The allies may have a few surprises instore. Interesting that Rommel is looking closely at the Normandy coast, and is trying to get another panzer division positioned there. He still thinke the invasions will come at Calais, but Normandy looks like his second guess.
The allies may have a few surprises instore. Interesting that Rommel is looking closely at the Normandy coast, and is trying to get another panzer division positioned there. He still thinke the invasions will come at Calais, but Normandy looks like his second guess.
Right. Rommel wanted the Panzer divisions up close to repel the invasion. Rundstedt wanted them further inland so they could move to where they were needed. Rommel knew from experience that Allied air power would be devastating.
I've been reading every tourist guide to the channel areas I can get my hands on. Concerning Normandy, I question pre-positioning panzer units in that area because it appears the terrain is quite unique and unfavorable for armor.
The French call it bocage. Apparently, ancient hedges are used as fences. These hedges can be as much as 5 meters high, very dense and are said to be impenetrable by an out of control automobile at high speed.
Fields of fire from everything I can tell are narrow and short. To me, this appears to be terrain that favors defense and panzer units will end up bogged down in close quarters limited visibility combat.
Conversely, if the Allies land in the Normandy area, a relatively small force of Germans could keep them bottled up in that hedgerow country.
My money is still on Calais.