51, issued on 3 November 1943, Hitler warned of 'consequences of staggering proportions' if the western Allies should gain a foothold. .... On D-Day itself, the troops manning the coastal defences did as much as they could have been expected to. ... The German assault was beaten back by British tanks and artillery. read more
Instead, Hitler placed the panzer and Panzergrenadier divisions under the OKW; thus, only he could authorize their movement forward to meet the Allied invasion forces. And if the Führer was not available to make that decision, nothing was going to happen. read more
Goebbels's and Hitler's thinking was explained by one of Goebbels's aides, who had pointed out in an April 10, 1944, diary entry: "The question whether the Allied invasion in the West is coming or not dominates all political and military discussion here. read more