed Forces (previous telephone report).
Asst. Chief (Ktb).
Operations (Army).
Operations (Navy).
Operations (Air Force).
TOP SECRET .
F. Amt. Ausl./Abw
Ag Ausl. Nr. 1951/42 gKdos Ausl. Chef F XVI, E 1/e
Berlin,
4 December, 1942 3 copies, 1st copy
To: WFSt For: Information From: Abw III.
Subject: Fuehrer order of 18 Oct. 42, about treatment of enemy sabotage troops.
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508—PS
Attached copies of two teletype messages of the Norway counter intelligence are hereby forwarded, referring to the order contained in the last paragraph of the 2nd teletype order of the Military commander of Norway
It is asked that it should be examined how far this order is compatible with the above discussed Fuehrer order.
By direction
[Illegible signature]
[Warlimont's initials] 8/12
Copy
TOP SECRET
1. Teletype to: 0 K W/Abw III F Subject: Commando Raid.
On November 20, 1942, at 5:50 an enemy plane was found 15 km NE of Egersund. It is a British aircraft (towed glider) made of wood without engine. Of the 17 member crew 3 are dead, 6 are severely the others slightly wounded.
All wore English khaki uniforms without sleeve-insignia. Furthermore following items were found: 8 knapsacks, tents, skiis and radio, exact number is unknown. The glider carried rifles, light machine guns, and machine pistols, number unknown. At present the prisoners are with the battalion in Egersund.
A second plane has crashed 5 km East of Helleland. It had a
6-man crew and is supposed to have towed the above glider.
The artillery officer of Stavanger is still at the scene of the incident. Further exact report follows; new annexes attached. The competent commander's staff (KDS) was immediately notified on the basis of the Fuehrer order. Foreign agency Norway, Nov. 20, 42, No. 34304/42
TOP SECRET III F
2. Teletype to : OKW/Amt Ausl./Abw III F Reference: Our No 3/304/42 g.Kdos III F of 20 Nov 42. Subject: Commando Raid.
Foreign service (AST) reports to above teletype:
Besides the 17 member crew, extensive sabotage material and work equipment were found. Therefore the sabotage purpose was absolutely proved. The 280th inf. div. ordered the execution of the action according to the Fuehrer's order. The execution was carried out toward the evening of Nov. 20. Some of the prisoners wore blue ski-suits under their khaki uniforms which had no insignia on the sleeves. During a short interrogation the sur-
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508—PS
508-PS
vivors have revealed nothing but their names,' ranks, and serial numbers.
The salvage of the sabotage material was performed by the commander's staff (Kds) of Stavanger. The 2nd aircraft mentioned in the above report is a two-engine plane and was probably the towing plane. It will be inspected. In the same night of the 19th to 20th Nov. a second glider plane was landed at the Lysefjord, 20 km East of Stavanger, 8 km East of the electric plant of Floerly. Until now 3 men, presumably English, were captured by the Norwegian police. The police are on the way to conduct a search for the plane. Supposedly dead and wounded lie around it. According to the statements of the prisoners, this freight gilder is supposed to have a 16-man crew. It is possible that this freight glider was towed by the same enemy plane which towed the glider found 15 km North East of Egersund. The armed forces commander of Norway was notified. Refer, at III Wi and Ag WNV/Fu, Oslo.
In connection with the shooting of the 17 members of the crew, the armed forces commander of Norway (WBN) has issued an order to the district commanders, according to which the interrogations by G-2 and by BDS are important before the execution of the Fuehrer order; in case of no. 4 of the Fuehrer order the prisoners are to be handed out to the BDS.
Foreign agency (Ast) Norway, No. 3/304/42 III F. g.Kdos
Reports on the landing of British planes (on sabotage missions) in Norway and the execution of captured crew members
Authors
Walter Warlimont (general; deputy chief, operations staff of the armed forces)
Walter Warlimont
German general (1894-1976)

- Born: 1894-10-03 (Osnabrück)
- Died: 1976-10-09 (Kreuth)
- Country of citizenship: Germany
- Occupation: military officer (military rank: general)
- Member of: High Command of the Armed Forces (since: 1941-01-01)
- Participant in: Hostages Trial (date: 1947-07-04; role: affiant); Judges' Trial
- Significant person: Hermann Foertsch (role: colleague, friend); Walter Kuntze
- Military rank: General of the Artillery
Date: 21 November 1942
Literal Title: Reference: Landing of British Freight Gliders in Norway. . . . Note[.] Supplement to situation report OKW/WFSt/Op. 21 Nov. 42.)
Total Pages: 4
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: PS-508
Citation: IMT (page 2182)
HLSL Item No.: 451849
Trial Issues
Criminal organizations (Gestapo, Leadership Corps, Cabinet, SS, SD, OKW) (… Partisan fighters (and commandos), operations against, and treatment of (I…
Document Summary
PS-508: Note from the Wehrmacht WFST re shooting of British airmen in Norway. Classified: Top Secret
PS-508: Top-secret note by the WehrmachtfÜhrungsstab, 21 November 1942, on the landing in Norway of British planes and the capture and shooting of the British . (uniformed) crew
PS-508: Top secret letter from OKW Foreign Intelligence Department to OKW Operational Staff of 4 December 1942 (Handwritten signature), enclosing copy of two top secret teletypes from Intelligence Field Station Norway to OKW Foreign Intelligence Department.