Manfred Rommel-Son of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel on his father’s reaction to the news D-Day had begun. Manfred, 15 at the time, was home in Germany when his father took the phone call the invasion of Normandy had begun.

“He was very surprised because he relied on the expert view of the German Kriegsmarine (Navy) that nobody could land under such weather conditions. It was a very courageous decision of General Eisenhower and very successful. My father was away from the theatre and some others (were) as well.

He said this is very painful that they are landing while I am not there.

The British and Americans were more courageous than the Germans concerning the weather.

In the morning around 8 o’clock there was still no clear picture of the situation in my father’s and (General) Von Rundstedt’s headquarters. They were still doubtful that if this really had been the landing.

But this changed in one-hour and my father began …when he heard it… he began to call his driver and prepare himself for departing for France.”