For Gabriel Kopold and most of his Bavarian comrades it was the first time they had seen the   sea. He later often recalled of the their time at the beach, of the super heavy artillery that was placed into the french dunes, and that one could really see the big grenades that were hurled towards the cliffs of Dover seen in the distance by means of Feldstecher (binoculars).  
 
 Gabriel Kopold also told of the amphibious rehearsals they underwent. Whole companies with their mules were loaded on small boats and barges which had been collected from all German and Dutch rivers. This landing force shipped a few miles into the sea, then near the surf the Jägers with their equipment had to change into inflatable rubber boats whereas the mules had to swim through the surf. 
 
As Gabriel Kopold later told, most of the Jäger were rather skeptical about their chance to reach the beaches on the opposite side of the Ärmelkanal (Street of Dover), because even in the rather calm sea during their training they encountered problems  getting safely ashore, not to think of the expected measures the Tommies would take to ward off the visit of their uninvited German cousins. 
  
 
  

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 The 1. Gebirgs-division was, along with the 7. Infanterie-Division, was assigned to the 7.Armee-Korps for "Unternehmen Seelöwe" which together with the 4., 13., 38. and 41. Armee-Korps formed the 16. Armee.  
  
The 7., 13. and 38. Armeekorps with its assigned 5 Infanterie-Divisions and 1 Gebirgs-Division were selected for the initial assault.  
 
Beside the 1. Gebirgs-Division, there was also the 6. Gebirgs-Division which was also intended to land on the English coast. The 6. Gebirgs-Division, along with 6 Infanterie divisions and 2 Panzer divisions, were assigned to  9. Armee.