Countdown to D-Day

by Peter Margaritis

  3See Appendix A, page 595.

  4Zénaï’de Julie Bonaparte, the elder daughter of Joseph Bonaparte, who was in turn the elder brother of Napoleon.

  5One of them is General der Pioniere Alfred Jakob, chief engineer and fortifications officer for OKH.

  6Luftwaffe General der Flieger Wilhelm Wimmer. He oversaw the Luftwaffe field command for Belgium and the Netherlands (Befehlshaber Luftgau-Kommando Belgien-Nordfrankreich). In 1942, he helped create a Dutch air unit from the Nationalsozialisches Kraftfahrkorps (NSKK) named the NSKK Gruppe Luftwaffe. Not to be confused with Undersecretary Friedrich Wimmer (see entry for March 23).

  Saturday, March 11

  Having enjoyed the different flavor of his new quarters at La Roche-Guyon, Generalfeldmarschall Rommel is off on another tour. He takes with him his Ic, Oberst!leutnant Staubwasser. This will be a two-day trip up the northern coast of France.

  As he is leaving, Rommel reconsiders a small problem. His headquarters is on the northern bank of the Seine. Half of his inspections will take him across the river. On top of that, the main garage for his Horch is located on the left bank. The problem is that the splendid bridge here—le pont de La Roche-Guyon—had been destroyed a few years before. Something to think about.

  In the meantime, he travels north to the Somme estuary. On the other (northeast) bank, he and Staubwasser inspect Schwalbe’s1 344th Infantry Division. It is well positioned on the coast, with the reserve regiment not too far inland.

  Rommel finds out that an order from Fifteenth Army headquarters has suspended the installation of obstacles. In a stern tone he tells the men to disregard the order and to start putting them in again. They have done quite well on the high-tide barriers. Rommel now wants them to start on the low-tide barriers without delay.

  The 344th’s neighbor, the 49th Infantry,2 has also progressed in its defenses quite well. Rommel is satisfied overall with the work that has been done. He can only hope that high-level red tape does not further sabotage his plans.

  ***

  Today at the Berghof, the formal orders for Margarethe I go out. The German commanders are instructed to go into Hungary with as little disturbance as possible to occupy the key Hungarian civic and military focal points. On the other hand, if the people show active resistance to them, they are to be disarmed—by force, as needed. Any commanders and political leaders opposing the takeover are to be rounded up and summarily shot.

  1Fifty-two-year-old Generalleutnant Eugen-Felix Schwalbe (German for “swallow”), who took command September 27, 1942.

  2Fifty-four-year-old Generalleutnant Sigfrid Macholtz, commanding.

  Sunday, March 12

  The village of La Roche-Guyon is alive with gossip over the recent en masse arrivals of the German army group headquarters personnel. With quarters at the historic château quite limited, junior staff members cannot stay there1 and must be housed in the village. The entire area is rapidly turning into an armed camp. Fences are being constructed, guard posts are popping up, and soon no one will be able to enter or leave the town without special papers. Rommel insists that all proper courtesies be extended to the villagers who must quarter members of his staff, and that none of them are to be thrown out of their homes.

  Meanwhile, the headquarters potentate, Generalfeldmarschall Rommel, is off on the second day of a tour inspecting the northern coast of France. This morning, he begins with the fortress of Boulogne. Its contingent of almost 5,000 defenders includes about two dozen mortar units, over forty anti-tank guns, nearly fifty artillery pieces, and almost three dozen anti-aircraft guns to defend the strategic base. In addition, General Macholtz’s2 49th Infantry Division, positioned just inland, provides the men in the port with added security. Rommel approves of the defensive barriers the division has created so far and gives Macholtz the go-ahead for more improvements. Rommel feels good about this section of the Atlantic Wall. Here he feels, is one point where he can stop the enemy in the water.

