Rommels Asparges - Fanø i Atlantvolden Traditional Cache

Rommels Asparges

Den mægtige mand marcherede beslutsomt langs stranden med sit entourage af nervøse officerer følgende efter ham. Det røde revers på hans uniforms frakke ledte opmærksomheden hen på det jernkors af 1. klasse som han bar om halsen. Med sin stok pegede han uafladeligt på svagheder i forsvarsværket.
Feltmaskal Erwin Rommel var ankommet til Fanø, som det første stop på hans inspektionsrejse i Danmark, for at besigtige forsvarsværkerne i den Atlantiske Vold. Han var ikke imponeret.
Følget nærmede sig et område som var fyldt med høje pæle, hvoraf nogle var monteret med miner på toppen. Det var en af Rommels egne ideer, og deraf navnet ”Rommels Asparges”. Formålet var at forhindre luftbåren invasion af enten faldskærmssoldater eller svævefly. Hvor effektive de ville være var dog ikke godt at vide.

Ved frokosten tilbage på kroen spiste Rommel i stilhed. Et ildevarlsende tegn! Da han var færdig med at spise slog han på glasset for at få officerernes opmærksomhed, og rejste sig så for at tale til de tilstedeværende.
”Jeg har nu inspiceret hele øens forsvarsværk og jeg er ikke imponeret! Tror De at De skal forsvare øen mod tinsoldater? Dette forsvarsværk vil ikke holde mere end 10 min.
Vi har brug for flere bunkere, flere hindringer på strandene, flere miner, flere kanoner og flere soldater. Skal vi SÅ se at komme i gang for alvor?”

Rommel’s Asparagus

The great man strode purposely along the beach with his entourage in tow following nervously behind him. The red lapels of his greatcoat drawing attention to the iron cross 1^st class, that hung around his neck. Using his cane as a pointing stick he continuously pointed out to his officer’s, weaknesses in the fortifications.
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel had come to Fanø, as the first stop on his inspection of the Danish part of the Atlantic Wall and he did not appear impressed.

They were now approaching what looked like a field of wooden poles standing upright about three to four meters tall some of which had mines attached to the top of them. These were the brainchild of the great commander himself and known as Rommel’s Asparagus. Their purpose was to prevent airborne invasion either by paratroopers or gliders. How useful they would be in that situation was yet to be seen however.

Back at lunch at the inn at Nordby Field Marshal Rommel ate in silence, an ominous sign to those around him. When he was finished eating, he tapped his glass to get his officers attention and then stood to address those in the room. “I have now been all over the island inspecting the fortifications and I am not impressed in the slightest. Do you think the allies are sending tin soldiers to fight you? “These defences will not last more than ten minutes. We need more bunkers, more obstacles on the beach, more mines, more guns and more troops. Get to it gentlemen”