4,500 U.S. PLANES HAMMER ENEMY, DOWN 119; BERLIN IS BOMBED AGAIN (5/9/44)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 5/9/44 | Drew Middleton, Milton Bracker, Hanson W. Baldwin

[laplata]

Yep, another example of Hitler screwing up. Rundstedt hated the bastard and with good reason.

[fso301]

The allies may have a few surprises instore. Interesting that Rommel is looking closely at the Normandy coast, and is trying to get another panzer division positioned there. He still thinke the invasions will come at Calais, but Normandy looks like his second guess.

I've been reading every tourist guide to the channel areas I can get my hands on. Concerning Normandy, I question pre-positioning panzer units in that area because it appears the terrain is quite unique and unfavorable for armor.

The French call it bocage. Apparently, ancient hedges are used as fences. These hedges can be as much as 5 meters high, very dense and are said to be impenetrable by an out of control automobile at high speed.

Fields of fire from everything I can tell are narrow and short. To me, this appears to be terrain that favors defense and panzer units will end up bogged down in close quarters limited visibility combat.

Conversely, if the Allies land in the Normandy area, a relatively small force of Germans could keep them bottled up in that hedgerow country.

My money is still on Calais.

[henkster]

That bocage stuff is overrated. The allies are practicing on it in southern England. It’s not all that tall or dense, and isn’t a significant feature.