Countdown to D-Day

by Peter Margaritis

  4American and British intelligence had uncovered the Abwehr’s network of spies in and around Buenos Aires. Although Argentina had up until then been an ardent supporter of Germany, the pressure and hostility of the Western Allies—especially the United States—was by now considerable. It included a near-blockade of the country, a number of diplomatic warnings, and public criticism of their government that all but declared it as fascist. The undertone of threats from the Allies (who to the Argentines seemed to be winning the war anyway) was now too great for President Ramírez to ignore. Argentina, Germany’s last bastion of alliance on either American continent, was forced to sever relations with the Reich.

  It is interesting to note that Argentina’s military leaders reacted strongly to the break in relations. Sympathetic to the Reich, despising the current administration and now worried about German retaliation up to and including a possible declaration of war, they secretly formed a military junta and overthrew the government a month later. Prominent in the military circle was one Colonel Juan Perón, who at the time was the Labor Relations Minister, and whose wife Eva would years later become an Argentine legend.

  5Sixty-year-old Hans-Heinrich Dieckhoff, brother-in-law to Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop. He had been appointed Germany’s ambassador to the United States until mid-November 1938 when, in bitter protest over Germany’s Kristallnacht, the US recalled its ambassador to Germany. Dieckhoff was recalled in response. He was appointed Ambassador to Spain in May 1943.

  6In a previous incident (confirmed, although the date is not definite; but it occurred a couple weeks before February 11), Canaris and Himmler had gone to brief Hitler on the situation in the East. Brandishing several reports in his hand, Canaris had painted a gloomy picture of the situation and on their future prospects there. Hitler, who had slowly been getting angered at his bad news, curt manner, and obvious negativity, had suddenly lurched forward, knocking over a table between them, and had viciously grabbéd the admiral by the lapels and yanked them forward. “Are you telling me that I am going to lose the war?!?” he had bellowed.

  A no-doubt startled Canaris had replied, “Mein Führer, I have said nothing about the war. I have tried to explain the military situation on the Russian front.” His reports, he added, were coming from their own agents in Russia. “Are your Russian agents as trustworthy as the Veermehrens?” Hitler had shouted. He was referring to a married German Abwehr couple who had been effective in Turkey until, worried by suspicious Gestapo probings, they had defected to the British (supposedly with important secret Abwehr code books) just a few days before. Canaris was gruffly told to leave his reports and depart.

  7The order was signed a week later on February 18.

  Saturday, February 12

  This morning, Rommel is back at his headquarters in Fontainebleau. Up since dawn, he is sitting in his study with the backlog of reports, messages, and forms needing his attention. Still tired from having motorcaded all over southern France in the last five days, he is thankful that he is not going anywhere today. On this last long trip, wherever he went, he heard myriad reports, chaired many briefings, made speeches and pep talks, drafted recommendations, and took notes on all the units and positions that he visited. This particular tour though, had been undertaken as much as anything for the benefit of the enemy. He wants again to create for them the illusion that he is everywhere, reorganizing the entire defensive effort in France. That should give Montgomery something to think about.

  One point that Rommel finds fascinating is that because of his position and reputation, he never seems to lack for visitors, whether he is on the road or at his headquarters. These callers of course usually interfere with his work, which irritates him at times. And a lot of his meetings with them are just politics. Of course, he can be quite diplomatic and play the model host. Still, he does have many other pressing things to do.

  Thinking about it, he shakes his head. As much an annoyance as anything are those who just want to take his picture: the other edge of the celebrity sword again. Some photographers want to go everywhere with him, pestering him for a pose, and habitually getting in the way. Many others though meet him along the way, usually admiring junior officers, administrators, or just unit officers wanting a photo memento. Although they are bothersome, he almost always welcomes them. He patiently allows them to take his picture at various locations along his tour, because he knows that the photos increase the morale of his own men and at the same time, worry his enemies (on both sides of the Channel). And, yes, truth be known, he does like the publicity.1

  “Do what you like with me,” he once told photographers eagerly brandishing their cameras, “if it results in even a one-week postponement of the enemy’s invasion.” He had made sure that most of the photos taken on this last trip showed him in the new leather overcoat that he had just bought in Paris on February 1. You never knew. Maybe Lucie would get to see him wearing it on the cover of some magazine and smile.

