Operationsbefehl Nr. 4 "Aufmarsch NORD"

[First Revision 22.1.1940] [Changes until 10.5.1940] [Second Revision 14.5.1940]

For a timeline of the Swiss operational planning see "Swiss Operational Planning 1939 to 1941".

First Revision 22.1.1940

The first revision of the "Aufmarsch Nord" improved the command structure for the defense against a threat coming from the North.

The order read:

"Die Armee besetzt und hält eine Stellung von Becken von Sargans über Wallensee - Linth - Zürichsee - Limmat - Bözberg - Hauenstein bis zum Gempenplateau mit Schwergewicht zwischen Zürichsee und Hauenstein.

An der Grenze und zwischen Grenze und Armeestellung verzögern die Grenz- und Vortruppen den Vorstoss des Gegners nachhaltig. Die Besatzungen der an der Grenze und zwischen Grenze und Abwehrfront gelegenen Werke und Stände leisten bis zur letzten Patrone Widerstand, auch wenn sie umgangen und vollständig auf sich allein gestellt sind.

Die Truppen der Südfront sichern gegen allfällige Ueberraschungen."

"The army holds a position starting at the cauldron of Sargans through the Wallensee - Lake of Zürich - Limmat River - Bözberg - Hauenstein to the plateau of Gempen with the main focus between the lake of Zurich and the Hauenstein.

The border troops and the advanced troops slow down significantly the enemy advance starting at the border. The troops between the border and the main line of defense resist to the last shot, even if they have been bypassed.

The troops on the Southern front secure against any surprises."

• 2nd corps (2. AK) defended the line stretching from the Aare river in the East to plateau of Gempen in the West.
• 3rd corps (3. AK) defended the line stretching from Bendlikon (near Zurich) in the East to the end of the Limmat (near Brugg) in the West.
• 4th corps (4. AK) defended the line stretching from Sargans to Bendlikon (excl) in strong mountain & alpine terrain.
• 1st corps (1. AK) defended the central alpine region between St. Maurice (Valais) and the Gotthard pass.
• The air-force had to cover the mobilization and the movement of the army towards the positions between Zürich and the Hauenstein.

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(Click on the map to get to the OOBs of the units)

	1. AK	2. AK	3. AK	4. AK
Forward Troops	none	Gz Br 4 Gz Br 5 (- Gz Bat 251) Stadt Kdo Basel	Gz Br 6 Gz Bat 251 Inf Rgt 26 (from 6. Div) L Br 2 Ter Bat 161	Gz Br 7 Gz Br 8 L Br 3 Ter Rgt 85 Bat 160
Main Line of Defense	9. Div (+ Gz Br 9, Ter Rgt 78) Geb Br 10 Geb Br 11 Ter Rgt 87 Other corps troops	3. Div 4. Div 5. Div Ter Rgt 76, 80 Ter Bat 164, 165, 168, 170, 172, 173, 178, 190 sch mot Kan Rgt 13 sch F Hb Rgt 24 Pont Bat 2 Other corps troops	1. Div 6. Div (-1 Inf Rgt 26) 8. Div Stadt Kdo Zürich Ter Rgt 75, 81, 82, 83 Ter Bat 163, 166, 180, 182, 183 sch mot Kan Rgt 12, 14 F Hb Rgt 22 sch F Hb Rgt 25 (- Abt 50) F Hb Abt 46 Pont Bat 1, 3 Other corps troops	7. Div 12. Geb Br Fortress Sargans L Br 1 F Hb Rgt 23 sch F Hb Abt 50 Other corps troops
Army Reserve	2. Div Inf Rgt 9 Füs Bat 1,2 S Bat 2 Rdf Kp 21, 22, 23 Mot Mitr Kp 1, 2, 3 Mot Ik Kp 21, 22, 23

The table above includes small changes dated 27.2.40 (Inf. Rgt.s 80, 87 and Inf. Bat. 173).

Changes until 10.5.1940

The main changes until the German attack on France on May 10, 1940 were the following:

• 21.3.40: Attachment No 1 with changes in the OOB and the installation of the ad hoc divisions Murten and Gempen and some minor adaptations.
• 21.3.40: Order for the 1st corps for the OOB in the case "Nord" reflecting the change of command for the 2nd Div (to army reserve), 1st Div (to 3rd corps) and some more troops located in the area of the 1st corps and the formation of the ad hoc division Murten.
• 21.3.40: Installation of the ad hoc division "Murten" consisting of the Gz Br 1 and Gz Br 2 (two border brigades in the West of Switzerland) as part of the Army reserve.
• 21.3.40: Installation of the ad hoc division "Gempen" consisting of the Gz Br 3 and the Stadtkommando Basel.
• 21.3.40: Order for the 2nd corps for the OOB in the case "Nord" for the subordination of the 3rd border brigade (3. Gz.Br.) to the ad hoc division Gempen and the subordination of the artillery regiment 11 to the 2nd corps.
   
• 12.4.40: Attachment 12/4 about the OOB and the deployment of the cavalry batallions 11 to 15.
   
• 16.4.40: Order for the dislocation of the 2nd Division (army reserve) from the Western part of Switzerland to the area of Aarau.

Second Revision 14.5.1940

Based on the original Operationsbefehl and the changes the Swiss army position looked as below on May 10, 1940.

(Click on the map to get to a larger map)

On 14.5.40 the general issued a new Operationsbefehl Nr 4 to reflect the changes in a single order.

	1. AK	2. AK	3. AK	4. AK	Div Gempen
Forward Troops	none	Gz Br 4 (- Gz Rgt 49, Gz S Bat 257, Tle Mot Mitr Kp 4, Tle Mot Ik Kp 24) Gz Br 5 (- Gz Bat 251) Stadt Kdo Basel	Gz Br 6 Gz Bat 251 L Br 2 (Inf Rgt 26 - from 6. Div) Ter Bat 161	Gz Br 7 Gz Br 8 L Br 3 Ter Rgt 85 (- Ter Bat 161)	Stadt Kdo Basel Ter Rgt St Jakob Gz S Bat 257
Main Line of Defense	9. Div (+ Gz Br 9, Ter Rgt 78) Geb Br 10 Geb Br 11 Ter Rgt 87 (- Bat 173) Other corps troops	3. Div 4. Div 5. Div Ter Rgt 76, 80 Ter Rgt Hölstein (Ter Bat 168, 170, 172) Ter Rgt Bözberg ( 173, 178, 190) Other corps troops	1. Div (+ Ter Bat 163, 182, 183, sch mot Kan Rgt 12, FH Abt 46) 6. Div (-1 Inf Rgt 26, + Ter Bat 166, FH Abt 44) 8. Div (+Ter Rgt 81, + Ter Bat 180) Stadt Kdo Zürich (Ter Rgt 75, 82, 83) Pont Bat 1 Other corps troops	7. Div 12. Geb Br Fortress Sargans Ter Rgt 71, 72, 77, 79 Ter Bat 167, 186, 188, 192 L Br 1 Other corps troops	3. Gz Br Gz Rgt 49 Tle Mot Mitr Kp 4 Tle Mot Ik Kp 24 Füs Bat 22
Army Reserve	2. Div Div Murten

On 7. June 1940 the positions were adapted for the first time to reflect the events in France.

[Last Update 30.08.2010]