The Longest Day1962

[Field Marshal Rommel addresses his commanding officers at the Atlantic Wall in Normandy]

Feldmarschall Erwin Rommel:
We need mines and obstacles along the whole coast. On every beach, in every dune, on every cliff. How many have been installed so far?Adjutant Lang: Approximately four million, Herr Feldmarschall.Feldmarschall Rommel: Until May it must be six! Six million!Oberstleutnant Hans von Salmuth: Our men have been operating withput a pause, Herr Feldmarschall. There can be no talk about sufficient rest. The troop is completely exhausted.Rommel: My dear Herr von Salmuth, what would your men rather like to be: exhausted or dead? [marches in front of the coastline] Just have a look at this, gentlemen ... how calm, how peaceful this is. A small strip of water between England and the continent, between the Allies and us. - But behind that peaceful horizon ... a monster! A solid mass of men, ships and planes which is lying in wait to be released upon us. But gentlemen, not one man of the Allies shall set foot upon the beach. Not one soldier of the Allies will ever reach the shore. This invasion, gentlemen, wherever and whenever it may come, there! - right at the water's edge - right there I will break it up! Believe me, gentlemen, the first twenty-four hours of the invasion will be decisive! For the Allies, but also for the Germans, it will be the longest day ... the longest day.