Field Marshal Erwin Rommel: Source Analysis

It is evident that the source is a secondary source because it has not been alternated in any way and was written by the author in this era. It can be seen that the author is no other than JOHN CAI BENJAMIN WEAVER where this source was produced on the 16 of May 2011. The purpose of this source is to highlight the good and evil things Hitler did behind his people’s backs and who was instrumental in adopting the beliefs for nationalism in Germany. It is clear that Adolf Hitler was instrumental in adopting nationalism into Germany with the rest of the country believing and following in also becoming nationalists. The reason for the people of Germany seeing hope from in restoring Germany from Hitler being in charge is because The German folk were

On June 6th 1944, the U.S. and allied forces executed an amphibious assault named Operation Neptune, commonly known as D-Day, along the north-western coastline region of France. The operation covered in this paper will discuss a key battle during the Invasion of Normandy. The Invasion of Normandy was a successful operation focused towards German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. This paper will also cover a brief history and key points of The Battle of Omaha Beach. Critical reasoning and battle analysis will be expressed through what intelligence assets were applied, utilized and available during the time era. The analysis outcome will lead to an expressed alternative ending on The Battle of Omaha Beach. A detailed explanation of how intelligence assets could have been used to change the course of the battle will defend the explained alternative ending discussed. The main points of discussion will include Adolf Hitler’s decision to move most of his tank divisions and infantry units 150 miles north to Calais, the significance of the highly effective group known as the French Resistance and a famous illusionist Jasper Maskelyne.

Britain and France desperately awaited the moment when the US would fully join in the fighting in Europe during World War II, and D-Day brought that full fledged involvement. If not for the efforts of the United States of America, its cooperation and planning with its allies, the invasion would not have been successful. It was successful, however, due to previous planning, the level of supplies and men from the US combined with the European allies, as well as the divided German forces. D-Day was the beginning of liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. Hitler had known that in order for the Allies to be successful, there would have to be an invasion of mainland Europe - which his forces controlled most of - and that it would come from northwestern Europe, with Great Britain being the jumping off point. But if he was expecting the attack, why was he not better prepared? The planning that had gone into the invasion at the beaches of Normandy on the coast of France had been thorough and extensive, with a large part of that planning being the intentional disinformation about the location of the invasion, thus fooling the Nazi leader. These factors explain why Operation Overlord was successful, and thus became the turning point in the world war.

On June 6th, 1944, the main Allied forces of World War 2 conducted Operation Overlord, now known as D-Day: the greatest invasion in military history. This was a major turning point in the war, however the win was surprising. Germanic and Nazi soldiers should have won the battles on and around the Normandy beaches that day for a multitude of reasons: firstly, they had the rest of France, meaning that Nazis could bring in materials safely, easily, and quickly, and as the Germans were there first, they had time to fortify the area with better defense such as anti-tank guns and minefields; secondly, they had better ground on many beaches, such as the cliffs on Omaha and the dunes on Juno; and finally, they had better equipment such as clothing designed to survive harsher weather conditions, and more rations to survive on. For these reasons, Nazi soldiers should have won the infamous 1944 invasion.

The plot to deceive Hitler was successful and it is believed that on the 9th June message sent to the Führer by Garbo was the key factor that kept some of the German’s best army divisions away from Normandy which eventually pave way for Allies victory of the war. The Germans were still holding to their belief that the Allies would invade in Pas-de-Calais until September 1944

(Source B). The Allies had sent troops on the beach and they covered 50 miles of the land. This was the largest military assault in history (Source F). While the Americans were landing, strong tides swept them away and they did not have any cover to protect them. The number of Allies grew fast as incoming troops got involved. Two million men fought at Normandy. Germany could not send troops from France to assist since the tides were too strong for them to land, therefor they were not allowed to bring in more numbers from France. As Germany fought they began to lose the battle and the Americans pushed until they met with the USSR. This was the first time Germany was attacked. Most of the Nazis soldiers were just 16 years old and the Americans marched over them (Source C). The Germans fought a willing and difficult fight against the Allies. Airborne troops were shot down in Germany (Source

This event occurred on June 6th, 1944, where the American and British armies landed on Normandy France beaches. This landing was not only the biggest amphibious operation in history, but the most thoroughly planned and practiced (Ambrose, pg. 48). 170,000 soldiers prepared for this operation through months of practice, whether they were American, Canadian, or British. In attempt to cease the offenses, Hitler built the Atlantic Wall. The Atlantic Wall consisted of reinforced concrete forts, trenches, minefields, and anti-landing craft devices of all kinds, and it was backed up by panzer(tank) divisions and was manned by battle-hardened Nazis (Ambrose, pg. 48).

