In April 1942, in the French port of Saint-Nazaire, the British Royal Navy attacked the gate to an important dry dock. Immediately after receiving the report, Hitler ordered a tight defense of the submarine base of the Navy.
This was the beginning of Hitler's plan for the "fortress of Europe". By 1943, it was clear that the focus of Germany's defense was on the West. With the gradual increase in the defense forces of the West, the "Atlantic Wall" was formed.
In December 1943, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's troops received a task to inspect the "Atlantic Wall" from Denmark to the Spanish border.
That same month, he met with Field Marshal Goth von Rundstedt, commander-in-chief of the German Western Front.
They agreed that the area most likely to be invaded by the Allies was the Pas-de-Calais in northern France, where their defenses were too weak to defend.
Rommel was appointed commander-in-chief of the newly created Army Group B.
This army group was responsible for controlling the northern regions of France, which were most likely to be attacked. He was deeply convinced that the Allies must be stopped on the beach. Because as soon as they took control of the airspace, the supply of the German army would be cut off.
Rommel began to work on improving the existing fortifications. He built concrete bunkers along the beach. The pillboxes were equipped with machine guns, anti-tank guns and light artillery.
Mines and anti-tank obstacles were laid on the beaches, and underwater obstacles and mines were laid in the coastal waters. Rommel himself drew a sketch of how to camouflage and bury these obstacles. Almost 6 million mines have been laid in northern France, and Rommel has set up more bunkers and minefields along the main roads in the interior.
In some places that are particularly suitable for airborne landings or glider landings, anti-aircraft landing obstacles called "Rommel asparagus" by the army were set up - that is, wooden stakes were driven, wires were pulled on the stakes, and mines were hung on the wires.
Under the command of the energetic Erwin Rommel, in 1944 the Germans greatly strengthened their defenses in northern France. #战争风云#
