Operation Felix - Digitization of German Documents (Russian Federation)

Introduction

As a result of the Allied victory in the Second World War, vast quantities of German military, political and administrative records were captured and dispersed across several countries. Among these were the archives of the German Reich seized by Soviet forces during and after the war. Today, some of the most important collections of these so-called "trophy documents" are preserved within the federal archives of the Russian Federation, including the State Archives of the Russian Federation (GARF), the Russian State Archive of Social and Political History (RGASPI), the Russian State Military Archive (RGVA), and the Central Archive of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (CAMO).

In 2011, Germany and Russia launched a joint scholarly project to digitise the extensive collection of German wartime records held in Russian archives. Between 2014 and 2021, approximately 28,000 files preserved within CAMO were digitised, providing researchers worldwide with unprecedented access to original German military documents. These documents can be found here https://wwii.germandocsinrussia.org

In June 2026, the Ministry of Heritage undertook a comprehensive research project to obtain and preserve German records relating to Operation Felix, the Nazi regime's planned invasion and capture of Gibraltar during the Second World War. A total of 15 archival case files were downloaded from the Russian digital archive collections.

Using advanced artificial intelligence technology, each document was meticulously translated from German into English. Between June and September 2026, more than 580 pages of original wartime records were translated, analysed and prepared for publication.

The material now available through the Ministry's website, https://www.ministryforheritage.gi/russian-german-project, includes operational orders, intelligence reports, artillery plans, reconnaissance studies, communications networks, logistics preparations and assault planning documents. Together, these records provide an exceptional insight into the extent of German preparations for an attack on Gibraltar and offer one of the most detailed surviving documentary collections relating to this pivotal chapter of Gibraltar's wartime history.

By making these documents freely accessible for the first time in English, the Ministry of Heritage seeks to support historical research, promote public understanding of Gibraltar's role during the Second World War, and preserve an important part of the Rock's military heritage for future generations.