Why Hitler's Atlantic Wall Failed in Under an Hour on D-Day

Hitler's Atlantic Wall was meant to be impregnable, a two thousand mile barrier of concrete, guns, and beach obstacles built to stop any invasion at the water's edge. So why did large parts of it fall apart in under an hour on D-Day, the sixth of June 1944? In this World War Two documentary we break down the real reason the Atlantic Wall failed during the Normandy landings, and it has almost nothing to do with the concrete itself. From Operation Overlord and the Operation Fortitude deception that fooled the German command, to the airborne drops behind the beaches at Pegasus Bridge and Sainte Mère Église, the specialized armor of Hobart's Funnies, the naval bombardment of Operation Neptune, and the decisive small unit initiative that unlocked Omaha Beach, this is the story of how the Allies dissolved a fortress instead of storming it. We cover Utah, Gold, Juno, Sword, and Omaha, the Rommel and Rundstedt dispute over the panzer reserves, Pointe du Hoc, and the German command failures that decided the longest day. If you enjoy in depth WW2 history, Normandy invasion stories, and full length military history documentaries, subscribe for more, and tell us in the comments which part surprised you most.