Catalogue description War Office: 21 Army Group: Military Headquarters Papers, Second World War

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Details of WO 205
Reference: WO 205
Title: War Office: 21 Army Group: Military Headquarters Papers, Second World War
Description:

This series consists of Military Headquarters papers relating to 21 Army Group.

The series contains files of the General Staff dealing with planning and implementation of the invasion of Northern Europe in 1944 (Operation Overlord) and with subsequent activity in enemy occupied territories before the new control authorities assumed responsibility.

Pieces 1 to 19B contain files of senior officers including those of the Commander-in-Chief Home Forces. These papers have been separated from those of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces as they conveniently record in one series the part played by the British Land Forces.

Date: 1942-1947
Arrangement:

The series is arranged as follows ('G' files are the files of the General Staff):

  • Files of senior officers: pieces 1-19B
  • G Operations: pieces 20-424, 1109-1144
  • G Operations (Air): pieces 425-585, 1145-1157
  • G Liaison: pieces 586A-602J
  • G (R) Camouflage: pieces 603-614
  • G Records: 615-623
  • G R.A.C.: pieces 624-642
  • G Plans: pieces 643-746
  • G Training and Infantry: pieces 747-772, 1088-1094
  • G Build Up Control Organisation: pieces 773-798
  • G Passive Air Defence: pieces 799-838
  • G Operations (Movement and Transportation): pieces 839-843
  • Operational reports: pieces 844-972D
  • Miscellaneous papers: pieces 973-1024, 1095-1108, 1158-1165, 1227-1244
  • Surrender and Post-surrender Period (May-July 1945): pieces 1025-1084
  • G Intelligence: pieces 1085-1086
  • G Air: piece 1087
  • Engineers: pieces 1166-1224
  • German documents: pieces 1225-1226

Related material:

For Military Headquarters papers of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force covering the invasion of Northern Europe, 1944 to 1945, see WO 219

Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Physical description: 1253 files and volumes
Access conditions: Open unless otherwise stated
Immediate source of acquisition:

From 1973 Ministry of Defence

Accruals: Series is accruing
Administrative / biographical background:

21 Army Group was the British operational group under Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF). The headquarters was formed on 31 July 1943 at St Paul's School, London. Its purpose was to take over from the Commander-in-Chief Home Forces the responsibility for the detailed planning of the land operation to invade the continent.

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