The Battle of The Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the largest battle fought by the U.S. Army and started December 19, 1944 and was the last major offensive the axis army launched(C-1). More than 200,000 German troops and nearly 1,000 tanks launched off to reverse the ebb in Hitler's fortune(A-1). The death toll was insanely high and every step you took there was a body sure enough within 10 feet of you. But the attack was a surprise to the allies with several ignored warnings that the Germans were going to strike. But some of the generals distrusted the plan and did not think that it could work, advising Hitler not to attack now and to wait, but Hitler, Hitler didn't care about what anyone thought, he thought one thing and that was victory as soon as possible. So the Germans advanced with an attempt to split the allied armies in the northwest by

The Allies also knew this; the Allies had to do the impossible landing of troops at Normandy. The invasion would have to be the biggest amphibious invasion in history. Even the famous dictator Napoleon could not move his troops through the Channel; nor could Julies Caesar. The record for the Allies was better; the Allies had three successful amphibious assaults (North Africa, Sicily, and Salerno). There was one catch: those coastlines were not fortified… Normandy would be heavily fortified. The Allies were ready to send in their troops to protect their freedom while the Nazis were ready to defend their fortress. Whoever won, it was going to be a bloody battle…

It was a dreary day on June 6, 1944. Most of Europe had been seized by the German forces and was under Hitler’s rule. The beaches of Normandy were filled with Nazi German soldiers armed with bunkers and machine guns, awaiting the arrival of the allied forces. At approximately 6:30 am the first allied crafts landed on Normandy beach full of young men, most not yet 20 years old and ready to give their life to stand up to the Nazi regime. On this day the world would forever be changed, and Hitler’s dreams of a world under Nazi control were crushed. It was on D-day that through taking control of Normandy Beach and stopping the Nazi advances that the Allied forces changed the course of the war and ended the Nazi reign of terror upon the world.

Nazi’s had occupied France at the time and had taken control. France was part of the allied forces and was under attack by the Nazi’s. As part of the Allied Powers America, Canada, and Great Britain came to the rescue. Dwight Eisenhower was the leader behind this invasion. In December 1943, Eisenhower was put in charge of Operation Overlord – the long waited for attack on mainland Europe. Such an attack would require detailed and meticulous planning which is why Eisenhower was picked to lead this plan by the combined chief of staffs. In excerpts from General Eisenhower’s document the Order of The Day which he gave to the soldiers on D-Day he states In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. / But this is the year 1944!/The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory! I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!(Eisenhower 1944). General Eisenhower explains that the allies should come together, and they will bring forth destruction upon the Germans. He also states that in the document they will force the Nazi’s out of Europe and France will be freed. Eisenhower

     Erwin Rommel Jr. was born on November 15, 1891 in Swabian. His father Erwin Rommel Sr., was a schoolmaster in Heidenheim in Wurttemberg , and Rommel's mother was Helene von Luz was a daughter of the local Regierungs-President.

The whole war had led up to this day, especially since the plans for the invasion were being made even as early as 1942 or 1943, after the Soviet Union requested help to relieve pressure on their military in Eastern Europe following the Battle of Stalingrad, where they and Romania lost over 250,000 men combined. The thoughts of a soldier who had been fighting all throughout World War II would have probably consisted of, one, wanted to go home already, but two, thinking that nothing could be worse than what they had already experienced. They knew in their minds that they were ready for this mission, and had the plans of the military backing up their claims of definite victory. A soldier would, of course, hold their personal doubts and fright, but when counted among many fellow troops willing to fight for the same cause as their own, they can’t help but feel the collective morale of their comrades and themselves. This personal morale was only boosted by the genius work of WWII’s commanders’ skills in speech. The day before the actual attack, General Eisenhower gave his men a motivational speech they’d never forget. An excerpt from the speech: “Soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the greatest crusade toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.” Though General George Patton also gave his own speech that day, I won’t bore you with another quote (though Patton was far from a boring individual). Instead, you should now be able to reflect on how important morale was for the forces getting ready to siege Normandy. The Allied troops were physically and mentally prepared, while the Germans in Normandy, if anything, had lost morale as they believed there was nothing to do when stationed in that

Germany did not have a numerically superior force on the western front, but bold strategy, careful planning and blitzkrieg tactics set the foundation for the French defeat. In June 1940 Hitler invaded Paris, eight days later the French surrendered. After the French surrender, Hitler attempted to end the war with Britain. Speaking to the Reichstag in June, he said, “I can see no reason why the war need go on.” But Hitler was already had his sights set on invading Russia. He now aimed to end the war in the west so he could concentrate on attacking communist Russia in the east. Hitler knew that invading Britain would be difficult, but still he informed his military to leaders to prepare for the operation, Operation Sea Lion, and proceeded in planning a landing operation against Britain.

Erwin Rommel was one of Germany’s greatest commanders. Born in Heidenheim, Germany, on 15 November 1891, Erwin Rommel was referred to as "the People 's Marshal" by his countrymen. Having a long career in the military, he began his service in World War I, where he cut his teeth in combat as a young infantry officer. Over his career, Rommel received several nicknames, none more famous than “The Desert Fox”, given to him by the British soldier he fought against in the deserts of Africa during World War II.