D DAY Through German Eyes 2

by Holger Eckhertz

the emplacements

done to us at Kursk. Now, if you multiply this by the dozens of such traps that we were preparing over hundreds of square kilometres, you see how difficult it would be for the invaders to advance. They would become bogged down and trapped within their initial bridgehead. Finally, an armoured counterattack using our fresh mobile forces would sweep through the remnants of the enemy and demolish the threat. That was the plan, anyway. You mentioned anti-tank ramps and also anti-tank ditches. These were different structures? Yes, the ditches were designed to deter a panzer from trying to cross, because the vehicles would be trapped inside the gap. The ramps were the opposite; they were preformed concrete obstacles, which were poured into moulds on site. They

They train constantly, and they use the latest radio sets and telex