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→The Longest Day
One of many bizarre historical coincidences, almost none of the German commanders were at the front on the day of the invasion. Rommel was back in Germany to speak with Hitler and for his wife's birthday, June 6. Von Tempelhof, Army Group B’s operations officer, was in Germany. Admiral Theodor Krandke, the naval commander in the west, was in Bordeaux. Major General Heinz Hellmich, Lieutenant General Karl von Schlieben, and Major General Wilhelm Falley were on their way to war games in Rennes. Colonel Wilhelm Meyer-Detring was on leave, and Hitler was at his Berchtesgaden retreat in Bavaria.
One of many bizarre historical coincidences, almost none of the German commanders were at the front on the day of the invasion. Rommel was back in Germany to speak with Hitler and for his wife's birthday, June 6. Von Tempelhof, Army Group B’s operations officer, was in Germany. Admiral Theodor Krandke, the naval commander in the west, was in Bordeaux. Major General Heinz Hellmich, Lieutenant General Karl von Schlieben, and Major General Wilhelm Falley were on their way to war games in Rennes. Colonel Wilhelm Meyer-Detring was on leave, and Hitler was at his Berchtesgaden retreat in Bavaria.
[[Image:normandy.jpg]]
German army doctrine also said to hold the Panzers in reserve several miles away from the beaches and allow the Allies to land, then pound them with the Panzers once the troops had landed. Even after the Allies had landed, Hitler held the main Panzer force in reserve because he thought that the landings in Normandy were a diversion and the real invasion would come in Calais and be commanded by General [[George S. Patton]].
German army doctrine also said to hold the Panzers in reserve several miles away from the beaches and allow the Allies to land, then pound them with the Panzers once the troops had landed. Even after the Allies had landed, Hitler held the main Panzer force in reserve because he thought that the landings in Normandy were a diversion and the real invasion would come in Calais and be commanded by General [[George S. Patton]].