  He focuses on the present. He has an important visitor scheduled today. Rommel is not usually nervous about guests, but today’s caller is none other than the Panzer Inspector-General himself, GeneralOberst! Heinz Guderian, known to his men as “Heinz the Meteor,” or “Schnelle Heinz.”

  The 55-year-old general, Prussian by birth, has become by this time a legend in his own right, regarded by many in Germany and indeed the world as the father of modern armored warfare. Guderian, having already met with von Rundstedt and Geyr von Schweppenberg, is coming to Fontainebleau to discuss the disposition of the panzer units in France. This meeting is critical for both Guderian and Rommel.

  The field marshal knows that he is about to engage in another battle of theories, this time with a contemporary. And Guderian is most enthusiastic about his own views on panzer warfare, as proven by his pre-war bestseller, Achtung, Panzer! His theories have been proven successfully time and again in Poland, France, and Russia. And Guderian, considered by many the leading expert on the blitzkrieg, is today, as always, going to push his suggestions to the utmost.

  Rommel and Guderian are alike in several ways. They are both commoners by ancestry, lacking any aristocratic background. Both are extremely popular and well respected with the populace and with the general ranks, and both are leery of General Staff officers. They are both ferocious leaders in battle, and both usually lead at the front. After all, their two panzer units had raced each other almost side by side in their wild dash across France in 1940.

  While Guderian and Rommel are long acquaintances and respect each other, they are not close. Rommel has been told that Guderian does not care for Rommel’s flair for being in the limelight.2 Nevertheless, he, like Rommel, has during the war often been an object of attention of the propagandists. Their common bond is their mastery of the blitzkrieg, and the adept way that each has used it in the field has earned the other’s professional respect.

  They are meeting again today, and unfortunately this time, their experiences of defending a coast will put them on opposite sides of the fence. Rommel is concerned about how adamant Guderian will be. The Russian Front veteran is usually brutally frank, sometimes even with the Führer, and he has been known to get insultingly critical with someone opposed to his point of view. He has another nickname too—”Brausewetter.”3 He has earned that one by giving several rather forward opinions to the Führer.

  Well, Rommel can be irascible too, and he really has no desire to argue philosophies. However, he has to make this brilliant Panzermann see the strategic picture his way, because Guderian’s opinion goes far with the High Command. Rommel knows that his theories are right, and to plan otherwise is courting the final disaster for the Reich.

  A knock at Rommel’s door startles him out of his reverie. His personal aide Hammermann announces that General Guderian has arrived. Rommel thanks him, adding that he will be right out. He stands up, straightens his uniform, and walks out of the study and down the hallway. He catches sight of Guderian in the main foyer, resplendent in his uniform. They e
xchange warm greetings as a staff member takes Guderian’s coat and hat.

  Guderian seems to have aged considerably. The stress of the Russian campaign has clearly taken its toll, evidenced by his heart condition contracted last winter. However, he is still immaculately dressed, and despite looking tired from his recent tours, his eyes continue to flash. And he certainly has kept his wits about him.

  They chat easily, making small talk as Rommel escorts him back to his study. They sit down and immediately get down to business. Rommel quickly realizes that his concerns are for nothing. The meeting between the two goes well.

  Rommel is pleasantly surprised to find that the Inspector-General agrees with him in principle that committing the panzers in the first few hours of an invasion is critical. He also agrees that intensive mining will also be needed to turn back a landing. Rommel feels the tension within him ease up, and the conversation becomes relaxed and warm. Rommel will later write in his notes:

  Guderian agrees with me on the mining and the forward deployment of the panzer reserves.

