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OCR Page 1 of 5SEGRET
(EQUALS MOST~SECRET)
COPY NO. 1
headQuarters
SUPREME ALLIED command
OUTGOING MESSAGE
From: SHAEF
Date TOO: Jan 232300A
To : AGWAR (B-33)
Originator: cos
Info: British Chiefs of Staff London (M-37)
URGENT
U.S. SECRET - BIGOT
"BIGOT"
"Edited Literal Text"
23 Jan ++
To
:
AGWAR and TROOPERS
For
: Combined Chiefs of Staff rptd British c/s
From : sc, AEF
Signed: Eisenhower
1. I have now had an opportunity of discussing the 'OVERLORD¹
plan with my Commanders-in-Chief. We are convinced that in all
discussions full weight must be given to the fact that this opera-
tion marks the crisis of the European war. Every obstacle must be
overcome, every inconvenience suffered and every risk run to ensure
that our blow is decisive. We cannot afford to fail.
2. In this light we have reviewed the 'OVERLORD' plan and we
are fully convinced that it is, as the Chiefs of Staff have already
asserted, on a narrow margin. The present plan is limited to a
three divisional assault. To ensure success we consider it essential
to increase the assault force to five divisions. Nothing less will
give us an adequate margin to ensure success.
3. Our reasons for this view are that an operation of this
type must be designed to obtain an adequate bridgehead quickly and
to retain the initiative. Three divisions are insufficient for this.
The present frontage of assault is consequently too narrow. It will
be essential to extend the front to give us a greater opportunity of
finding a weak spot through which to exploit success. Moreover, the
chances of success of the operation will be greatly increased and
the capture of a port speeded up if we could extend our assault to
the EASTERN beaches of the COTENTIN PENINSULA WEST of the barrier
formed by the RIVER VIRE and its marshy estuary. Further, the
securing of the EASTERN flank, and the early capture of the impor-
tant focal point of CAEN with the vital airfields in its vicinity
will be facilitated by the extension of the assault to the beaches
just WEST of OUISTREHAM.
SECRET BSR
(EQUALS CRITISH MOST SECRET)
37
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