Editor:
Yes, I firmly believe that God does, from time to time, give history a little nudge. In the spring of 1944, Germany was in firm control of Europe and the Allied armies were looking at a time to invade France across the English Channel. We knew it was going to happen and Hitler and Germany knew it was going to happen but they did’t know when or where it would come.
Hitler had installed Field Marshall Erwin Rommel to enforce the costal defense against the coming invasion, the only problem. Where?
General Eisenhower and his staff had decided on early June probably the 6th but as luck would have it the weather wasn’t cooperating with the Allied Command. The meteorologist informed them that a bad weather pattern was forecast and since the weather and the tidal patterns had to be right for the landing craft to get to the beaches it did not look promising for the 6th of June. But the meteorologist informed Eisenhower that they saw a 24-hour break in the weather on the 7th of June and since a postponement would put the invasion off some three months it was decided to go on the 7th.
We must understand that the Germans had meteorologist as we did and they must have been aware of the same conditions as we but perhaps they did not think such an undertaking as this would be attempted in the time frame so they dismissed this as a date for the invasion.
Field Marshall Rommel’s wife had a birthday in June so at this time he decided to spend the day with her and returned to Germany. At the same time on this momentous day, every major commanding officer of the German Defense Force was away from hi-post and only junior officers were in command.
At the time of the landing, the Germans had a Panzer tank unit in the vicinity but this unit was under strict orders not to be put into action except on Hitler’s orders, when those in command called Berlin and asked for Hitler’s permission to use the Panzers they were told that Adolph was asleep and they would not awaken him. Now those who served in Europe know that the German tanks were the best in the world and there is no way to judge how their use in the landing area would have effected the invasion, perhaps stopped it cold, but it didn’t happen.
I firmly believe that God gave the Allies and history a little nudge on the 7th of June, 1944.
There are hundreds of accounts where miraculous event have come about and some will say, “Oh, that is just one of those things.” Yes, that is one of God’s little miracles.
I especially am reminded of the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 13, verse 2, Be not afraid to entertain strangers, for by so doing you entertain angels unaware.
Have a good day, one and all.
Bud Olinger
El Dorado Springs
