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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNment

TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.

It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.

95

SECRE T.

C.O.S.(40)465(J.I.C.) Also J.I.C(40 121.

15TH JUNE, 1940.

CL.

465 (J.I.C.)

2

COPY NO.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

SEABORNE AND AIRBORNE ATTACK ON THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Report by the Joint Intelligence Committee.

1. June

2.

The Chiefs of Staff at their 177th Meeting held on 12th decided that:

(i) The tabular statement attached to Paper No.C.0.S. (40) 445 should be sent to Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces as a guide to the nature of the attacks which might be made by the enemy in an attempt to invade this country.

(ii) That the tabular statement in (i) above should be followed by a brief statement setting out the various possible scales of enemy attack, to be drawn up by the Joint Intelligence Committee for the approval of the Chiefs of Staff as suggested in the memorandum by the Naval Staff, Paper No.C.0.S.(40) 445.

We have combined, with the tabular statement attached to Paper No.C.0.S. (40)445, our views as to the probable scales of the various forms of attack which the Germans are likely to bring to bear on this country.

3

We do not consider that any forecast can be made as to the probable German time-table for operations against this country. Tn the case of Poland, Denmark, Norway and the Low Countries, the main German attacks were all launched without any preliminary air operations. Further, the German strategical method is to employ the maximum number of forces simultaneously without warning against the selected objectives.

In the case of their attack

on Great Britain, the situation will be somewhat different in that the Germans will be faced with opposition both from ground and air forces, whilst the seaborne aspect will introduce another new factor. Nevertheless with her preponderance of air strength Germany may still decide to adopt the same methods.

X

Annex A.

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