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German Preparations And Strategies Were On The Outcome Of The Normandy Invasion

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What effect did German preparations and strategies have on the outcome of the Normandy invasion?
Let’s Build a Wall: An Analysis of German Preparations and How They Affected the Normandy Landings Germans preparedness (or unpreparedness) was a decisive part of the Normandy Invasion. Hitler had it right to send Rommel in to shore up the German western defenses, but The Desert Fox did not have enough time or enough power to make a big enough impact on the invasion. This would have remarkable repercussions on the outcome of the war. If the Germans had fought harder or better or smarter the Allies would not have been able to get a foothold. If the Allies did not open up this western front for the Germans the Soviets would have a much more …show more content…

This was the German’s equivalent to the Great Wall of China in the sense that it was supposed to keep the enemy out, but the similarity ends there. “This was a modern defense network consisting of concrete bunkers, machine gun nests, and trenches” (Trueman). Hitler also knew that these defenses may not be enough so he put one of his best generals in charge of his Atlantic Wall. This man was the desert fox, Erwin Rommel.
Rommel knew that a big wall alone would not be enough to prevent the Allies from gaining their foothold. “Artillery emplacements were supported with machine gun posts and other artillery emplacements were built inland to give the Wall some form of protection when the expected Allied landings took place” (Truman). From his past experiences in Africa, the Desert Fox understood the importance of supporting Artillery with machine guns and vice versa. He also knew that the Allies would come with a wide variety of forces. So, Rommel too, experimented with a wide variety of defensive equipments. These included anti tank and anti vehicle obstructions that were strewn all along the coast of France (Trueman). Rommel’s preparations did not stop here, however. The idea that the next step that a soldier takes could be his last is a terrifying thought. This fear was utilized by the Germans and many mines were added to the Atlantic Wall per Rommel’s discretion. “Six million mines were laid on beaches in Northern France” (Trueman). This is an

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