Countdown to D-Day

by Peter Margaritis

  Those small reinforcements though, will not be enough. Panzers are needed. The 1st SS Panzer Corps and most other main panzer units are already in the East, and Panzer Lehr is tied up in Hungary. The remaining panzer units in the West are still organizing or training.

  Except, that is, for General Hausser’s2 2nd SS Panzer Corps3 in southern France…

  ***

  Rommel and his staff are again up early. After breakfast, they head out at 7 a.m. for the strategic naval base at Den Helder near the tip of the North Holland peninsula. Rommel as usual rides in front and Meise sits in the back. In the second vehicle, Ruge rides along with Admiral Förste, the North Sea Naval Commandant. During the ride, they discuss naval defenses in the area.

  The group inspects several recently flooded areas, and Rommel notes that this has substantially improved the defensive position there. They get out of their vehicles and walk along some sand dunes to inspect the offshore barriers, Rommel often impatiently stomping ahead of the others.

  They stop briefly for a quick lunch at a soldiers’ home at Bergen-op-Zee. The staff there is made up mostly of Kriegshelferinnen.

  In the afternoon, they inspect more coastal positions, galumphing along the sand dunes. Rommel is disturbed that a couple fortresses occupy larger areas than necessary, so he lays out what he feels should be the maximum perimeters for each. Noting that several senior officers live in lavish quarters in the area, he growls that he expects all the division officers to live within their assigned fortress, including the commanding officer.

  The day passes slowly as they walk for a while, drive some, and then walk some more. Finally in the late afternoon, they finish and return to their local quarters in Amsterdam. They pass several beautiful, colorful fields blooming with crocuses. Rommel of course hardly notices them, his mind on the problems of defending the fortresses up here.

  That evening, it is another dinner with General Christiansen, and again, undersecretary Wimmer attends. The discussion afterwards includes the layout of the areas around the fortresses. Having thought some about it, Rommel has now realized that excessive flooding and minefields, having prevented the local farmers from using the land to grow more crops, will exacerbate local food shortages. So he decides to restrict flooding and mining to a one-kilometer strip around each fortress. The outer three- to seven-kilometer area around it can now be used for agriculture, provided the ground is also staked with obstacles—Rommelspargel.

  On the other hand, if more land becomes available for farming, fewer people will be available to work on the coastal defenses. So as a concession, Wimmer agrees to discontinue removing workers from the local areas to be hauled off to one of Saukel’s slave labor sites in Germany.

  In addition, Christiansen adds that for Rommel’s worker requests, he will take the initiative to bypass Saukel’s labor organization altogether, a tedious and often unrewarding procedure, and openly procure workers himself for the coastal defenses. He is confident that many locals will take up a job offer because, despite the fact that they are helping their occupiers, it is widely known that civilians fortunate enough to work directly for the Wehrmacht—at least in Holland—are paid good wages and enjoy relatively good food. In comparison, those labouring for the OTwork long hard hours, are paid low wages, and often experience uncomfortable or harsh working environments. Worse than that though, is the fact that Dutch workers in the OT are often suddenly and without warning transferred to German factories, where many perish from harsh conditions, disease, or air raids. Alternatively, they are simply never heard of again.

  Rommel reminds Christensen that Saukel will not be happy with this new arrangement and will likely protest. Christensen replies that he will tell the labor leader that at the present time, getting workers for the Atlantic Wall is a higher priority than for munitions production.

  ***

  In the continuing “mini blitz” against England, the Luftwaffe sends 90 medium bombers to London. Minor damage is done to the capital, and several aircraft are lost.

  The force pales in comparison to the 811 British bombers that hit Berlin. They unload some 2,500 tons of bombs and incendiaries that create several huge fires. The Germans in the capital cringe under the onslaught.

  1The 349th would end up being all but destroyed in a desperate attempt to stop Russian attacks.Survivors would later be sent back to France to recuperate and become the cadre for the 349th Volksgrenadier Division.

