Rommel predicts Normandy defeat

15th July 1944: The Nazi hero of the Afrika Korps attempts to tell Hitler that they have little hope of holding out much longer

One of the last images of Erwin Rommel as a commander in the field - with Sepp Dietrich, commander of I SS Panzers Corps, in Normandy, July 1944.

While some within the Allies started to worry that their advance was not going as swiftly as expected, the situation within the German High Command was much worse.

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel had seen his predictions come true - Allied air power had severely curtailed German freedom of movement around the battlefield. While the Allies were able to make good their losses, the Germans were not. He felt that an Allied breakout was imminent.

"so the end of this unequal battle is in sight. In my view we should learn a lesson from this situation."

Field Marshals von Runstedt and Rommel had overlapping command responsibilities for the Normandy front.

Rommel and von Runstedt had seen Hitler at a conference on 17th June. Rommel, for one, had come away with renewed confidence. Such was Hitler's effect on his generals. Within days of returning to the front, the reality of the situation had returned to him - and he knew it was getting worse day by day.

Rommel had a good relationship with Hitler, who rewarded him with honours and promotions.

At the beginning of July, Field Marshal von Rundstedt told Fuhrer HQ that it was 'time to make peace'. He was promptly relieved of his command. Rommel was now more circumspect than von Rundstedt about the way he made his recommendations.