On the day after landfall, Utah Beach and Omaha Beach were completely connected in the afternoon, thanks to a particularly smooth breach. High-speed update // So, according to plan, the U.S. forces began to advance towards their main target, Cherbourg. An important military and commercial port in northwestern France. At the northern tip of the Cotentin Peninsula, bordering the Strait of Ramances. By capturing Cherbourg, the Allies were able to send large quantities of supplies to the European continent and rely on them to crush the German resistance.

The Germans knew this, but now, the Germans had a very strange configuration of their armies. According to Rundstedt's idea, the armored forces should be arranged in the rear, arranged on the line of the Seine, so that they could wait for the American and British troops to advance inland, seize the opportunity, and play a beautiful defensive counterattack. And if, according to Marshal Rommel's idea, these armored units should be deployed as far forward as possible in order to strengthen the forces against the landing.

Both marshals had a valid idea, but their arguments led to a tragic consequence in which Hitler eventually intervened directly, employing the practice of thinning the mud and deploying these 5 vital panzer divisions in positions from the Seine to the coast. This makes it impossible for them to directly support the beachhead or to support the second line of defense for defensive counterattacks. If the commander-in-chief of the Western Front was Marshal Manbuqun, of course he would have declared that "the Führer was wise", but after the war, in his book "Everything is Blamed on the Mustache", he would have scolded Hitler to the death

Now the use of these five panzer divisions became the key to the German operation. The Germans understood that the key to the battle was now in the port of Cherbourg, and soon the English Channel was about to reach storm season. If the Germans were able to hold the port of Cherbourg and drag it out until August, even if the United States and Britain had an artificial port, the raging storm would make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the Allies to rely on the beach to supply the landing army. At that time, with just a few more days of weather unsuitable for air operations, the Germans could regain the initiative and even crush the Allies in one fell swoop.

At this time, the opinions of the two marshals, Rundstedt and Rommel, were quickly united. They all agreed that Cherbourg was the decisive factor in the outcome and that Cherbourg's defenses should be quickly strengthened whenever possible. The German infantry units should abandon some unimportant strongholds and quickly concentrate on Cherbourg, of course, it is difficult to hold Cherbourg with infantry alone. The Germans were already deeply impressed by the Allied ability to attack fortifications. In order to hold Cherbourg, the German armored forces had to constantly flank the American troops attacking Cherbourg and pin them down.

But the idea ran into two problems. The first problem came from the British army. After landing on Sword Beach, the British attacked Caen in the afternoon of the same day. Although their attack was repulsed by the 21st Panzer Division stationed at Caen, the British were sure to make a quick comeback.

Caen was an important transportation hub, and once Caen was captured, Paris was directly exposed to Allied attacks. And if Caen is lost, the supply line to Cherbourg will also be cut off. If the safety of Caen could not be ensured, the Panzer Division would be thrown in the direction of Cherbourg, and in the event of the loss of Caen, the Panzer Division, deprived of supply support, would be in a desperate situation. So, to throw the Panzer Division in the direction of Luthor, it was necessary to keep Caen.

Rommel decided that he would organize an operation, using the few armored divisions at his disposal, to launch a counteroffensive in the direction of Caen and solve the British threat to Caen. Then turn to Cherbourg.

……

Night was falling, but the lights were still bright in one of the houses in Portsmouth. If a V1 missile had landed on this house in Portsmouth, England, at this time, it would have produced an astonishing result. This is because a large number of Allied generals are gathering here to hold military meetings to discuss the next step.

"The Germans had more troops in Caen than we had anticipated, and they fought very tenaciously, and our attack was very difficult. The planned plan to capture Caen on the march had failed. A short Englishman with a crooked black beret and a large cigar in his mouth was speaking, "This afternoon, the Germans launched a counteroffensive and repelled us. Moreover, we have received some intelligence that the enemy may launch a large-scale counter-assault on our side in the next few days to disarm our threat to Caen and, if possible, perhaps they will also want to let us have another Dunkirk. As far as I know about Rommel, he is likely to make such a risk. From the information we have received from the French Resistance, the Germans have armored units stationed here, here, and here, but the number and strength of the troops are unknown.

