Erwin von Witzleben19 December 1941
Complains to the OKH too many troops & resources are at the Russian & Med Fronts
Germany · Warfare / World War, 2nd. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
Complains to the OKH too many troops & resources are at the Russian & Med Fronts
Orders the construction of the Atlantic Wall, from Norway to the Spanish border
Orders the construction of coastal defences in Northwest France
Should proceed with "fanatic energy". Advocates construction of a concrete coastal wall in north west France
Hitler orders Keitel to build defences in north west France with "fanatical energy"
Orders that the construction of the Atlantic Wall be completed by 1st May 1943
Holds a meeting where he asks for 15,000 strong points to be defended by 300,000 men
Adolf Hitler advocates construction of a concrete coastal wall in north west France.
Adolf Hitler constructs a 5000 Km defensive wall to defend the west.
Hitler ordered construction of the Atlantic Wall to proceed with "fanatic energy.."
Over 17 million tons of concrete and 1.2 million tons of steel are used.
Preparations to counter an invasion of Western Europe are limited to the construction, by the Organisation Todt, of impressive fortifications covering the major ports.
The strongest concentration of defences will be at Calais, Cherbourg and Le Havre.
Work begins on construction, mainly French harbours & ports after the siege of Dieppe
In Normandy there are 27 heavy gun emplacements & 20 mobile heavy guns
The strongest part has 93 heavy gun emplacements & 39 mobile heavy guns
Commands the forces defending the Atlantic Wall, Hitler controls the troop movements
Visits Hitler to ask for stronger defences for the Atlantic Wall which are ignored
Issues instructions to give priority to defending rocket launching areas
Completes a report highlighting the deficiences of the Atlantic Wall
Takes over the defence of north France & the construction of the Atlantic Wall
Field Marshal Rommel begins inspection of Atlantic Wall, Germany's coastal defence system stretching from Norway to the Spanish frontier
Field Marshal Rommel begins inspection of Atlantic Wall, Germany's coastal defence system stretching from Norway to the Spanish frontier
Plans to install Vergeltungs weapons at the Pas-de-Calai, long range rockets. In late 1943, the obvious Allied buildup in Britain prompted the German Commander in Chief in the west, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, to request reinforcements
Given the Allied air supremacy (12,000 Allied aircraft against 300 Luftwaffe fighters booby-trapped stakes known as Rommelspargel (Rommels asparagus) are set up on likely landing grounds to deter airborne landings
In addition to fresh units, von Rundstedt also received a new subordinate, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.
Revitalises the defenders, who laboured to improve the defences of the entire coastline, steel obstacles are laid at the high-water mark on the beaches, concrete bunkers and pillboxes constructed, and low-lying areas flooded.
Rommel had recognized that for all their propaganda value, the Atlantic Wall fortifications covered only the ports themselves, the beaches between were barely defended, and the Allies could land there and capture the ports from inland.
Rommel originally intended only to make a tour of inspection of the Atlantic Wall, after reporting to Hitler, Rommel requested command of the defenders of northern France, Belgium and The Netherlands.
Lays down 2 belts of mines 1000 yds deep along the Atlantic coast, 2 million mines
In late 1943, the obvious Allied buildup in Britain prompted the German Commander in Chief in the west, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, to request reinforcements. In addition to fresh units, von Rundstedt also received a new subordinate, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
The number of mines along the French coast increases to 4 million. Completes the construction of "Rommels asparagus", mines set on poles. Adds a 3rd belt of mines 8,000 yds deep
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