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12-04-2021 01:36 AM
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Sounds like a very interesting read Anderson, but no doubt not the easiest book to obtain. The cover art is quite interesting too. A very eye catching layout that would have been somewhat striking when first published. Thanks for posting this one.
Andy
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I do like these books I must admit though I haven't read this one that I recall but for the sake of perspective:
There are several books that explore this hypothesis some are based on the interpretation and analysis of what is known of plans etc whilst others are historical fact based dramas. I find that they all read well but fail to take into account (because it is outside the scope of the "what if"? hypothesis) the fact that history now informs (and smart tacticians knew at the time) that any cross-channel invasion was doomed to fail. A basic "must have" for such an invasion would be air superiority - they failed to achieve that. Also, domination of the sea - not a hope
as the Royal Navy was more than a match for the KM and small fast vessels plus RAF launches being so nimble would have shredded the converted river barges which Hitler planned to use not to mention the prevailing sea conditions in the Channel (see what effect the weather had on thee Allied D-Day operations). The beaches of Southern England were far more effectively prepared (apart from anything else the artillery coverage was massive) than those of the Norman Coast and para-troops with virtually no chance of re-supply would have been decimated very quickly regardless of how good they might have been. This was no Eben Emael where they were not expected. Consider the pyhrric victory in Crete, so severe were the German losses (inflicted by an ad hoc force withdrawn from Greece rather than a prepared and ready home force) that Hitler refused to allow further use of para-troops. Had a landing taken place and the force was not destroyed on the beaches I seriously doubt that any viable force would have reached as far as Birmingham (and that is a generous allowance) then how would re-supply be effected without air superiority when the RAF had simply moved to bases further North?. It is a matter of subjection but the British public were very unlikely to have submitted (look at the passive resistance in the Channel Islands. In mainland UK I think it would have been a lot more aggressive. Would the populations of other island nations ("Insel Affen") such as New Zealand or Australia just submit?)
The concept of Nazi rule was ever a frightening "bogeyman" in British minds at the time but I cannot see how it could ever have happened in the relevant circumstances
Whilst serving in Germany I have personally discussed this situation with WWII German vets who told me how terrified they were at the idea of trying to cross the Channel in those ridiculous barges to have what they believed to be no chance at the other side if they made it that far. The order to cancel Op Sealion was (quietly) celebrated by the troops involved!
As I say, I do like these "what if" scenarios as they do provoke thought and debate and I will read this one if I can find it but I feel they should always be viewed in context.
Thanks for raising the subject
Regards
Mark
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he cares more about than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature with no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
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All good points Mark. One of the interesting parts of the books is about the British resistance preparations, Channel Islands are covered as well.
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