The much vaunted "Atlantic Wall" which Adolf Hitler  himself believed existed, was in truth, a myth. Only in the Pas de Calais area was it anything like its intended form.
Hitler, having never visited the invasion coast had visions of a concrete fortification stretching from  Denmark to Spain, the sheer manpower and materials needed for such an undertaking made this totally impossible. The Channel Isles was included in Hitler's vision of the "Wall"  and extra man power and materials were diverted to them.
Hitler thought the British would launch an attack on the islands to re-capture them.
See…..( www.jersey-channel-isles.com)
In November 1943, Hitler appointed Field Marshall Irwin Rommel to command Army Group B with responsibility under Field Marshall von Rundstedt who was C-in-C West.
Rommel saw the weaknesses in the "Atlantic Wall" and knowing that any invasion would have to be stopped at sea or on the beaches, he set about his task of strengthening the defences.

Born into a family whose military history could be traced back to the 18th. Century, he became a high ranking officer during WW 1
After retirement in 1938 he was called  to serve his country again as Commander  for the invasion of Poland and France.
The success of these campaigns led to his promotion to Field Marshal and Commander in Chief West in 1940.
Both Von Rundstedt and Rommel were convinced the invasion would take place in northern France, but both had very different views on how to defend and counter attack it.
Von Rundstedt did not think the Atlantic Wall could be held for very long against the size of the invading force expected for the assault.
History has shown that static defensive lines have always been breached, take for example the French "Maginot Line" it was rendered useless when the German forces just skirted around it.
Von Rundstedt wanted to hold the Armoured Divisions (Panzer Group West), back inland until the exact landing areas of the Invasion could be established, then he planned to execute a massive counter attack to drive the Allies back into the sea.
Rommel totally disagreed with the plan, he knew that once the Allies got off the beaches and established a firm footing in France, they would never be pushed back.

A professional soldier from 1910, Rommel served throughout WW1 on both the Western Front and the Italian Front, earning the highest award of the German Imperial Army the "Blue Max".
When Hitler came to power, Rommel  who never considered himself a true Nazi,
still served his country and was appointed to command the New Afrika Corps in the desert campaign of 1941. he soon built up a massive reputation among his own troops and also with the British Desert Rats.
His success in the early battles of North Africa saw him get promotion to Field Marshall.
After his defeat at El Alamein, by the British, under the command of General Montgomery, he was ordered back to Germany to escape possible capture.
In  1943 he was given command of Army Group B.
Rommel worked relentlessly to prepare the defences on the western coastline of northern France.
Unlike von Rundstedt, Rommel wanted to place the whole of Panzer Group West as near to the beaches as possible, he repeatedly said the allied invasion had to be stopped before it could get off the beaches……..

Continued……..