  After some discussion, they arise and go into the dining hall for lunch. Guderian turns out on this occasion to be an excellent luncheon guest. Maybe he is putting on a little bit of a show, but he is still as entertaining as he is charming.

  Admiral Ruge brings up the subject of Guderian’s latest publication, Die Tigerfibel.4

  The general happily discusses his work, and the conversation goes on to a number of lively topics.

  Rommel sits back and listens. He is thankful that they are not alienating the Inspector-General. He could be a powerful enemy. Ah, politics. Tomorrow, more of the same. Rommel will have to go to von Rundstedt’s headquarters to discuss unit readiness. Well, the day after, he will relax with his staff. They are planning to have a birthday party for Gause. Rommel will naturally give a big speech. He looks forward to that. Later, he will have to find time to write to Lucie and tell her about the work he is doing, and of course today’s visitor.

  He comes out of his reverie and chides himself for daydreaming and not listening to what his guest is saying. It is a bad habit of his. His attention to a conversation sometimes wanders, especially if it rambles and seems to have no purpose.

  He mentally comes back to the table. Guderian goes on about his book.

  1Once a very junior officer had addressed the field marshal, asking whether such widespread publicity was wise in “autocratic Germany.” Rommel had thanked the officer for the comment, but supposedly for a time after that, there was a substantial decline in his publicity efforts.

  2Early in the war, Guderian had found out that a journalist was doing research for a biography about him, and he had written his wife to warn her not to disclose personal information. “I would not under any circumstances like becoming involved with propaganda, à la Rommel.” Guderian once described Rommel as “an open, upright man and a brave soldier...[who] possessed energy and subtlety of appreciation; he had great understanding of men and, in fact, thoroughly deserved the reputation that he had won for himself.” Rommel in turn also thought highly of the other man, respecting General Guderian’s accomplishments in Russia the last three years.

  3“Hothead.”

  4“The Tiger Primer.” This was a simple, comic-book-styled basic operation and maintenance guide (Publication D656/27) on the complex German Tiger tank (PzKw VI-a). Released in August of 1943, it was fully illustrated with simple drawings (including a few risqué images personifying the tank as a woman named “Elvira”). The text was written in an often humorous or light-hearted fashion, which the tankmen found entertaining, and certainly easier to follow than a mundane, complex instruction manual. It was the first set of German service regulations that was done partly in humorous rhyme. Although Guderian did not actually write the manual (its author was Leutnant Josef von Glatter-Goetz) or illustrate it (two enlisted men provided the diagrams), he authorized, organized, approved, and distributed it. The booklet was soon followed by its Panther (PzKw V) counterpart, the Pantherfibel. Both became collector’s items after the war.

  Sunday, February 13

  One issue remains pre-eminent all over northern France. The many acres of minefields, offshore obstacles, battery positions, resistance nests, clear fields of fire, inland anti-airborne measures, and other countless defensive programs that Rommel has ordered are starting to consume a staggering amount of materials, time, equipment, fuel, and sweat. The soldiers stationed along the coastline, in their continuing struggle to make time for construction of Rommel’s barriers, are finding little time for unit combat training. As expected, unit commanders are starting to complain that their men, many of them green, inexperienced, or very young, are simply not getting enough time in on combat maneuvers. Without proper training, they argue, the enemy will slaughter them when they land. And by the way, munitions are short, limiting in scope and effectiveness those training exercises that do occur.

  Rommel also has to address several other problems arising out of Seventh Army Headquarters in Le Mans. They have reported that they are pretty much out of wood for the offshore obstacle posts. And the local woodcutters are out of the area, working in the Vosges forests near Belgium.

  Then there is the offshore minelaying. There are several main areas just off the western coasts of Brittany that the Seventh Army would like mined. The difficulty is that there is a lot of heavy surf there, making the laying of mines near shore difficult.

