- Reaction score
- 1,309
- Points
- 1,040
OSOld Sweat said:MR
This is where we differ. I don't believe the Germans could have put together a successful invasion in the time available in 1940, even if the RAF had been defeated. For all intents and purposes the army especially would have been a collection of type 4 officers - hardworking and ill-informed - as regards amphibious operations. You rather blithely assume that they could have towed barges and light shipping across the channel and continued to do so. However, to maintain the tonnage of passengers and cargo to conquer the British Isles without a port was surely beyond the capacity of the available bottoms.
This is a most interesting discussion, I admit, and much both more fun and less useful than many.
OS
(I admit, when I saw "MR", I thought you were calling me "mister") ;D
Getting a port would probably have been a priorty; however, I must agree that they could not have successfully invaded for the simple reason that they couldn't plan it. They could have, given proper guidance, etc from higher; however, the cards were already set for the USSR. At most, from "Adlertag" forward, the Germans hoped to force the Brits to the bargaining table. I do believe, however, that we are giving the UK too much credit in terms of what they would have had on the ground to oppose the Germans. The BEF was a shallow army: 300 000 men wide, but one man deep in reality. Their capability to take on all the landings would have been severely limited, and even with the slow movers, etc, the Germans could have got enough through. Perhaps the build up would have taken much longer than it took for us in 1944, but in the end, they could have done it, IMHO.
But, I also agree, and maybe the "what if" of Sealion could be moved?