Kenneth Macksey - Invasion

This 223 page book, deals with the hypothetical invasion of England in 1940. It deals with the birth of Operation Sealion and how the German Army originally thought of the invasion as a scaled up river crossing!

The German Navy realised that that the key to success was to either neutralize the Royal Navy OR keep them away from the proposed landing sites. The real key to success though would be the Luftwaffe. If they could achieve air superiority, they could protect the invasion fleet AND keep the Royal Navy at bay.

But the most important (non) player in the proposed invasion was the USA.

Churchill had already requested for destroyers and weapons, from Roosevelt- which had been granted, but when Churchill asked for an American destroyer squadron to make an extended visit to the Irish Free State to deter any possible invasion, this request was denied as 1940 was an election year in the USA, and Roosevelt wanted to win again.

The original plan was to land between Hythe and Deal, on the English south coast, so as to provide maximum fighter cover from the short ranged Me109. The original assault was to be made by the 7th FJFJ - Fallschirmjäger [GER]

Division (by parachute) and the 22nd Air Landing Division(Glider) with the seaborne assault being made by 17th InfInf - Infantry [ENG]

DivDiv - Division [ENG]

and 6th Mountain Div.

The initial objectives were :

• The Army to land on a narrow front of 20 miles between Hythe & Deal
• Link up with airborne forces
• Seize control of the ports of Folkestone & Dover
• And gain control of many airfields as early as possible.

The first stage of the plan was for the Luftwaffe to gain air superiority over the English Channel and force the withdrawal of the Royal Navy to safer ports. Once this had been done the invasion began on the 14th July 1940, with the Armistice being declared on the 1st August 1940. Although this is a piece of fiction, it is a well researched book, and with the possible combination of events it might have happened!

After all, the British Army was woefully short of tanks, artillery and ammunition after the Dunkirk evacuation. If the Luftwaffe had changed tactics, it could have possibly defeated the RAF.

Overall, it is an excellent read!

Kenneth Macksey - Invasion: Alternative History of the German Invasion of England
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Greenhill Books; New Ed edition (15 Feb 1999)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1853673617
ISBN-13: 978-1853673610