Evening star., 1944-07-08
Nazi Report Shows
RommeI Hoped 10 Hall
Armada Off Shore
BY DON WHITEHEAD,

n
Associated Press War CORRESPONDENT
WITH THE AMERICAN TROOPS
IN FRANCE, July 8.-Marshal Err
win Rommel had planned before
the invasion to smash the Allied
armada and equipment while 1t was
still afloat and trying to reach the
beaches by building up Atlantic
Wall fortif1cations he hoped to make
the coastal defenses Of France i'm
pregnable TO attack-so strong that
the Allies would not even be able
to break through from the beaches.
This was disclosed in a captured
report by Romel to his field COM
manders on April % after he in
spected the Atlantic Wall and ex-
pressed satisfaction with the ac-
complishments achieved"
In discussing the beach defenses
Rommel declared: Again have to
emphasize the purposes of these de-
fenses. The enemy most likely will
try to land at night and by fog after
tremendous shelling by artillery
and bombers. They will employ
hundreds of ships, unloading am
phibious vehicles and waterproofed
and submersible tanks.
I'VE must stop him in the water
not only delaying him, but destroy
ing all the enemy equipment while
it is still afloat. Some units do not
seem to realize the value Of this
type of defense"
= Relying on Static Defenses.
This was an unusual passage In
the report, since Rommel. so-called
master of mobile warfare, was
stressing the importance of static
defenses and apparently relying on
them to whip the Allies on the
beaches. The report confirms the
belief of Gen. Sir Bernard l..
Montgomery before the invasion
that Rommel would try to destroy
the invasion forces on the beaches.
But he put too much faith in the
Atlantic Wall, without mobile re-
serves within striking distance to
back up the front-line defenses.
Almost without exception unusual
progress has been made in all sectors
of defense groups in accordance with
the seriousness of the situation,
the report read. II have expressed
by satisfaction to the commanders
and troops for the fine coordination
of all the available forces and the
clever employment of the civilian
population
But when he made the report,
Rommel knew that time was short
that the Allied invasion might strike
at any time. He was not entirely
satisfied with the way some COM
manders were manning the West
Wall and failing to strengthen it.
Defense Work Stressed.
Regarding this, he said: In the
short time left before the enemy
operations may start it is necessary
that all commands employ every sim
gle man at the utmost for reinforce
ment of all defense areas and to use
any one OF the civilian population
who can be used Most units have
acted accordingly, but I still noticed
some do did not comply. One COM
pany, for instance. is still training its
troops two hours in the morning and
two hours in the afternoon in con-
trast to the divisional order which
allows only one day a week for this
purpose In this companys beach
sector obstacles are very thinly
spaced and there are no obstacles at
all against air-borne troops in the
rear areas. This is against all or
ders and must be changed"
The time seems to be near
Rommel said, when the coast can
not be penetrated any more on ac-
count Of the strength Of coast OBJ
stacles and the fortresslike defenses
and the enemy will have to employ
numerous airborne troops to solve
the problem from the land.
1T may be that shortly the enemy
VIA cSo4 Y a Aidoso dbCdSh Wy
taneous employment of all their
strength and put into action a mass
of their airborne troops on the first
day. 1t may be to crush units man.
ming coastal defenSes in the sector
between the sea and land by mass
amployment-divisions attacking in
the direction of the coast so as to
succeed in breaking open the coastal
defenses.
The enemy is capable of landing
three divisions from the air in any
chosen area within 3 minutes and
of forming units Of battle shortly
after landing. AS airborne troops
are committed mainly on moon
light nights or at twilight. or at
dawn. it will be necessary to be
especially watchful at these times