Evening star., 1944-06-07
Strategy of Invasion
Believed UnfoIded
Element of Surprise Declared
Biggest Factor in Attack
By David Laurence

By Dapid Laurence
Invasion strategy has at last been
unfolded. For months and months the
Germans have been studying the maps
and so have the Allies. Each square
mile of territory-each square mile OF
coast line and beach area-has been
scr,ItiniZed with an idea of determining
what would constitute the best offense
from the Allied standpoint or the best
defense from the German standpoint.
And yet the element of surprise was the
biggest single factor in the whole inva-
sion. There are surprises yet to come.
Many American observers are puzzled
by the fact that the first landings
seemed to meet with so little resistance.
But, the German high command, with
limited air forces and ground troops,
had to decide whether the Allies were
making feint in one area and were
actually planning to make larger land
ings many miles up the coast. Until
enough Allied troops had landed and
an estimate could be made, the Ger
mans had to guess what kind of de-
fense to make.
The whole invasion campaign will
keep the Germans in state of puzzle
ment, because they do not know what
blows may come in other parts Of
France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark,
Norway, and from the Mediterranean
areas. Obviously the defensive army
must keep its garrisons in sufficient
numbers in all places lest the civilian
population rise up and begin to take
control.
Role of Civilians.
So in truth the civilian population,
being friendly to our armies, is playing
a major role in the invasion strategy.
Each one of the occupied countries is
eager for liberation and at the oppor-
tune moment viii begin to harass the
Nazi forces.
Unquestionably the world is Witness
ing the blitzkrieg in reverse-an attack
Of such overwhelming proportions that
Germany must eventually crack under
it. In due time the Russians win press
their offensive and the two-front pres
sure which Hitler has feared from the
start will be applied
The tendency in the United States
will be to assume that the invasion will
be short-lived and that victory is around
the corner. Enthusiasm will lead to
overoptinism. But the fact remains
that once the armies have been landed,
they will face in the next week their
biggest losses and their biggest hazards.
This Is because it takes time to land
troops and supplies and the Nazis have
the advantage Of superior numbers
temporarily.
Already it is apparent that the Ger
man air force cannot be in two places
at one time and that there are not
enough fighter planes to risk attacks
on our invading troops in the Cher
bourg area for fear that major landings
might come at the Calais section.
Nazi Air Force Problem.
But the German air force will find
itself even more troubled when the
British and American strategic air
forces resume their poundings ON inte-
rior cities. For it is an essential factor
in the Allied concept of the invasion
that there should always be enough
| planes engaged In strategic air bomb
ings, irrespective Of what Is going on In
immediate battle areas. The purpose OF
| this Is not only to keep on destroying
German factories but to compel the
German fighter planes to engage in
combat in and around the factories.
Perhaps Herr Goering will now have
| to decide to- abandon the defense of
his people in the factory towns and use
his planes on the battle fronts. II this
happens, chance of rebellion in Ger
many will increase because when people
are left defenseless, they will recog-
nize the futility of further resistance.
1t is significant that the Allied high
command did not depend on air power
| and ground power alone, because of the
the big naval guns were able to keep
up constant pounding and thus pro-
tect their landings. But the job air pow
er has already done in destroying rail-
way lines, communication facilities and
Notifications is an outstanding one.
The great development of the age
triphibian warfare-has been perfected
| by the Allies and before the end of this
summer the largest army ever trans
ported across the seas will have landed
on the continent of Europe to bring the
climax and perhaps the end of the
war before another IA or IS months
have passed.
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