But I think we did not encounter a large number of armored forces on the beachhead, apparently, the main forces of the armored forces of the Germans were not on the beachhead. Then the tank units in these positions are likely to be the main force of the German army. The location is really weird though. If they want to counterattack us with their armored forces, then they would do well in a position where they can launch a counterattack at dawn after a night march. However, judging by the existing positions of these troops. Even if they begin to advance towards Caen tonight, it will probably be noon by the time they attack us to-morrow. Offensively, it wasn't a good time. Because they have to be exposed to our attack planes for hours before they attack. This is a great opportunity for our attack aircraft forces.

Therefore, I hope that in the next two or three days we will be able to devote the vast majority of our attack aircraft, especially the 21st Attack Aircraft Wing, to the direction of Caen! ”

"Monty, you already have quite a few attack planes in your hands, right?" It was General Bradley who spoke, "Our men are attacking Carentham, and they also need air support. ”

"General Bradley, that's right." A thin British marshal stood up, "We do use a lot of attack aircraft, but our attack aircraft have the weakness of insufficient range. And now, on the European continent, there are no forward airfields, and attack aircraft taking off from England with a full load have very limited stay time in these most critical areas. This problem does not exist with those P/A38s of the 21st Attack Aircraft Wing. They can be used for long periods of time in the air over hazardous areas. It can provide us with more timely fire support. This is indeed something that our storm cannot do. ”

"And Marshal Ted, what shall we do? We also need air support. Bradley continued to plead.

"There are no strong armoured forces in your direction, and with us in Caen, they don't have any extra armoured forces to turn against you. Unless they bring another force from Brittany. But it will take a lot of time. Until then, I think those P51s of the Ninth Air Force are enough to support you. Montgomery replied.

"This is a very reasonable consideration, but I am afraid that there will be some problems with the coordination between the 21st Attack Aircraft Wing and the British Army." Bradley still didn't want to give up the 21st Attack Wing.

"Ron, you're the commander of the 21st Attack Aircraft Wing and an expert in air combat. Tell me what you think. At this time, General Eisenhower, who had not spoken, spoke.

"Okay, General!" Ron stood up and nodded at the group of guys who were much higher in rank than him, "The most likely problem in our cooperation with the British army is accidental injury. Therefore, if we must put the 21st Attack Wing in the direction of Caen, we must work hard to avoid accidental injury. I think there are some measures that can be taken to reduce this situation as much as possible. ”

"Be specific." Eisenhower said.

"First of all, we can paint our own vehicles with eye-catching aerial identification signs. Second, we can partition the airspace around Caen and set different rules of engagement based on the chances of our allies appearing in those areas. For example, the road to Caen from the enemy direction adopts an unrestricted attack mode, while the direction from the beach to Caen adopts a more cautious combat mode. In addition, our heavy bombers can strike at roads, bridges and possible assembly points to delay the enemy's advance. ”

……

On the night of June 6, the Wolf's Lair Command.

"The Führer, Field Marshal Rommel, sent another telegram demanding that the command of the 5 Panzer Divisions of the Panzer Group of the Western Front be handed over to him immediately. and asked the Führer for permission to abandon some cities on his own initiative in order to concentrate his forces in the most critical places. ”

"What! How dare he make a request to abandon the city! No, never! We Germans can't take a step back! Not a single step! Hitler waved his arms in rage, as if he were fighting an invisible enemy.

"I know these generals too well, they are aristocrats, they are all cowards! In Moscow in 1941, he was thinking about escaping, and if it weren't for my orders, Germany would have been doomed at that time! I thought Rommel was a commoner and wouldn't be corrupted by those guys! But I was wrong, he's just like those guys now! ”

"Then the Führer, how shall I reply to Marshal Rommel?"

"Tell him! I disagree! Wherever we Germans go, we have to stick there like nails. Even if the whole army is wiped out, not a single step back! ”

"What about the armored division that Marshal Rommel wanted?" The attendant reminded.

"Don't give it, tell him, I won't give any of it!" Hitler roared.

"Yes. Monarch! The attendant saluted Hitler and prepared to reply to Rommel.

Just as he was about to walk out of the office door, he heard Hitler's voice.

"Wait, let me think again." After a while, Hitler said: "Give him these five panzer divisions and tell him that no land is allowed to be abandoned!" ”