Case 239. Documents of the operational department of the 98th Mining and Jaeger Regiment: the order on the regiment for Operation Felix (occupation of Gibraltar).

Brief Summary of Case 239

Case 239 contains the operational orders of Mountain Infantry Regiment 98 for Operation Felix, the planned German capture of Gibraltar. The document sets out the regiment's role in the assault, its timetable, objectives, organization, communications, and coordination with neighbouring formations.

Key points include:

• The regiment was assigned to attack Gibraltar's eastern sector after a two-hour artillery preparation and after engineer units had breached the outer defences.
• A detailed timetable specifies the sequence of artillery bombardment, smoke deployment, engineer assaults, troop movements, and the infantry advance, beginning with artillery fire at 09:10 and the main infantry attack at 13:10.
• III Battalion was tasked with advancing through the cemetery area, seizing the terraces above the lagoon, capturing the Moorish Castle, and clearing the area between the castle and the ridge before continuing the attack.
• I Battalion was ordered to attack fortified positions on the eastern flank of Gibraltar's main defensive line, cross anti-tank obstacles, seize the drawbridge and wall sector, and advance toward Catalan Bay (Caleta) and the ridge above it.
• The regiment was reinforced with engineer units, anti-tank guns, anti-tank rifle teams, heavy infantry weapons, and artillery observation detachments.
• Emphasis was placed on scaling and securing the terraces and higher ground of the Rock, maintaining contact with Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland operating nearby, and establishing fire support against enemy strongpoints.
• The orders include instructions for reconnaissance, visual signalling, communications by wire, radio, runners, and carrier pigeons, as well as the movement of command posts during the attack. citeturn8search1
• The file also contains later documents relating to Spanish coastal defences around the Strait of Gibraltar, including inventories of coastal artillery batteries, gun calibres, ranges, and assessments of Spanish fortifications.

Overall, the file provides a detailed operational plan for Mountain Infantry Regiment 98's role in the assault on Gibraltar, focusing on the capture of the eastern heights, Moorish Castle area, and approaches to Catalan Bay, while coordinating with the broader German attack plan.