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| 1943 | Hitler, Adolf |  |
| 3rd Nov Hitler issues Directive No. 51, a plan to deter or prevent an Allied invasion on Germany's western front |
| 30th Nov Field Marshal Rommel begins inspection of 'Atlantic Wall', Germany's coastal defence system stretching from Norway to the Spanish frontier |
| Dec Normandy Says that "if they attack int westthat attack will decide the war" |
| 1943 | Rundstedt, Karl Rudolf von |  |
| Normandy Prepares a report saying the German Army is not prepared to face an Allied attack |
| 1944 | Blaskowitz, Johannes von |  |
| June Commander of Army units in Sth France |
| 1944 | Hitler, Adolf |  |
| Normandy Directive 51 is issued the strengthen the westeern defences |
| Pas de Calais Mistakenly believes the Allies will land near the Somme & the Schelde |
| Margival Plans to counter the Allied invasion of Normandy are made at Margival |
| 17th June Normandy Rundstedt & Rommel meet Hitler, wanting withdrawal from Normandy but are turned down |
| 26th June Pas de Calais The High Command keep forces in Calais beleiving there will be a larger invasion there |
| 29th June Normandy Orders defence of Normandy to the last man |
| 29th June Normandy Turns down Rundstedt & Rommel's request to withdraw from Normandy |
| 2nd July Normandy Rundstedt is dismissed by Hitler for suggesting that the High Command make peace |
| 24th July Pas de Calais The High Command keep forces in Calais beleiving there will be a larger invasion there |
| 25th July Pas de Calais The Allies begin their breakout from Normandy |
| 2nd Aug Avranches Orders von Kluge to assemble 8 panzer Divisions to cut Patton's lines of communication |
| 1944 | Kluge, Guenther Hans von |  |
| 2nd Aug Avranches Can only assemble 4 Divisions with a total of 250 tanks to defend Avranches |
| 2nd Aug Avranches Hitler orders von Kluge to assemble 8 panzer Divs to cut off Patton |
| 2nd Aug Avranches The Germans attack Avranches & gain 20km but are driven back by fighter-bombers |
| 1944 | Marcks, Erich |  |
| 6th June Commands the 21st Panzer Div |
| 6th June Marck's corps stands in the middle of the Allied Normandy landings |
| 1944 | Meyer, Kurt |  |
| 7th July Le Carpiquet Prevents the Canadian 9th Brigade from advancing on Le Carpiquet airfield |
| 7th July Provides panzer support saying the British are "little fish" to be thrown back |
| 1944 | Roenne |  |
| Normandy Responsible for western intelligence for the OKW |
| 1944 | Rommel, Erwin Johannes Eugen |  |
| 4th June Herrlingen Arrives home hoping to convince Hitler to defend the Cotentin coast |
| 5th June La Roche Guyon Leaves his HQ & returns to Germany, convinced the Allies are not about to invade |
| 6th June Contentin Correcttly predicts the Allies will land near Cherbourg, Hitler does not agree |
| 6th June La Roche Guyon Learns of the invasion & returns to his HQ after celebrating his wife's birthday |
| 6th June Herrlingen Rommel cancels his meeting with Hitler & returns to France |
| 6th June Herrlingen Rommel is informed by General Spiedel 7.30AM that Allied paratroopers have landed |
| 6th June Herrlingen Stays in Herrlingen to celebrate his wife's 50th birthday |
| 6th June Normandy To the east, Rommel's nightmare had been realised, a continuous British-Canadian beachhead, 20km (12 miles) across and up to 10km (six miles) deep |
| 8th June Caen Arrives at the front in Caen |
| 17th June Bayeux Hitler orders a counterattack from Bayeux |
| 17th June Bayeux Withdrawal from Normandy is turned down by Hitler |
| 29th June Normandy Hitler refuses a 2nd request to withdraw from Normandy |
| 29th June Normandy The army has lost 100,000 & has only had 6,000 replacements |
| 1944 | Rundstedt, Karl Rudolf von |  |
| 1st June Zosen Cables OKW saying the Allies cannot attack without 4 days good weather |
| 6th June Normandy Believes, like Hitler, the landings are a feint for Allied landings at Pas de Calais |
| 6th June Normandy Diverts the 12th SS & Panzer Lehr to meet the invasion |
| 6th June Calais Keeps most of his forces at Calais |
| 1944 | Schweppenburg, Leo Geyr von |  |
| June Commander of Panzer Group West |
| 1944 | Speidel, Hans |  |
| 6th June Rommel is informed by General Spiedel 7.30AM that Allied paratroopers have landed |