Hitler’s ’Intuition’, Luftwaffe Photoreconnaissance, and the Reinforcement of Normandy

In early 1944, the future Allied landing sites in Normandy were lightly defended by Germany. By D-Day, 6 June 1944, that had changed. Erwin Rommel’s beach obstacles and onshore “asparagus” intended to disrupt any landings are well known. But the defending forces had increased markedly: two airborne units protecting the Cotentin, a Panzer division at Caen, two others within reach, and all coastal sectors reinforced. What caused the sudden attention to Normandy? The impetus clearly came from Adolf Hitler, and a common explanation is his “intuition.” A far better one, this account argues, comes from examining the Kriegsmarine analysis of Luftwaffe photoreconnaissance efforts, which can directly explain Hitler’s actions.