- 2 -

Formation No of Tanks Route Date of Arrival Data in Battle
12 SS Pz Div 200 via LISIEUX Q 58 and ARGENTAN U 21 towards CAEN Noon D Day Evening D Day
17 ss PG Div 160 (see Note 1) via GRANVILLE T 13 and COUTANCES T 25 to the CHERBOURG Peninsula or towards VIRE T 63 and North-East PM D DAY D plus 1
179 P2 Trg Div 100 (see Note 2) via EVREUX and LISIEUX towards CAEN Evening D plus
1 Pz Group ORLEANS 160 via LE MANS - ALENCON Z 38 D plus 2
84 Inf Div - moving from North to LE HARVE D plus 2
2 Pz Div 160 moving from AMIENS via PARIS - DREUX - ARGENTAN D plus 4
5 Para Div - by air or road (road more likerly) D plus 4
3 Para Div - by air or road (road more likerly) D plus 4
Inf Div REDON - - D plus 5 (see Note 3)

NOTES:

By 28 May further reliable information came to light:-

1. 17 SS PG Div was later reported to have no tanks at all and little transport of any sort.

2. 179 Pz Trg Div was later reported to have 50-75 Mk IV tanks - and no others.

3. Inf Div REDON was later reported in the CHERBOURG Peninsula and therefore would not be brought into action against Second Army.

"Assuming that all these divisions will be used against Second Army that we impose no delay on their movement; and that he has in fact the maximum number of tanks showm in the preceding paragraphs, the German build- up works out as follows:—

Day Formations Tanks
D one static division
" infantry division
three panzer divisions 560
D plus 1 one panzer division 100
D plus 2 " panzer division 160
" infantry division
D plus 3 - -
D plus 4 " panzer division 160
two parachute divisions
D plus 5 one infantry division
D plus 6

(Archive transcripts © Copyright Normandy War Guide)

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Archive: Extracts from Second Army History, 1944 Apr

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