Nevertheless, these landings from the air were no surprise, since our own command and troops had counted on them for weeks and were prepared. Purpose: Splitting up of local reserves and withdrawal from the decisive spot, involving loss of time for the defender.Īirborne troops in many transport gliders of various sizes cut loose, in accordance with a precisely worked out plan, over the sea or at widely separated points over land, and on the whole they found their designated landing spots accurately. In several places parachutists turned out to be dummies (with boxes containing explosives). The enemy thereby wished to bring about an air raid alarm and make us take cover in order to be able to drop his parachute troops with as little risk of observation as possible. The beginning of landings from the air on the Western Bay of the Seine and in the Cotentin was on June 6, 1944, at about 0100, under conditions of cloudy, overcast weather with a rather strong wind, intermittent showers and rough sea up to four degrees at the same time at various sectors of the front strong enemy air formations delivered bombing attacks in the rear area. (a) The enemy had hoped to be able to surprise us. II - The Enemy Landing Procedure in Broad Outlines: Opposed to this stands the quality of the German soldier, his steadfastness and his unqualified will to fight to the fast with army, navy and air force.Īll three branches of the service have given their best and will continue to give it. (4) The rehearsal of the enemy invasion units for their task most precise knowledge of the coast, of its obstacles and defense establishments, swift building up of superiority in numbers and material on the bridgehead after just a few days. (3) The flexible and well-directed support of the land troops by ships' artillery of strong English naval units ranging from battleship to gunboat. (2) The skillful and large-scale employment of enemy parachute and airborne troops, (1) The enemy's complete mastery in the air. The following most important battle experiences are to be passed on as the subject of instruction and drill in all fronts not yet attacked for the attention of the troops and command authorities in the battle area and for the instruction of all duty stations, protective forces, etc., in the entire protecting area. The orders for the preparation and the carrying out of the landing are books with numerous enclosures Systematic, almost scientifically conducted preparations in all fields for this attack were rendered more easy in every respect by a far-reaching network of agents in the occupied area of the west. The proximity of the English mother country and thus also of all the embarkation and supply bases afforded to the Anglo-Saxons in their first great land attack against the Western Bay of the Seine and against the peninsula of the Cotentin the opportunity of employment on the greatest scale so far of men, material and technical means. The following most recent battle experiences confirm in broad outlines all the experiences which were made known regarding Sicily, Salerno, Nottuno and those other heavy defensive battles in Italy. It is left to the duty stations named under "Distributor" to make the evaluation and to fill in details according to their own judgment. The following experiences summarize what has happened so far. This happens from time to time through the medium of individual teletype messages.Ģ. Experiences fulfill their purposes only when they are quickly brought to the attention of the troops. Commander-in-Chief West, (High Command, Army Group D) OperationsĮxperiences from the Invasion Battles of Normandyġ.
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