  2Sixty-three-year-old SS Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Paul “Papa” Hausser. A Prussian who had served in World War I, Hauser joined the SS in 1934, and participated in the invasion of Poland, the Low Countries, and then France. He took part in the invasion of Russia, where he lost an eye in 1943. He later took part in the battle of Kursk, and afterwards was given command of the newly-formed 2nd SS Panzer Corps, Consisting of the newly formed 9th SS Panzer Division (Hohenstaufen) and 10th SS Panzer Division (Frundsburg).

  3Consisting of the newly formed 9th SS Panzer Division (Hohenstaufen) and 10th SS Panzer Division(Frundsburg).

  Saturday, March 25

  At the Führer’s late-morning conference, it is clear that on the Russian Front, the situation is now nearly out of hand. The last supply line to Hube’s First Panzer Army on the Dniester River has been severed. They are now trapped and in danger of being destroyed. A relief force is obviously needed, but not one division can be spared from the rest of the Eastern Front. Feldmarschall von Manstein attends Hitler’s noon conference, and they have a heated discussion. The field marshal thinks the army should immediately attempt a breakout, and Hitler argues that they should stay where they are until they are rescued. Just like they did at Stalingrad, von Manstein points out bitterly.

  After having argued for some time and received at least one threat from von Manstein that he will resign his commission, the Führer grudgingly makes two critical concessions. First, the “stand-and-fight” order is rescinded for General Hube. He has permission to try and break out on the west side of the pocket. Second, von Manstein is assured that a relief force from Western Europe will soon be on its way to the East. General Hausser’s 2nd SS Panzer Corps, still deployed around Alençon, France, 1 will immediately entrain to go to Hube’s rescue. Rommel and von Rundstedt will be informed today. Jodl so notes it in his diary.

  Unfortunately, when this corps moves out for Serbia, the only panzer divisions available to fight off any enemy invasion will be the 12th SS Panzer and the 21st Panzer. Making matters worse, both units are still in the process of formation and training, and neither division has anywhere near the tanks needed for combat. Part of the 21st Panzer’s force includes a bunch of captured light French Somua tanks; no radios in them, by the way. Well, maybe they can salvage the chassis and mount a German gun on each. In the meantime, the new but outdated PzKw IVs are very slow in coming.

  ***

  As usual, Rommel starts out early, continuing his tour of the Netherlands and Belgium. Heading southward down the North Holland peninsula, he inspects the Schnelleboote bunkers and then the massive naval batteries at Ijmuiden. Here, inter-service cooperation seems to be working.

  Onward, driving southward to Wassenaar, he sees more evidence of effective flooding. New obstacles and minefields. More briefings with fortress commanders. More units “discovered” to be deployed too far inland (to him, they are hiding). Move them forward, Rommel orders.

  They take time out for lunch, then continue on. But not before Rommel finds out about certain reserve units in training that have not been listed on the unit rosters. Deliberately withheld, he concludes. As this morning, he again orders them immediately transferred up to the fortified, front areas.

  The inspection group continues down to the fortress of Scheveningen. The commander briefs them on their construction activities, impressing the field marshal with an accurate, visually elaborate sandbox model. The commanding officer of the Kriegsmarine 1. Sicherungs-Division2 goes over their deployment. The inspection group had observed a good d
eal of flooding and a number of offshore obstacles, and the briefing now elaborates on them. Rommel expresses his satisfaction at the work that has been done.

  Contingency plans are made for the SS panzer3 and naval units training up here. In the event of a nearby invasion, they are to move inland immediately and reorganize to meet an attack.

  That evening, the inspection party drives some 30km to the city of Rotterdam and stays at the Park Hôtel.4 After checking in, the field marshal joins his group in a crowded coffeehouse for a late cup of coffee. They all sit, relax, and study the traffic of pedestrians, bicycles, motorbikes, and autos bustling through the downtown area. All around them is a flurry of activity. The economy in this historic city is obviously thriving.

