CAB80-13 — Page 200

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ANNEX A.

GERMAN RESOURCES.

MILITARY,

1.

Men: By the 15th June it is estimated that Germany's trained men absorbed in the field armies amounted to

000

To this must be added the men under training (largely composed of the balance of the 1920 class not yet in the actave and new formation divisions); as well as men called up from other reservist classes

>

Police S. S. men and home formations

Total

184

5,750,000 *

250,000

300,000

6,300,000

28

WAR MATERIAL:

There are possibly 160

to

170 German divisions equipped to full war establishment together with a further 30 to 40 divisions on a lower scale, while another 30 to 40 divisions, which are in training, are probably extremely short of all except infantry equipment. For the fully equipped divisions gun reserves are probably adequate; if the partly equipped divisions are brought up to full establishment, reserves might be heavily drawn on.

3.

The conjunction of battle casualties and wastage due to wear and tear has doubtless caused heavy losses. Of Germany's estimated total of 7,000 - 8,000 A.F. Vs. it is probable that half are by now ineffective, though it must be remembered that many can be salvaged. It is known that the A.F.V. casualties in one armoured division in 19 days' operations amounted to 33%‰ The wastage of M.T. vehicles has probably also been heavy, though captures and impressed civilian vehicles will have done much to replace losses.

4. It is not possible to estimate the expenditure of other material, e.g. personal equipment, clothing, R. E. stores, ordnance stores, medical equipment, etc. As, however, active operations have only been in progress for five weeks, there is no doubt that all losses have been made good from reserves. In addition the reserves of the Polish, Dutch, Belgian and Danish armies, and stores captured in Norway and France, also at the disposal of the Germans.

5.

are

While it is true to say that expenditure of material cannot go on indefinitely at the rate of the past few weeks, there is no indication that reserves still held are not

It is assumed that casualties in recent fighting,

which may amount to 700,000 (50% of these should again be effective in six months) have been replaced from men in training and reserves.

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