From his headquarters Hitler issues Directive No. 17 for the conduct
of air and sea warfare against England:
In order to establish the necessary conditions for the final conquest
of England I intend to intensify air and sea warfare against the English
homeland. I therefore order as follows:
1. The German Air Force is to overpower the English Air Force with all
the forces at its command, in the shortest time possible. The attacks are
to be directed primarily against flying units, their ground installations,
and their supply organizations, but also against the aircraft industry,
including that manufacturing anti-aircraft equipment.
2. After achieving temporary or local air superiority the air war is
to be continued against ports, in particular against stores of food, and
also against stores of provisions in the interior of the country.
Attacks on the south coast ports will be made on the smallest possible
scale, in view of our own forthcoming operations.
3. On the other hand, air attacks on enemy warships and merchant ships
may be reduced except where some particularly favourable target happens
to present itself, where such attacks would lend
additional effectiveness to those mentioned in Paragraph 2, or where
such attacks are necessary for the training of air crews for further operations.
4. The intensified air warfare will be carried out in such a way that
the Air Force can at any time be called upon to give adequate support to
naval operations against suitable targets. It must also be ready to take
part in full force in Operation Seelowe.
5. I reserve to myself the right to decide on terror attacks as measures
of reprisal.
6. The intensification of the air war may begin on or after 5 August.
The exact time is to be decided by the Air Force after completion of preparations
and in the light of the weather.
The Navy is authorized to begin the proposed intensified naval war
at the same time.