  They then go to the naval officers’ mess for dinner. There, they are joined by General Wahle5 and the Rotterdam port commander, a talkative, boisterous sort of fellow. He recalls for them his many exploits as a World War I submarine skipper and later on as head of Paraguay’s navy. Amusingly, the officer with him, representing the local naval headquarters, says hardly a thing through dinner.

  ***

  This evening, Rommel’s chief of staff talks to the aide-de-camp of Jodl’s OKW Operations staff. Gause explains to him that, while von Schweppenburg’s PanzerGruppe West is directly subordinate to OB West, the Führer’s latest decision— that being, of course, his tacit agreement at the March 20 conference to turn over command of the reserve panzers to Rommel—must take precedence.

  ***

  Today Eisenhower, talking to his staff about possible air strategies, decides to concentrate on Western Europe’s transportation network instead of going for fuel production and delivery. He hopes with this plan, which includes hitting all the major river bridges and nearly 80 major railway centers, to isolate the invasion area and to retard enemy support arriving there. Forcing the Germans to funnel their reinforcements and supplies through fewer transportation lines will also better expose them to air attacks and slow down industrial activity.6

  Some air force generals protest his decision. Utilizing heavy bombers, especially the British night air wings, against bridges and other smaller targets will require more training. Also, use of these assets against transportation targets in Western Europe will weaken the Allied effort in the air campaign over the Reich. German fuel supplies are desperately short. Their petroleum production and supply infrastructure, especially for synthetic fuels, is complicated, vulnerable, and hard to replace. Diverting heavy bomber units from hitting them does not seem wise to some senior air officers. Perhaps the transportation plan could be undertaken by just medium and tactical bombers? Besides, they argue, German reinforcements moving in on the first few days after the landing would most likely be traveling on roads, so hitting bridges and rail lines would not accomplish much at the onset.

  Eisenhower though, remains adamant. European transportation lines and networks will be given top priority, along with German air bases near the coast. After more protests, he allows some refinery targets to be included as well.

  1Located about halfway between Rennes and Paris.

  21st Naval Security Division. Some Belgian and French coastal sectors were assigned a security division that was responsible for protecting the naval bases in its sector, requisitioning boats, forming new and maintaining existing flotillas, and carrying out missions assigned to it such as assigning coastal convoy protection and mine-laying, dragging accesses to ports, anti-submarine missions, and barge traffic. They usually consisted of two regiments or several battalions.

  3Sepp Dietrich’s 1st SS Panzer Corps, which at the moment, consisted only of the 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitlerjugend).

  4The Bilderberg ParkHôtel on Westersingel Avenue, constructed in 1922.

  5Generalmajor Carl Wahle, the commanding officer of the 719th Infantry Division.

  6In just the first 10 days of March, the Germans had lost some 50 locomotives by air attack. Significantly, another 79 were destroyed by the Resistance.

  Sunday, March 26

  It is early morning at the Obersalzberg. OKW is completely focused on critical problems, few of which have anything to do with the West. On the Eastern Front, the Russian spring offensive is continuing in full force, and Hube’s First Panzer Army—the remnants of over twenty divisions, eight of which are panzer1—is trapped in a pocket near Skala-Podolskaya, west of the Bug River. Hausser’s 2nd SS Panzer Corps has already started to entrain in southern France, getting ready to go east and relieve them. Their official orders go out today.

  In Italy, a full-scale British and American assault on Monte Cassino has just failed, but the cost of victory for the Germans in terms of supplies used and casualties taken has been extensive. And while the Anzio beachhead is stable for now, no one can say whether or not a renewed assault will stretch or break the German cordon around the landing area.

  Now, on top of the issues revolving around conducting the war on three and a half fronts (the “half front,” the West, is relatively idle), OKW is confronted with a new problem. Word has come in of a massive breakout that occurred over the weekend from a British prisoner-of-war camp. Over 70 British Gefangene have escaped from their compound in Sagan, Poland, 2 and are now fleeing all over Central Europe. At the Berghof, Himmler informs Hitler of the escape.

  An irate Führer orders a special early-morning conference with Himmler, Göring, and Keitel. Unlike the normal daily military conferences though, this is a small private meeting. Stenographers are not even allowed in, and so no minutes are taken.

