Best German General for Normandy/Atlantik Wall Defenses?

Who do you think should have commanded the German forces garrisoning and deployed in Normandy? I see a lot of people say Rommel could have done better if he had full control than Hitler but what about other generals like Walter Model or Kesselring who are considered some of the best commanders in defense?

I'm not necessarily asking for which commander would have best repelled the Allies off the beaches and effectively won the Normandy campaign but I would like to know who probably would have done better, delaying the Allies, inflicting more casualties, etc.

Would appreciate if posters could offer some insight to how your preferred general might have handled the Atlantik Wall/defense.

Thanks!
 
Rommel probably had the most experience commanding forces from behind heavily fortified defensive lines, having overseen the construction of the defenses at El Alemain, as well as the Mareth line in Tunisia.

As for someone else, maybe Heinrici? He is said to have done pretty well in defensive battles.
 
It's not who, but how.

The most effective defence would probably have involved giving more ground earlier (to avoid having armoured divisions pinned in the frontline), and transferring more units from the Pas de Calais earlier.

Given Hitler's involvement in the first, it is difficult to see how this could be changed.

The second requires major improvements to German intelligence services - even in September 1944 they were over-estimating the number of Allied divisions already in France by 20-30%, and believed that there were several armies still in the UK.
 

hipper

Banned
It's not who, but how.

The most effective defence would probably have involved giving more ground earlier (to avoid having armoured divisions pinned in the frontline), and transferring more units from the Pas de Calais earlier.

Given Hitler's involvement in the first, it is difficult to see how this could be changed.

The second requires major improvements to German intelligence services - even in September 1944 they were over-estimating the number of Allied divisions already in France by 20-30%, and believed that there were several armies still in the UK.

The best solution would be for the Soviets to leak the plans for a second front to the Germans with the aim of delaying the western forces progression through France. Whoever was in charge on the german side would be remembered as the best general. As historians never take intelegence information available into account.
 
The best solution would be for the Soviets to leak the plans for a second front to the Germans with the aim of delaying the western forces progression through France. Whoever was in charge on the german side would be remembered as the best general. As historians never take intelegence information available into account.

Surely such an act would still be drowned out by the extensive OTL Allied Maskrovka efforts at the time?
 

Wimble Toot

Banned
The best solution would be for the Soviets to leak the plans for a second front to the Germans with the aim of delaying the western forces progression through France.

So after begging/demanding/praying for Second Front for two years or longer, Stalin suddenly decides he wants to ruin the Western Allies plan?

I'd say von Weichs for Festung Europa

He's good at retreating.
 

hipper

Banned
Surely such an act would still be drowned out by the extensive OTL Allied Maskrovka efforts at the time?

I did not say it was a good plan but advance knowledge of thE DDay plans is the only way any German general was going to look good in Normandy.
 
Given Hitler's involvement in the first, it is difficult to see how this could be changed.

Pretty much this, not to mention simplifying the whole chain of command in France. The forces in forward defense were separate from those in support.
 
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