  Traveling upward to the neighboring 47th Infantry Division at Calais though, he sees a different picture. He notes that less than a quarter of the coastline here has been worked on. On the other hand, a good part of the shore is rough cliffs, unsuitable for landings. He inspects the local units, their five dozen field pieces, and the reserve division positioned behind them, the 349th Infantry. The 47th’s plan is to finish the rest of their coastline defenses here in 90 days. Rommel gives them instructions on how to expedite their construction efforts.

  The field marshal then watches yet another demonstration; another landing craft crashing upon offshore obstacles. As predicted, the local naval authorities point out the ineffectiveness of the stakes, adding that even a mine on one or two of them would not do much damage to those well-constructed Allied craft. Rommel disagrees, and argues that even partial damage inflicted during combat would have a decided effect upon the condition and morale of the men inside. And everything would count at the moment of landing.

  He attends another conference at the officers’ quarters back in Boulogne, and then it is off to look at Generalleutnant Viktor von Drabich-Waechter’s 326th Infantry Division.3 The field marshal notes the condition of the three Festung grenadier regiments and the pathetically small anti-tank battalion. He finishes inspecting their defenses, content with the work they have done so far.

  He returns to La Roche-Guyon and finds that he has to deal with a few Seventh Army concerns regarding that move of the 352nd Infantry northward to the Calvados coast. Some minor issues are resolved, and the division is finally given permission to move northward to secure the left flank of the 716th along the shore.

  The addition of the 352nd will be a big improvement to the defenses in this area, but considering the work that has been done in the Calais and Somme sectors, this area of shoreline, the Calvados coast, is clearly still weakly defended. Worse than that, there are no divisions deployed immediately behind and in direct support of the frontline divisions. A landing here, without the nearby active support of a few panzer divisions, would in all probability succeed.

  ***

  General Erich Marcks writes another letter to his wife. He tells her about the reinforcements that have been shipped in to man his positions. As soon as they arrive, he jokes, “I unpack them straightaway from their boxes and set them up.”

  He tells her how he is pleased that they can still produce such a high caliber of soldier after five years of being at war. He adds that he is optimistic about the future, and only develops a degree of “animus” whenever his birthday comes up—June 6.

  1There will eventually be about 80 junior staff members attachéd to the headquarters.

  2Fifty-four-year-old Generalleutnant Sigfrid Macholtz.

  3Fifty-four-year-old Generalleutnant Viktor von Drabich-Waechter, who took over on June 1, 1943.

  He would die in combat on August 2, 1944 during the Allied Operation Bluecoat.

  Monday, March 13

  It is a lovely spring day on the Seine. This morning, Rommel has a phone conference with General von Stülpnagel1 on the disposition of his forces. In the afternoon, he goes on another one of his “armed promenades,” this time on the grounds around his new headquarters. He and a couple of his officers trek up to and then around the old Norman tower above the château. On this lovely crisp day, they take in the beautiful countryside as they wander from the meadows into the surrounding woods.

  Unfortunately, the only harvest from their hunt is a bunch of wild primroses.

  The owner of the elegant but drafty, chilly château below them, the Duc du Rochfoucauld, for better or worse is getting used to his new tenants. The duke, a rather thin fellow, about 65 years old, is getting acquainted with Rommel and the two men are developing a mutual liking.

  The duke’s wife is a small woman, by descent a Danish princess. She speaks fluent German, and often socialized with high-placed Germans before the war. Their daughter Charlotte, a young woman of nearly 21, is quickly becoming a favorite of the staff members. Together
with his wife, daughter, and sons, the duke begins getting used to the hustle and bustle of busy office sounds on the floor below them. Somehow, for them, life goes on.

  That evening, Rommel writes to Lucie to tell her about his chief of staff’s return from his trip to Germany:

  Gause brought everything—also the baton—I will need it soon for an official report. Our new quarters are cold, but soon it will be spring.

  ***

  Today at the Berghof, during the daily war conference, the subject of defense tactics in the West is discussed. Chairing the conference as he always does, Hitler states that thought should be given to the idea of a second line of infantry divisions as a part of, but just behind, the main line. They would be out of range of enemy naval units and better able to move to trouble spots, even if in a strictly limited sense. Only mobile formations would be held as operational reserves. Exceptions were the areas east of Brest and south of Cherbourg, where there was great danger of landings from the air.