  Hitler in an angry tone informs Göring and Keitel of the prisoner breakout. Himmler, immediately trying to cover himself, blames Keitel. Göring jumps on the bandwagon, and Keitel, flushed now with anger at being openly ganged upon with these accusations, loudly defends himself. The three argue over the blame for a minute while their stewing leader only half-listens to them.

  Himmler estimates that the recapture will take something like 70,000 policemen for each escaped prisoner, and one hell of a long time to round all these POWs up again. More discussion follows. Keitel finally looks at Göring and states that, since the prisoners had been guarded by Luftwaffe personnel, the blame for the escape is in the end his alone. Furthermore, Keitel adds haughtily, he will not listen to any more groundless accusations against him, especially in the Führer’s presence.

  Hitler interrupts, telling them to stop bickering. He looks at all three of them and snaps, “They are all to be shot when they’re recaptured.”

  There is a stony silence following this announcement. Göring is aware that the blame for the breakout is mainly his. But the prisoners are fellow airmen, and he is clearly uncomfortable with the idea. He tries as tactfully as possible to object; not that the concept of shooting prisoners bothers him in principle. After all, it was Göring himself who had initially created the Gestapo back in the 1930s. No, he reasons, political considerations have to be taken into account. As the Führer glares at him, he continues. You see, he explains, if all the prisoners are shot, the official excuse that they were killed on recapture will look transparent and blatantly cruel. No one in the world will believe that the shootings were anything other than cold-blooded, calculated murder. That, he concludes, would have a terrible effect on world opinion, especially among the neutrals. And who knows what reprisals the Allies might then take upon their own captured men? Any rerpisals against German prisoners would strike a heavy blow to morale at home.

  The Führer pauses a moment as this sinks in. He reluctantly sees the reasoning. “In that case,” he decides, “more than half of them are to be shot.” He tells them that all of these prisoners that are recaptured are to be turned over to the Gestapo. He turns to the Reichsführer and says sternly, “Himmler, you are not to let the escaped airmen out of your control!”

  Göring comprehends that this is the best deal he is going to get, and along with the other two, accepts this pronouncement. After the meeting, Keitel and Himmler get together to iron out the details. Late
r, Keitel finds his army staff officer in charge of prisoners of war, Generalmajor Hans von Graevenitz. Keitel informs him that over half of the prisoners recaptured are to be shot.3

  Von Graevenitz is clearly upset with this decision. Stunned, he replies, “We cannot just shoot these officers.”

  Keitel, angry over the entire incident and his part in it, yells back, “The time has come for an example to be made, or we will not be able to cope with these escapes!” He pauses and adds, “This ought to be such a shock that prisoners won’t escape any more. Every prisoner must be told about it, understand? Every prisoner.”

  Von Graevenitz is told that the Himmler’s SS will carry out the executions. He just has to coordinate the roundup with them and be sure that the word gets out to the POW camps.4

  ***

  Today, Rommel continues his tour of the Netherlands. Starting at 7 a.m., he leaves the Park hotel in Rotterdam and travels westward to the coast to visit Hoek van Holland.5 There he hears the reports of the Festungkommandant and the port commander. Again, a lack of supplies has suspended their minelaying program. Still, the effort so far has been good, with some 140,000 mines laid over or around some eight layers of barriers. Considering that the tides here are shallow, this is a formidable feat.

  To compensate for the shortage of mines, the local unit has undertaken a program of deception. Certain areas where minefields have been planned are already posted with warning signs. To lend credence to the ruse, a few rumors have been spread about a number of accidents that have occurred in these fields while laying down mines. Rommel smiles and gives his approval.

  They leave the Festungkommandant’s headquarters and make a number of further inspections along the coast; the fortified peninsula at De Beer; across the river to Voorne and the nearby flooded areas; across the Moordijk and Willemstad bridges to Breda, General Wahle’s 719th Infantry Division headquarters. Rommel commends Wahle for all their efforts.