Evening star., 1943-03-21
Invasion Task
Vast Force and Supplies
Will Be Required
By John Groper.


Invasion of Europe this year covers
a multitude of possibilities.
The whole coastline of Europe. from
Norways north coast to the Greek
Turkish border except Spain and Port
ugaD. is enemy territory
Confine the promised invasion to West
ern Europe and the possibilities no less
than the tasks of the invaded still are
enormous.
There is no specific authoritative data
on the requirements of an invasion
force, its size or its objective. These
are secrets locked IN the minds and
papers of probably less than q dozen
top-drawer Allied strategists.
1t is possible, however, to speculate
broadly on the basis of known facts
about the North African invasion and
the Nazi defenses Of "Festung Europa"
Fortress Europe.
Against a French North African force
totaling not more than 500 900 regulars.
foreign legion and native troops, tiae
Allied commanders felt it prudent to
throw not less than 100000 British and
United States troops.
The 100000 defense troops in North
African were in part won over to the
Allied cause before the landings. All
of them were ill-equipped and had no
sources of supply. The coastal defenses
were less than adequate by modern
standards.
The western defenses of Nazi Europe
are no such soft touch. The Nazis have
an estimated 1.680,000 combat troops
backed by $4,000 service of supply
forces in the area from Norway to the
south of France. A
1t will be three years in June since
they began fortifying the French and
Norwegian coasts and the Lowlands
against expected counterattack. Tho
Dieppe dress rehearsal proved tbs
Nazis aren't mapping.
The known pattern of German de-
fenses makes complete control OF the
air a prerequisite Of any successful in
vasion attempt.
Germanys coastal Notifications are
manned by tough combat troops trained
to stall any landing attempt until inter-
mediate and reserve pools can be rushed
up over rail-and-road networks to wipe
out the invading forces. ,-
Success of the invasion depends on
smashing the transport facilities from
the air to prevent the support forces
sending quick aid to the beach defenders.
Germany's air activity has been at 3
minimum lately. This suggests the
Nazis are outstanding plane strength,
perhaps to meet an invasion. What
strength the Nazis have must at least
be doubled by the Allied air forces, to
assure air control so the bombers can
do their necessary chores. ft,
The 10000 Dieppe raiders were chop
ped to pieces by forward beach defenses
Prime Minister Churchill told Commons
the raiders reported so per cent casual
ties. OF the 5000 Canadians who par
ticipated, $3.50 became casualties.
For safety and certainty in establish
ing an invasion beachhead, 1t is figured
that at least 100000 men must be thrown
ashore on relatively narrow front
And these would have to be followed
by successive waves of troops to exploit
the original landing
In North Africa four separate land
ings were launched at once. Similar
diversions would be required in a con-
tinental invasion, to prevent quick mass
ing Of enemy strength at one threatened
point. ~
Exclusive of Norway, any major In
vasion attempt would require not less
than 100000 men, plus 100000 more in
immediate reserve in England. That Is
figuring from the basis OF the troops
landed in Africa, against lesser oppo-
sition. 10
Norway, with 225,O00 Germans in &C.
cupation, might be invaded with fewer
troops, because aid from the Norwegians
could be expected, and troops from the
support pools could not be shifted rs
quickly over Norwegian distances.
On any basis of figuring, continental
invasion is certain to require staggering
quantities of constantly flowing supplies
and men that dwarf any United Nations
unit so far in action in any theater.