  âJodl responds by stating the dangers of cramming so many forces into one big line. Field fortifications, he points out, might be obliterated by bombardment.

  Hitler replies though, that his idea could be the best way to conduct an aggressive defense. Perhaps Rommel, he concludes, is right, and that the invasion must be defeated right on the beaches, because once the enemy establishes a firm beachhead, it would be too late to throw them back into the sea.

  Rommel at this time seems to have the solid support of the Führer.

  ***

  General Marcks at St. Lô writes another letter home, this time to his son. He describes his recent bout of flu a couple weeks ago.

  He goes on to state that he is baffled as to why the army commanders around him cannot understand the gravity of what must be done. Especially because Hitler time and time again has hammered into them how critical it is that no foot of soil be given up to the enemy. He writes about the enemy’s impressive air superiority, and that he only hopes that they are lucky enough to beat back the enemy.

  1Fifty-eight-year-old General der Infanterie Karl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel, Militärbefehlshaber Frankreich.

  Tuesday, March 14

  Rommel is on the road again early, with Oberfeldwebel Daniel driving, the field marshal riding in his customary position of “shotgun,” and his chief engineer, Wilhelm Meise, in the back. As usual, Vizeadmiral Ruge is in the second car. Next to him is a new staff member, Major “Teddy” Behr.1 The new man, assigned to the headquarters staff on February 15 and having come from the Eastern Front, has saddened them all with the discouraging news from the front.

  Their first stop is the 81st Corps headquarters in Canteleu, near Rouen. Rommel’s group is greeted by the corps commander, General Kuntzen.2 After hearing a detailed briefing on their progress, Rommel begins his comments. The divisions are still too spread out, he tells their staff. They must defend the coastline in unison, but each division must operate like its own fortress. All units must fight within their division’s tight perimeter, with no expectations of any immediate help or relief. Artillery support will have to be available to everyone, and local movement and maneuvering must be possible for all units. That way, Rommel comments dryly, if the High Command wants to relocate the corps’ reserve units in the rear areas to the east into Russia, no one will mind. Of course he muses, if trends continue, they will not have to worry about reserve units being relocated to the East. There just will not be any.

  Rommel’s inspection party moves on. The 245th Infantry, 3 then the 17th Luftwaffe Field Division, 4 east of Le Havre, are on today’s agenda. Rommel notes the steep cliffs and rocky shores, mostly unsuitable for landings. On the other hand, you do not underestimate your enemy. The few beaches, narrow as they are, might still be used for diversionary raids. The cliffs would provide some shelter from the winds, and the tides are negligible.

  The field marshal reacts with a slew of instructions. Ravines are to be blocked off. Chunks of cliffs must be blasted into the sea. And mines, mines, mines…

  The inspection group travels from one unit to the next, guided successively by the various unit commanders. Their guides though, get the motorcade lost several times, and Rommel gets more and more irritated, growling at their ineptitude. These officers don’t even know their own sectors!

  The vehicles eventually reach the port towns of Yport and Etretat. Satisfactory defenses... His staff officers make notes to that effect.

  Onward they go, working their way roundabout towards the port of Le Havre. They observe one concrete foundation being finished for a large gun, part of a huge 380mm naval battery.5

  They enter Le Havre and inspect the docks. Port preparations are noted as significant and effective.

  Despite the irritations of the day, Rommel is cordial that evening at dinner with the local commanders.6 He actually becomes jovial for a change as he carries on with various recollections of World War I. He tells them about his first experience with the Kriegsmarine in 1919, just after the war had ended. At the time, he was a company commander, stationed in Friedrichshaven, Germany.

