JUNE 1940 HITLER'S NEXT BIG MISTAKE Just before the surrender of France in June 1940
JUNE 1940 HITLER'S NEXT BIG MISTAKE Just before the surrender of France in June 1940, General Guderian, commander of Second Panzer Army, had suggested to Hitler that he could quickly move his Panzers down through France and Spain to capture Gibraltar and cross into North Africa. Hitler’s Chief of Staff, General Alfred Jodl suggested a similar plan as being a better strategic use of resources than the half-cocked Operation Sealion. Hitler was also being urged to take Gibraltar by Admiral Raeder, and at this point Hitler seriously considered the idea. He had his head of the Abwehr, Admiral Canaris, carry out intelligence work in Spain and by November a plan had been acknowledged, but not quite agreed upon, by Hitler. General von Reichenau had been put in charge of the plan, known as Operation Felix and a large force of artillery and dive bombers were put on alert for the occupation first of Portugal. Time passed, due mainly to Hitler’s usual dithering and persistent interferen...