Question about the invasion of Europe

Hey. I was wondering, did Hitler get scared when he heard the news that Allied forces were successful in taking Normandy or did he still have high morale about winning the war. And when U.S. forces established the beach head and began pushing inward, was he scared of the U.S. and did he see the U.S. as a major threat to German forces. Thanks.

 

I don't think he was scared. He was adamant that the real invasion would take place in Caen. However, he also thought that his units would destroy the advancing U.S and Commonwealth forces anyway. He had good reason to believe this though as Normandy suits the entrenched defender rather than the attacker who had to go through hedges and thick mud. Yet it is poor tank country.
Hitler thought that the invasion would be pushed back into the sea, and at first did see the Normandy Landings as a diversionary tactic. He probably did get worried during the first month or so of the campaign when U.S and Commonwealth forces began to drive home on the liberation of France.
Hope I was some help, but it would probably be best if you you listen to one of the more experienced members of the forum.

Jet

 

We seem to have drifted a little from Europe to the Pacific on this one, but Jet is right.

When first news of the invasion of Normandy reached the Berghof, Hitler is recored as saying : -

'The news couldn't be better ! As long as they were in England, we couldn't get at them. Now we have them where we can destroy them'.

Hitler was misled also by the Luftwaffe who were over-optimistic about their strength. Only by June 8th did the truth begin to dawn that the Luftwaffe had only 5 ground attack aircraft and 95 fighters available for anti-invasion operations.

By June 10th, the euphoria at the Berghof had evaporated.

 

from what I have read thusfar, I would say that Hitler was not afraid. He did not think highly of the Americans. Cannot remember the quote but it was something like 'American are only good at building refridgerators and ...." forget the rest. What I would guess is that after the breakout, Hitler knew he was a goner and sacrificed Germany's lifeblood just to extend his own life

 

I don't think he was scared. He was eager to destroy the allied troops.

Oh ya, Hitler fought the real invasion would come at the "Pas de Calais". By the time he realised Normandy was the real invasion, it was already too late to bring over fresh troops from Pas de Calais to Normandy.

 

Do you think that Hitler could of won if he had bought over fresh troops from the Pas De Calais area. He had quite a few troops over there, it could of slown down the Allied advance considerably?

 

This would depend on whether or not they got there successfully. With Allied air superiority, it would be difficult to move and losses would be horrendous. Had the troops been available without losses, I do think that the invasion would have failed. Not because the Germans would have succeeded in pushing them back but the huge losses for the Allies would have forced them to withdraw. Utah was under such consideration but what kept them going was the success on the other beaches. My thoughts

 

Thanks PzJgr. It would of been intresting to see i Hitler hd managed to get those fresh troops over to Normandy. Chances are though that they would not of made it as the RAF and USAAF owned the skies over France and would of destroyed most of the armour and infantry before they reached their destination.

Jet (ps. don't you mean Omaha PzJgr, not Utah)

 

Some thoughts:

Agreed on the Hitler´s thoughts on main invasion being in Calais ( VERY old truth...).

As well I have a feeling that neither Hitler or the German army itself feared the invasion in spring/summer 1944. They were actually overconfident that they would crush it which probably also reflected on Hitler´s view ( or vice versa ). Like Kurt Meyer " Little fish, we´ll throw them back into the sea" as they did think that the US soldiers especially would be of no threat to them( after eastern front battles ).

The 15th army might have been of major help but this is total speculation. To send it straight away to help in June 1944, I think it would have taken a month for all of it to reach Normandy, but then again in Late July the allied were just about to push through from Normandy ( 1 and 1/2 months after D-day ). For example Leibstandarte alone reached Normandy after some 2-3 weeks when it was released by Hitler ( in Belgium ).
And as well how much would be destroyed by allied air attacks ....

I don´t have the divisions with me now it consisted of but there were some 18 of them at the time of invasion.

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http://search.eb.com/normandy/articles/Salmuth_Hans_von.html

Adolf Hitler clung to the mistaken belief that the Normandy landings were merely a diversion from the main Allied attack, which he thought was still to come at the Pas-de-Calais. Accordingly, Hitler refused until late July to allow Salmuth's infantry and armoured divisions to move west to help the beleaguered 7th Army defend Normandy against the Allied advance.

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Other interesting facts like the II SS Panzer movement to Russian front, and later on back to west. The Norway men strength etc

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/7-4/7-4_7.HTM

 

Can you blame Hitler though for being over confident? I believe he outnumbered the Allies, and the hedgerows in Normandy is best for the defender, and not ideal for the attacker. Plus, The Germans had armour, but did not have air superiority. I believe that this is what lost the Normandy campaign for the Germans, the lack of planes.

Jet

 

Also I think that the gazoline situation was getting totally out of hand and as supplies could not be brought in, the Germans could not either operate and as well had to leave tanks blown by themselves behind...

 

I agree Jet, Hitler was extrememly over confident. But that's evident in everything that had to do with him. Reading Mein Kampf proved that...he had some seriously messed up ideas, but believed so much in them that by the end of the book, you could see where he was coming from (even if it was coming from a "madman")

If Hitler had had more men at Normandy, it's possible that he could have pushed the Allies back. This should be in the "What if" section.

Il Duce

 

I stand corrected.