I notice there's a lot of talk about WWII in this forum. For any Brits tuning in - what would you have done had the invasion actually happened?

Would you have stuck around and fought (resisitance group etc), left the country and joined a foreign army (US, Canadian, Australian etc) or stuck your hands in the air?

I think a lot of Brits (tabloid readers etc) like to think we would have put up a fight and that the rest of the continent wasn't up to much really. But, truthfully, what's most likely to have occurred?

I suppose you could answer this one from a historian's standpoint, rather than your own hypothetical contribution, if you prefer.

Myself - I like to think I'd be up in the Pennines/Highlands fighting to liberate the country, but in reality I know I'd be at home trying to scrounge food for my old dad.

I'd like to think I'd stand and fight against the german invaders

speaking hypothetically though wouldn't the americans bite the bullet and declare war on Germany as they knew if Britain fell then all of Europe was doomed as no invasion could of been launched from across the channel ??

To what end though? I bet they would have surrendered Europe to the Nazis at that point - their desire for war was too slender and their army/navy too underdeveloped to marshall sufficient force in time to get anything across the Atlantic quick enough to save us. Even if they did the u boats would have got em.

Take one with me!

Mmm, that sounds nice - where would you go? dinner? dancing?

"You can always take one with you" was a not uncommon phrase at the time, the idea being that even if you were killed in the process, at least a nazi soldier was dead too. The army was setting up a lot of secret arms dumps at the time and recruiting "guerillas" to work in occupied territory.

I would hope to have been in the RAF if I had been alive back then :D

I'm not British, but if I were, here's what I'd do (This is from a Field Marshal's POV).

Since the Nazis would probably have invaded from the south, I would have moved a few troops down there to hold them while I mobilized my main defenders. Then, I would move artillery batteries of varying sizes and strengths behind a line of trenches a few km south of London, because, more than likely, the Nazis would hit straight for London. After a thorough bombarding, I would roll out tanks to hold them. Then, hit them from the read with fighters and bombers, effectively knocking out the invasion force.

Originally posted by The Art of War
I'm not British, but if I were, here's what I'd do (This is from a Field Marshal's POV).

Since the Nazis would probably have invaded from the south, I would have moved a few troops down there to hold them while I mobilized my main defenders. Then, I would move artillery batteries of varying sizes and strengths behind a line of trenches a few km south of London, because, more than likely, the Nazis would hit straight for London. After a thorough bombarding, I would roll out tanks to hold them. Then, hit them from the read with fighters and bombers, effectively knocking out the invasion force.

Yes, they would fall for that, wouldn't they, the stupid bastards?

I get you sarcasm. THanks...anyway, it would be more detailed, but, of course, I didn't go into detail. Silly me. :D

Okay, sorry, that was uncalled for.

But if you look at German planning at the time, they actually thought of bypassing London on the west side for quite a ways to cut it off. If they had gotten that far, given the shaky state of allied supplies, I'm not sure how much anyone could have done to stop it.

I think the Germans would have suffered a defeat. And that
is why they never attended it.

I think the germans would have had supply problems in such
an invasion, the channel weather may have had a real impact.
(September)

The British would have tried to hold the ports and would
have demolished any that were likely to fall.

I would have fought them in the the RCAF like my old man.

Although at that time, I would technically be in India, if I were in Britain as a soldier or in some similar capacity, I would probably have given the Germans a tempting opportunity to march into London and then engaged them in a vicious Stalingrad like battle and bogged down a majority of their troops as Hitler would have probably felt it an insult if he could'nt take London almost left wide open for him.

Once bogged down, I would expect the Americans to send help if they realize that all is not lost.

I think it's pretty clear that the problem was getting safely ashore and supplying an bridgehead/airhead. Once ashore, I don't think there would be much anyone could do but inflict senseless but very satisfying casualties.

Germany's best had already beaten Britain's best on the battlefield in Europe when the latter was better supplied and equipped. I don't take any relish in it; my grandfather was among the (rescued) beaten. But - if the Germans were ashore - it's hard to see how much could seriously be done.

I would have fought them on the beaches, fought them in the sky, fought them on the hills, fought them on the street, I would never surrender.

Originally posted by Richard III
I think it's pretty clear that the problem was getting safely ashore and supplying an bridgehead/airhead. Once ashore, I don't think there would be much anyone could do but inflict senseless but very satisfying casualties.

Germany's best had already beaten Britain's best on the battlefield in Europe when the latter was better supplied and equipped. I don't take any relish in it; my grandfather was among the (rescued) beaten. But - if the Germans were ashore - it's hard to see how much could seriously be done.

