Invasion : the alternate history of the German invasion of England, July 1940 / by Kenneth Macksey.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Macksey, Kenneth, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations, German.

World War, 1939-1945.

World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Great Britain.

Great Britain--History--Invasions.

Great Britain.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (214 pages) : illustrations, maps

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London, England : Frontline Books, 2015.

Summary:

The WWII historian's bracingly accurate analysis of what might have happened if Hitler ordered Operation Sea Lion to breech the shores of England.In June 1940, German troops gathered just across the English Channel, poised for the invasion of Britain.With France defeated and Britain cowed, Hitler seemed ready for his greatest gamble.

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

List of Maps

Preface

Chapter I: A Lion is Born

The germ of an idea

The basis of a plan

Britain in peril

The American factor

Chapter II: A Gathering of Forces

Set-backs at Dunkirk

The plans take shape

The Luftwaffe

The Kriegsmarine

The land forces

'Sealion' is christened

Chapter III: The Taking of Western Europe

Battle at sea

Battle in France

Italy enters the war

Britain on her own

Chapter IV: Britain Against the Wall

A nation in tension

A false lead

The Navy prepares

An army at its weakest

Air power - the main element of defence

The people at war

Chapter V: The Testing Time

Kesselring probes

Battles of the convoys

The Channel guns open fire

The Royal Navy pulls back

Tragedy at Oran

Chapter VI: Assumptions and Plans

Jeschonnek puts on the pressure

Doubts in the Kriegsmarine

Reservations among the generals

Confidence among airmen

Formation 'Pig Pile'

The Intelligence battle - the German view

The battle for the Straits is joined

1st (London) Division prepares

'We place our trust in the Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine'

Chapter VII: Days of the Eagle

The battle of Britain opens - 8 July

Eagle Day - 9 July

The second day - 10 July

The third day - 11 July

The set-back

The fourth day - 12 July

On the brink - the fifth day

Cromwell alert

Chapter VIII: Assault from the Sky

The Germans take off

Glider landing

The parachute landings - West Hougham

The parachute landings - St. Martin's Plain

The RAF strikes back

Chapter IX: Assault from the Sea

Contact at sea

Battle in the Straits

Check at Hythe

Tanks in action

The first martyr

Battle of the cliff-tops

Disaster under the cliffs

Chapter X: The Fight for the Bridgehead.

The counter-thrust

The Germans consolidate

Ships versus aircraft and mines

Dover falls

1st Armoured Division committed

An Intelligence wind-fall

Chapter XI: Check and Counter-Check

Tanks advance

Destruction of the armour

An important victory

Chapter XII: The Trade-Off

Counting the cost

Last gasp at Hythe

The cruiser battle

The Luftwaffe takes hold

Logistics and public relations

The American price

The Fleet seeks battle

Chapter XIII: The Crunch

The Germans advance

The Dover martyrs

Vacillation in Whitehall

Chapter XIV: The Battle of the GHQ Line

The Busch plan

Maidstone in the front line

The peace offensive

London under fire

The battle of Maidstone

The last tank attack

Force H intervenes

Struggle for the North Downs

The siege of London begins

Ironside resigns

Chapter XV: The Hinge of Destiny

The masses of manoeuvre

Tanks on the rampage

Time for a halt

A change of government

The last act

Hitler looks to the future

As It Happened

Historical Notes

Select Bibliography.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed June 17, 2016).

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-4738-7761-X

OCLC:

951223133