What if the 82nd and 101st had land were they were planed to on the Night before D-D

[Ward]

So the Airborn units of the US land with little loses and were they were to land how would this change the battle .
Rember over 70% of these troops were droped all over Normandy .

[NapoleonXIV]

Wouldn't Hitler still be awake at this time? My understanding was he stayed up until about 2am every night.

If there is a concentrated and coordinated series of attacks then the officers in charge might decide to call Hitler. By the time he becomes aware of it, it might become overwhelmingly clear where the attack was going to be, ie Normandy, not Calais and that this was the real thing, not a diversion. Hitler orders the tanks held in reserve to be moved up to the Normandy beaches, which would have been a disaster for the Allies.

[Johnnyreb]

I think historically Hitler was asleep, notwithstanding his habits.

A British paratrooper landed in general Marcks' courtyard at about the same time so I don't think a tight American drop would make any difference to the communication factor.

As I understand it, the American's problems at Utah were caused by the marshy terrain behind the beaches. I can't see the Screaming Eagles and the All-American altering this. Perhaps they might have got Omaha off the beaches earlier, but would this make a difference in the long run?

If Panzer Group West were released earlier, this would make it a lot rougher for the Allies, but not disastrous. First, it would take the tanks a day or two to get to Normandy. And they would be under air attack the whole way. Last, to get to the American sector, they would have to pass the Anglo/Canadian sector first and would come under attack (the road net goes by Caen.)

I have noticed this before in postings about D-Day. There is a curious assumption that the Allies were unaware there were tanks around Paris and did nothing to cater for their possible appearance on the battlefield.

[NapoleonXIV]

Originally Posted by Johnnyreb

I think historically Hitler was asleep, notwithstanding his habits.

A British paratrooper landed in general Marcks' courtyard at about the same time so I don't think a tight American drop would make any difference to the communication factor.

As I understand it, the American's problems at Utah were caused by the marshy terrain behind the beaches. I can't see the Screaming Eagles and the All-American altering this. Perhaps they might have got Omaha off the beaches earlier, but would this make a difference in the long run?

If Panzer Group West were released earlier, this would make it a lot rougher for the Allies, but not disastrous. First, it would take the tanks a day or two to get to Normandy. And they would be under air attack the whole way. Last, to get to the American sector, they would have to pass the Anglo/Canadian sector first and would come under attack (the road net goes by Caen.)

I have noticed this before in postings about D-Day. There is a curious assumption that the Allies were unaware there were tanks around Paris and did nothing to cater for their possible appearance on the battlefield.

Quite possibly, perhaps a little too much beer and schnitzels with the Goerrings the night before

The only reason I brought this scenario up is that I read the parabungling was actually fortuitous, keeping the Germans guessing as to where, or even if, the main invasion was coming.

It's not so much the tanks as it is a concentrated German response. I think the idea that they didn't realize this was the 'real' invasion, and hence didn't really throw everything they had at it until too late, is historically accurate. At least so my reading gives the impression. Still, it remains true that even if they had they probably wouldn't have stopped it, though if the American's difficulties were any indication it wouldn't have been any fun for anybody.