German Generals Were Shocked By The Endless Fleet of Allied Ships On D-Day | World War Tales

Описание: German Generals Were Shocked By The Endless Fleet of Allied Ships On D-Day |
At dawn on June 6, 1944, Major Werner Pluskat, from a Normandy observation post, witnessed an unbelievable sight: an endless Allied invasion fleet filling the horizon. His frantic reports were dismissed by a skeptical High Command, which was utterly convinced the Normandy landings were a diversion for the "real" attack expected at Pas-de-Calais. This strategic delusion was compounded by a catastrophic paralysis in leadership: Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was in Germany, and the critical Panzer divisions were held in reserve by the direct order of a sleeping Adolf Hitler.
As a devastating naval bombardment shattered the Atlantic Wall, the German defenders on the beaches were quickly overwhelmed by an inexhaustible tide of Allied soldiers. When the 21st Panzer Division was finally released hours too late, its counter-attack made initial progress before being decisively crushed as it neared the coast, caught between the fleet's overwhelming firepower and well-prepared anti-tank positions.
By nightfall, a returning Rommel faced the grim reality of five secure Allied beachheads. The initial shock at the fleet's sheer size had transformed into a profound, strategic realization for the German command. They understood they had been not just outmaneuvered, but completely overpowered by an industrial and logistical might they could never match. The longest day had exposed their flawed strategy and sealed their fate in the West.
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