"Rommel's Asparagus"

The wooden logs driven into open fields along the Normandy coast were known as "Rommel's Asparagus" (Rommelspargel) and were designed to damage gliders landing in the French fields.

Ordered in place by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the commander of the Atlantic Wall defenses, the logs did extensive damage to the Allied glider forces. In spite of this damage, the gliders were largely successful in landing their troops and equipment.