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Panjandrum: The ‘giant firework’ built to break Hitler's Atlantic Wall

To make D-Day a success, the Allies thought they might have to break through formidable German defences. One unconventional idea was a "giant firework".

Thousands of mostly Canadian troops were killed or captured in a botched attempt to push through defences; supporting tanks became bogged down on loose shingle sand and the built-up surroundings gave the defenders plenty of cover from which to fire on the invading forces. Led by the eccentric Percy Hobart, normal tanks were modified to do everything from swim to shore using canvas floatation devices, clear minefields with whirling chains, lay steel matting over soft sand or lob dustbin-sized shells at concrete emplacements. There is no doubt that this odd weapon was built – we have the pictures, footage and testimony of confused onlookers to corroborate it – but there remains a tantalising hint that the Panjandrum may have been an elaborate ploy to fool the German defenders that the Normandy landings were to take place far closer to one of the fortified ports.

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