  That year, he recalls, a unit of sailors was transferred from Stuttgart to his area. These fellow Swabians had been redeployed because they were unruly and had simply been too much trouble in Stuttgart. Somehow, Rommel got stuck with them. There were no orders given on what to do with them—just keep them in line, he was gruffly told. And they were a rowdy bunch indeed, partly because they were not seasoned salts. Most of them had never even been to sea. He saw right off that they clearly had little respect for authority. When Rommel presented himself to them, sure enough, they were not impressed. And the coveted Blue Max that he had so bravely won meant nothing to them. They rudely referred to it as his “Blechle.”7

  Mentally rolling up his sleeves, he tackled the task of winning over these hooligans head-on. Rommel tells his listeners that it had not been easy, and he recounts a number of setbacks. Eventually though, using every element of leadership that he could devise (including some occasional rough abuse), he slowly brought about a metamorphosis. This raucous bunch was transformed into a firm, deadly unit, one that later fought magnificently against Communist components in the Ruhr area.

  A few years later, many of these seamen, having transferred together as a small group into the police force, had called upon him, trying to get him to become a cop as well. Not that they had any sense of justice—they just wanted to serve under him again.

  Sailors...

  ***

  General Gause today visits Seventh Army headquarters in Le Mans. From there, he phones General Christiansen’s headquarters in The Hague.8 He tells them to supply his staff with updated, detailed strategic and operational maps of the Netherlands by the first of May.

  1Twenty-six-year-old Major Winrich Behr. One of Rommel’s younger staff officers, Behr had served with Rommel in France in 1940, and then under him in North Africa. In mid-May 1941, he won the Knight’s Cross commanding a recon company that had the distinction of being the first German unit to destroy an enemy vehicle (an armored car) in North Africa. Later on in the war, he served in Russia, including on von Paulus’ intelligence staff at Stalingrad, briefly acting as special courier between OKW and von Paulus. Traveling back and forth as a go-between, the young officer on the one hand pleaded the general’s case to the Führer, and on the other reaffirmed to von Paulus the Führer’s orders to stand fast and not retreat. After the fall of Stalingrad, Behr served on the command staff of the 79th Infantry Division before being promoted in January 1944 and assigned to Rommel’s staff in mid-February. Behr would stay with the army group command after D-Day, and in September become adjutant to Feldmarschall Model during the Allies’ Operation Market Garden and the battle for Arnhem. After the war, he would become a military historian. He died April 25, 2011 at the age of 93.

  2Ffity-four-year-old General der Panzertruppen Adolf Friedrich Kuntzen. His distinguished career included fighting in Poland, France, and later in Russia.

  3F
ifty-two-year-old Generalleutnant Erwin Sander, commanding.

  4Forty-nine-year-old Generalleutnant Hans Kurt Höcker, commanding.

  5The site was bombed and severely damaged a few days later. As a result, it would not be operational by early June. The Allies were once again lucky, because with its range and caliber, this battery could have wrought havoc with the British soldiers landing at Sword Beach.

  6Fifty-three-year-old Generalmajor Walther Leutze, who was in the process of handing over command of the Le Havre fortress to 50-year-old Generalmajor Hans Sauerbrey, and Admiral von Tresckow, in charge of the naval squadrons there.

  7A cheap piece of metal found in toy sheriff badges, and the analogy that infers.

  8Wehrmachtbefehlshaber Niederlande.

  Wednesday, March 15

  This morning in Le Havre, Rommel as usual has an early breakfast. He is irritated about some undefended tall bluffs to the east that he had observed yesterday, and the table talk for the morning is about possible enemy landings around these cliffs. Airborne operations and cliff climbing are discussed.

  Starting out in a light fog, they arrive in Bolbec and drive to the “nicely situated” headquarters of Generalmajor Diestel’s1 346th Infantry Division, positioned in reserve behind the 17th Luftwaffe Field Division, which they visited the day before. Diestel reports on his division’s readiness. Rommel expresses his concern. This unit, like so many on the coast, seems to lack his sense of urgency, often working as though they have all the time in the world. Oh, they realize how important the preparations are, and the field marshal’s orders will be carried out to the letter! However, they are awaiting some components, or must delay until some directive gets modified, or have to figure out an easier way to do something else.