CAB80-20 — Page 75

Page 75

Page 75

61

ANNEX II,

SCALE OF AAC U EIRE.

UN

STRATEGICAL BACKGROUND.

1.

Since the last directive for the General Officer Commanding- in-Chief, the British Troops in Ireland, was issued in June, 1940, the strategical background, against which we must examine the possibilities of a German Invasion of Eire, has changed.

Germany has now completed her occupation of France and re-distributed her land and air forces for invasion along the whole coast line of Europe from Narvik to the Pyrennes.

The scale of attack which Germany can bring to bear on Eire has increased, her preparations for invasion of Eire are considered to be far advanced if not complete, and the threat is likely to remain for some time.

GERMAN OBJECT.

2.

Germany's object in invading Eire would appear to be to gain air and submarine bases from which to attack our trade and to bring increased air attack on Great Britain.

3. The invasion of Eire would most probably take place as a diversion in Germany's plan for the invasion of Great Britain. For the purpose of estimating the maximum scale of attack which our forces in Eire might have to face we have assumed in the following paragraphs that Germany's full resources available for invasion will be directed against Eire only. If Dire alone is attacked it is clear that greater opposition could be rendered by our naval and air forces than would be the case if both countries were being invaded simultaneously.

NATURE OF THE OPERATION.

4.

For the type of operation we contemplate an essential part of the invading troops will be airborne. Nevertheless the main body must be transported in sea-going ships, for the discharge of which adequate port facilities will be essential. The sequence of operations might therefore be:

(a)

The capture of ports and aerodromes, by means of

parachute and airborne troops supported by "5th Column" activities. The German troops would be likely to act in conjunction with the I.R..., the nucleus of which is believed to consist of some 2,000 to 3,000 men, all well armed.

(b) Concurrently, the rapid landing of armoured fighting

vehicles from specially fitted ships, at places other than the princi pal ports. The Germans are thought to have adapted ships for this purpose, though there is no evidence of such ships being in Biscayan ports. Plenty of ships are however available and there has been ample time to convert them.

-8-

Page 75

Page 75

Page 75Page 76