6. Landing in England. Due to a change in the general situation it may yet be possible or necessary to start operation "Seeloewe" in the spring of 1941. The three services of the armed forces must therefore earnestly endeavor to improve conditions for such an operation in every respect.
7. I shall expect the commanders-in-chief to express their opinions of the measures anticipated in this directive. I shall then give orders regarding the methods of execution and synchronization of the individual actions. In order to assure secrecy, only a restricted staff will work on these plans. This applies particularly to the operations in Spain and for the plans concerning the Atlantic Isles.
Signed: Adolf Hitler
J [initialled: Jodl]
Distribution:
Ob.d.H (Op.Abt.)—1st Copy.
Ob.d.M (l.Skl.)—2nd Copy.
Ob.d.L. (LwFueSt.Ia)—3rd Copy.
O.K.W.
SFSt—4th Copy.
Abt. L.—5th-10th Copy.
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 446-PS
The Fuehrer and Commander-in-Chief of the German Armed Forces
OKW/WFSt/Abt.L(I) Nr. 33 408/40 gK Chefs.
SECRET
The Fuehrer's Headquarters
18 December 40
(only through officer)
9 copies, 4th copy
Directive Nr. 21
Case Barbarossa
The German Armed Forces must be prepared to crush Soviet Russia in a quick campaign before the end of the war against England (case Barbarossa).
For this purpose the Army will have to employ all available units with the reservation that the occupied territories will have to be safeguarded against surprise attacks.
For the Eastern campaign the Airforce will have to free such strong forces for the support of the Army that a quick completion of the ground operations may be expected and that damage of the eastern German territories will be avoided as much as possible. This concentration of the main effort in the East is limited by the following reservation: That the entire battle and armament area dominated by us must remain sufficiently protected against enemy air attacks and that the attacks on England and especially the supply for them must not be permitted to break down.
Concentration of the main effort of the Navy remains unequivocally against England also during an Eastern campaign.