Fallen and wounded covered the beach.
The tide brought more and more bodies and wounded.
The bodies did not lie alone but stacked on top of each other.
It was a horrible sight.
D-DAY: THE SOLDIERS' STORY 1/4
At that time, Rommel was Germany's best-known general.
When he was commander of the Africa Corps, -
and later as commander of Panzerarmee Africa, -
National Socialist propaganda had presented him as "The Desert Fox."
He was a household name in Germany.
He was associated with German victories.
Rommel wasn't recalled from Africa by coincidence in 1943, -
when the tide of war there turned against Germany.
They didn't want to take away the aura of invincibility from Rommel, -
that Nazi propaganda had associated with him.
To inspire the German people and the German soldiers, -
it was logical to send Rommel in 1943 western France, -
where he was tasked preparing for the invasion.
Canadian and British failed raid attempt -
in Dieppe 1942, -
led the two sides to different conclusions.
The Allies realised that they could not land into ports.
From logistical point of view, this would have been the easiest option.
It was learned that the port defense was too strong, -
and the troops would be destroyed.
On the German side it was concluded:
"This time the Allies were trying to Dieppe."
"Next time they try to land in larger port."
Therefore, in 1944, the great harbors of the West were declared "fortresses", -
which had to be held to the last man and round.
On June 17, 1940, -
German troops arrived in Caen.
We had seen the French army fleeing -
on foot, without cars and artillery.
The men wore thick uniforms even though it was hot.
Then we saw the German army arrive -
in their light summer uniforms.
Fine equipment, armored vehicles and extraordinary military strength.
When we saw the discipline of the troops, our first reaction was, -
we should not be deluded by this victorious army.
We decided that Nazi Germany would eventually lose the war.
We wrote anti-German leaflets, -
and put them up to the electricity pylons, -
to make the Germans realize, -
that they were not welcome.
We will not collaberate and work for liberation, -
which would not come immediately but we were sure it would come eventually.
Field Marshal Rommel at the Headquarters of the army commander in the West, -
Field Marshal von Rundstedt. The two military leaders in discussion.
As part of a special assignment from the Führer, -
Field Marshal Rommel goes to examine fortifications on the Atlantic coast.
As well as senior officers, experienced and skilled non-commissioned officers -
also take part in the inspection.
Our region was chosen for its gently sloping beaches.
They would make the landing easier.
Also it was within easy reach of the Allied air and naval forces.
The resistance continued providing information of the German defenses.
We sent details on all the bunkers built by Organization Todt, -
on the caliber of the artillery and the angles of the shot, -
information on the position of minefields and machine gun nests, -
and information on the entire German defense measures.
In early 1944, we were sure that the landings were imminent.
We were getting more information, and more weapons for the resistance fighters.
We knew the crucial day was drawing closer.
On the eve of the invasion, -
there were approximately 1.3 million German soldiers stationed in the West.
There were some elite divisions of Wehrmacht and Waffen―SS among them.
But the majority were inexperienced infantry divisions, -
and occupation army soldiers.
Most regular infantry divisions were often a mix of very young soldiers, -
who, after a short period of training, were conscripted to the service, -
or older family men, -
who were remnants of the original occupation army from 1940 to 1941.
In addition, there were veterans from the eastern front.
They were an important link between the young and the very old.
The atmosphere was not bad.
For one thing, I was happy to be in the West.
Many of my friends were in Russia.
We would receive letters from home, -
with news that friends, school mates or older people had fallen, -
or were missing in Russia.
So, we felt we were relatively safe.
We thought, the French coast is so long. Why should they land right here?
On January 29th, -
Rommel came with battalion officers and company commander, -
to our Widerstandsnest―defense.
We were based on the exit of the valley near the village of Colleville.
Rommel said, among other things:
"This bay is similar to the Gulf of Salerno in Italy."
The Americans had landed there in September 1943.
Since at that time, at our gun positions as well as those at our neighboring placements, -
that is, at defense positions 61 and 60, -
the cannons were unprotected on the rocks, -
on concrete slab only.
That's why Organization Todt soon arrived, -
with plenty of equipment and crew.
It built casemates for the cannons, -
and better shelters for soldiers.
On the seaside, there was only a wooden hut a meter deep on the ground.
That is, in practice there was no protection at all.
By the end of 1943, at latest, -
the preparations had began for the Allied landing, -
in some sections of the coast more intensively than others.
The Atlantic Wall was extended and reinforced.
And the troops were trained to repulse an enemy landing.
Additional pillboxes and fortifications were built, often further back from the coast, -
the idea being to have a second chance to stop the enemy, in case they manage to get ashore.
troops were brought to France from the eastern front.
Not as many as Rommel hoped for, -
because the battles in the east were too fierce.
But several elite panzer divisions did come to the West, -
and above all, SS―divisions.
These were very much weakened after the battles in the East, -
in terms of numbers and equipment, so they were "refreshed".
Those were the units to suppose defeat the Allies once they landed.
In 1944, Rommel was one of the few generals in the West, -
who had extensive experience of fighting -
against the western Allies and especially the British.
He knew that because of their air superiority, -
the Germans would not be able to deploy large panzer divisions, -
as they had in the East.
Moving them around would make them targets for the Allied aircraft.
In the period before the landings this led to serious arguments -
between Rommel and those other Wehrmacht generals, -
who had gained experience in the Eastern front.
How best to fight the Allies?
Most importantly, where do we deploy our pazer divisions?
Close to the coast, as Rommel wants, -
so that they could engage against the Allied infantry as soon as possible?
Or should we deploy them inland, which is what the eastern front generals want?
But when you look at Rommel's strategy it's actually a violation to German military doctrine, -
which valued the concentration of forces, -
identifying the decisive point and striking against it.
Rommel's principle here was to disperse his forces.
We were fully aware of the military power of the German army, -
both of Wehrmacht and the SS―units.
And we also knew that the only way to prevail against this power, -
was to destroy as much as possible.
Especially to destroy the infrastructure and the supply lines.
So we considered the bombings indispensable to our victory.