Harkback to the Past: Hitler's Command Post

Hitler's Command Post During the Battle of France(1940)

Historians are aware that Hitler controlled the Western campaign from a command post close to the French border. It consisted of a set of low buildings with a bunker. Called the Falsenenest or Rocky Eyrie it was located at Bad Munstereifel, a place near Aachen. This place is also fairly close to the area of operations.

The Second World War is a long way off.  It ended nearly 7 decades back. One battle that heralded the rise of Germany as a super power on the European continent was the battle of France in 1940. This is considered by many historians as the decisive battle of World War II and resulted in total defeat of France. Known as the battle of France it lasted exactly 42 days and led to armistice treaty which was signed at Versailles.  The British who were fighting on the side of the French with their Expeditionary Force had to make an ignoble exit. The quantum of the defeat can be gauged from the fact that 1.9 million French soldiers were taken as POWs.

 The battle of France was discussed by Hitler threadbare with his generals in Berlin. He studied the Schiffillian and made slight modifications. But it must be understood that it was Hitler alone who took the decisions and thus followed the principles of war as enunciated by Clausewitz in totality.
Now historians are aware that Hitler controlled the Western campaign from a command post close to the French border.  It consisted of a set of low buildings with a bunker. Called the Falsenenest or Rocky Eyrie it was located at Bad Munstereifel, a place near Aachen. This place is also fairly close to the area of operations.

He entered the biggest room which had large operational map showing the position of the German army divisions with their commanders. He gave the signal to advance by telephoning Field Marshal Von Rundstedt, the overall commander of the Western front. He also kept himself abreast on the progress of the battle on his operational map and often talked to the field commanders including Rommel, Guderian and Von Manstein.Hitler’s command post was fairly Spartan and consisted of 4 rooms and was bomb and shell proof with use of special concrete.  The war headquarters was inspected by the German army and the Gestapo and cleared for use of Hitler. The leader drove down from Berlin by car in the dead of the night and reached Falsenenest at 3 am. This was an hour earlier from the slated time of assault at 4 am.

 Hitler’s two advisors from the OKW, Field Marshal Jodl and Keitel were with Hitler.
 The invasion commenced at 4 am when the German army moved against France bypassing the Maginot line through the Low Countries. The rest is history as the French sued for an armistice. Hitler controlled and plotted the progress of 10 Panzer divisions and 136 infantry divisions. It was a formidable force.
Hitler never used Falsenenest again and this was its sole use. It will however be always connected with the battle of France.

How Hitler Controlled the battle of France

The Battle of France is one of the biggest victories of the Wehermacht and a feather in the cap of Hitler. In 42 days the German Army overwhelmed the French and British forces and 1.9 million French soldiers became POWs. Hitler controlled the battle from his bunker known as Falsenenest (Rocky Eyrie). This was located near Bad Munstereifel close to Aachen. It is a small town with a population of about 19,000. The Falsenenest had 4 rooms and was bomb proof. Compared to Hitler’s other war headquarters it was small, but from here Hitler directed the campaign against France. At 0300 am he is reported to have reached Falsenenest and straightaway went to the operations room which contained a large map with dispositions of the German troops. From here he was in direct communication with Field marshal Von Rundstedt the overall commander of the western front. Hitler had himself worked out the plan of battle though he consulted Field Marshals' Von Manstein and Heinz Guderian as well. Credit cannot be denied to Hitler for the victory in the battle of France.

Art 0400 am on orders of Hitler the German war machine began to roll and an invasion of the Low Countries commenced. Hitler copied the Schiffillian plan and put it to good effect. In the war room with Hitler were his staff officer and two generals of the OKW namely Field Marshal Keitel and Field Marshal Jodl. (Both were hanged for war crimes at Nuremburg in 1946). Falsenenest had all the latest communication facilities and Hitler could monitor the movement of his army on the Western front. For the record 10 Panzer regiments and 136 infantry divisions took part in this operation. This was the only occasion Hitler used Falsenenest and later it was never used, but its connection with the battle of France will remain for ever.