Would Hitler really have invaded Britain?

[spidge]

What is your personal view. Did Hitler really have the intention to invade Britain or was he bluffing?

Yes or No!

[Drew5233]

I voted yes to your question.

My reasons for believing this to be the case.

Operation Sea Lion


Barges were at the French Ports and there was a build up of troops at the coast in anticipation of the RAF being defeated.

However I also think that if Britain surrendered or seeked to negotiate a peace he wouldn't have bothered to invade.

Just my 2 penith

[ozjohn39]

Drew,

"However I also think that if Britain surrendered or seeked to negotiate a peace he wouldn't have bothered to invade."


It is my personal view that IF the UK Government had tried to accept a surrender or 'negotiated peace', they would have been forcibly removed from office by the people, specifically, the British Armed Forces, with the people's total support.


John.

[Drew5233]

Interesting point and possibly another thread.

I'm not so sure that would have been the case though. For example a lot of people in London during the Blitz had just about had enough. I read a article/saw a documentary where Churchill visted the East End and the locals didn't give him a very warm welcome when he started giving a never surrender speech to the crowd.

Andy

[PsyWar.Org]

Originally Posted by spidge

What is your personal view. Did Hitler really have the intention to invade Britain or was he bluffing?

Yes or No!

The Battle of Britain and the Blitz weren't bluffs so why would the invasion be?

[ozjohn39]

Andy,

"For example a lot of people in London during the Blitz had just about had enough. I read a article/saw a documentary where Churchill visted the East End and the locals didn't give him a very warm welcome when he started giving a never surrender speech to the crowd."



Yes, I remember seeing that clip in the 'World at War' series, and understand the sentiment, but as the Blitz wore on I think the people wanted revenge.

Both a surrender and a 'Peace' would have involved German troops on British soil, and the rounding up of a LONG list of people destined for the camps.
Prior to the Blitz, Dunkirk and the BoB had greatly effected the British people, and I simply cannot see the RN, RAF and British Army simply laying down their arms without a god-awful fight.

It hard enough beating a Pom on the turf without trying to kill him! Usually the ONLY way a Pom lies down!


John.

[Ferahgo]

Yes. He would have, I have no doubts. I W H Smiths I bought a little green book in the special offer war section entitled 'German Invasion Plans for Britain 1940' It is the abridged/translated Operation Sealion. It is scary the kinda stuff they have in there, condition of the roads and the sufacing percentages for whole counties. Power station outputs, exact numbers of railway engines/trucks etc in 1936, and secret floor plans to all the important buildings; the air tunnel at Farnborough, the Hovis flour mills in London and the HMV gramaphone factory in London...

[James S]

I think as the summer wore on he was less inclined.
Certainly there was nothing bluff about the air attacks and the bombing but his eyes were already moving towards the east.

[Drew5233]

OzJohn.

I do agree with you but also on the other hand I wonder if they- the Soldiers, Saiolors and airmen would have just done as they are told. After all they did swear to King, heirs and blah blah governments etc etc etc. and we do have a culture in Britain of moaning alot but not doing much about it.

I think if Britain seeked peace it would have been with no German troops in Britain ie leave us alone and we'll leave you alone.

Andy

[von Poop]

Originally Posted by ferahgo

'German Invasion Plans for Britain 1940'

I've got that Ferahgo, strange little book isn't it.

Not that the pure existence of planning really completely proves an intention, but there was little point in the European domination plan as a whole if it didn't include Great Britain, perfidious Albion being something of a large and dangerous thorn to leave standing just 30 odd miles off the coast. Adolf's 'WW1 Corporal' side also surely strongly believed that Britain must pay 'properly' for the outcome of that war.
There is something of a grey area; as yes, I believe Hitler would have been delighted at a British surrender, and even briefly thought it likely. Yet even a 'negotiated peace' would have had very similar results to a purely military conquest. We'd have likely been 'invaded' anyway to all intents and purposes with utter subjugation and formal repressive occupation being the eventual outcome of any kind of British collapse, whether military or political. They certainly never left any other conquered nation alone, whether they promised to or not

Now I have to ask a question back Spidge; What makes you ask?
Been reading something interesting?

Cheers,
Adam.