  Yet another problem concerns the issued anti-landing combat orders for what little naval force exists in the area. The Seventh Army now wants to know what the hell are they supposed to do with them. The Kriegsmarine only takes orders from Dönitz.

  Similar problems are coming in from von Salmuth at Fifteenth Army Headquarters in Tourcoing.

  To address these issues, Rommel leaves Fontainebleau today and travels northwest up to Paris, to the OB West headquarters Hôtel. Even though von Rundstedt is still on leave, Rommel discusses with the staff there several compromises that he hopes will keep everyone happy, from the unit commanders on up.

  That night, Rommel finds time to send Lucie a photo of his dog:

  Here is a photograph of “Ajax.” Perhaps I’ll bring him along and leave him with you.

  ***

  Tonight, 230 aircraft fly yet another Steinbock air raid. Bombs are dropped all over the English countryside. Only a dozen or so actually find and bomb London. Many more bombs fall on English fields. In exchange, ten bombers are lost, mostly over the Channel.

  Monday, February 14

  Despite the exhausting trip that he has recently completed, Generalfeldmarschall Rommel hits the road again for another tour. This time he travels north to check out components of the slowly forming 9th SS Panzer Division “ Hohenstaufen.”1 He then inspects the Somme area just west of Dieppe. Afterwards, there is a quick tour of the 271st Infantry positions. The 9th SS and the 271st are both to be relocated to the Nineteenth Army area.

  He returns to Fontainebleau for a quick hunt and then partakes in a celebration. This evening, his staff is throwing a birthday party for Chief of Staff Gause. While the field marshal rarely attends festivities, he is going to take time out for this occasion. Gause, turning 48, has been with him since the Afrika Korps.

  As the dinner begins, Rommel stands up and gives a touching speech on behalf of the guest of honor. His feelings for the man are strong. They have shared so much since North Africa, and Gause is a trusted friend. But there is more to it; Rommel also feels sorry for the man and a little guilty because of his current situation.

  Gause has just returned from leave in Germany. His wife, going home on August 23, had found their house a smoldering ruin, bombed to ashes during the first heavy raids on Berlin that last August. The next day, she had called Gause and told him, and he had immediately traveled home to witness the damage himself. Lucie Rommel, sympathetic to his plight, had invited Gause’s wife to temporary quarters at the new Rommel residence in Herrlingen, and the chief of staff had been heartily
invited to stay there as well during his leave.

  Gause, understandably morose over the total loss of his home, had been grateful to accept the offer. Flying to Germany on leave, he had stayed at the field marshal’s new home. During his stay, he had engaged in a number of political discussions with Lucie. The mayor of Stuttgart, Dr. Karl Strölin, and his wife had visited during this time, and the chief of staff had been afforded the chance to sit down with the mayor and discuss the war. Despite the hospitality of the Rommel family, Gause had been upset and ill during his leave, partly from the stress of his job, partly from his wife’s pessimism, and partly because of the war. However, most of his gloominess stemmed from the loss of his beautiful home and his possessions, including all of his money, which had been destroyed along with the bombed bank it had been sitting in.

  Most importantly though, during this stay, Gause had made a critical political error, one which eventually might be the deciding factor in him losing his job.2

  One early February morning during his stay at Rommel’s new home, Hauptmann Aldinger, Rommel’s private home adjutant, had arrived at the villa later than usual. Aldinger was another long-time friend of the field marshal, their acquaintance going back to World War I. He had also served in Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division in 1940, and later had been Rommel’s devoted aide in North Africa, where he had earned his present rank of captain. By 1944, as a reservist in his early forties, he had been granted indefinite leave to act as the field marshal’s Ordonnanzoffizer, a position that was part aide, part private secretary, and part personal assistant. This assignment suited him immensely, because it kept him out of the war and yet allowed him to take care of the field marshal’s home.