Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis

"Where and When?" describes the planning done by British Lt. Gen. Frederick Morgan, chief of staff to the supreme Allied commander (COSSAC), and a mixed staff. Stipulations are it be "full-scale" (three divisions) and "as early as possible." A shortage of landing craft constrains them and makes "concentration of force" mandatory. Memory of Dieppe (see Chapter 29) precludes a frontal attack on a defended port, which leaves COSSAC to consider beaches that can support prolonged offloading and rapid, massive movement inland. Holland and Belgium lie within range of the Luftwaffe and are too easily flooded. The Pas-de-Calais coast is ideal, were it not the strong point in German defenses. Brittany's advantages are offset by its distance from Britain. The Cotentin Peninsula lies open to Atlantic storms, is guarded by the German-held Channel Islands, and is easily flooded. By a process of elimination...