Talk about an invasion that would have been decided on the beaches. I think you are dead on, landing and supply would have been the German's only real dangers.

Of course it is because those dangers were so large that the invasion was never attempted. Without air superiority there was no way to keep the supply routes open, even if they could have gotten their troops ashore.

I have to think an invasion would have failed due to a variety of factors, not least of which would be Germany's unfamiliarity with amphibious invasions.

I'm not British either, but I suspect that had the Nazis achieved air superiority and had been able to invade they would have won easily (the British had virtually no tanks in England). Then, the English people would have done what all the other peoples of W.Europe did... welcome them enthusiastically; and their young men would probably have joined the SS and the Wehrmacht and the young women would marry Nazi soldiers. Then the Americans would come, and suddenly evetyone would claim oppression and most of the young men and women would claim to be "victims" while a certain random percentage would be punished for being the real :) collaborators.

Dont forget the equipment they would have had to use - no landing craft available in those days - they were going to use barges! Plus no one had ever tried that type of landing before. No wonder they bottled out.

1940 Germans invade UK - What would YOU do?

I'd call a Bobbie and have them arrested, I'm
sure they can handle 1,940 germans.

Being an American history buff, I will tread upon your Brit only poll gleefully;).

I would have used nerve gas on them at the beaches.

The Germans wouldn't come again.

I do believe that this was one of the defensive options considered, if not secretly implemented.

If they make it past the gas, and the fact that they couldn't achieve air superiority without a heavy bomber, THEN I think that England cuts a deal to be spared, and the Germans retreat. Hitler felt a brotherhood with the Brits, and was reluctant to fight them. If given a peaceful solution, I firmly think he would have taken it.

But if they don't take the deal, then I go with dinner and dancing!:D

WARNING: Another Yank with an opinion!

If the Germans could have gotten off the beach, then you would have lost the war. I could see resistance continuing in the mountains and highlands, but organized and effective defenses would quickly collapse. I say this because the RAF would have to have been largely neutralized before the Germans would invade. Without your air force, there isn't much you could have done.

Originally posted by Switch625
WARNING: Another Yank with an opinion!


I'll say it before they get the chance: "The next American we find without an opinion will be the first." :)

:crazyeye:

I see some people expressing the opinion of making a fight for it in London...and then making a comparison with Stalingrad.

London is chilly in Winter, Stalingrad freezes your balls off...a major difference.


If Germany had landed then they would have needed air superiority or the belief that the RAF wouldn't be a major threat. But had the RAF been brushed aside it is then a question of when that would happen...the longer the delay the more unlikely.

Had an invasion been launched I would have used chemical weapons and all the massed artillery on the beachhead the Germans attempt to make. In addition I would immediately send as many Royal Navy ships (and subs) into the Channel to provide artillery bombardment on the beaches and to try and disrupt the later waves of an amphibious assault aswell as distract the Luftwaffe.


P.S Richard III your Grandfather was rescued at Dunkirk, mine too!

Excuse my intrusion.
Well first of all there was no invasion for a reason - it wasn't possible and Hitler had goals he considered more important.
Anyway, if it had happened somehow:
The conventional war would have been lost, there would have been no bombers and fighters to hit the invading army, as the destruction of the RAF would have been complete before any invasion would have been started. There also wouldn't have been a "Stalingrad like battle" as Britain's industry would be destroyed by the (then superior) German Air Force. Britain wouldn't have had the supplies the Soviets had, and the American supplies wouldn't get through either. As already mentioned Britain would have done anything to inflict losses but in the end the war would have been lost.
The question is what to do then. I think it would probably have been like in France (maybe like Vichy-France). The Nazis would have installed a puppet government and some people would have resisted. Not too many though, as the British wouldn't have been treated like the Eastern European, who had every reason to resist cause they had nothing to lose.
But fact is, that without support from outside, nobody would have gotten the Nazi armies away...
Originally posted by Rodgers
Myself - I like to think I'd be up in the Pennines/Highlands fighting to liberate the country, but in reality I know I'd be at home trying to scrounge food for my old dad.

That's what most people (everywhere!) would do.

Originally posted by knowltok2


I'll say it before they get the chance: "The next American we find without an opinion will be the first." :)

:crazyeye:

"Opinions are like [censored]. Everybody has one."

As a Brit I would have joined a resistance group, and tried to take as many Nazi's with me as possible.

I think someone earlier nailed it on the head by saying Hitler never wanted to invade the UK

he saw the British as fellow Anglo Saxons in Europe and just wanted peace so he could assimilate mainland europe and Russia

Had Hitler invaded Britain, Stalin may easily have been the ultimate winner. He planned for the Allies/Axis to essentially destroy each other, and when he felt the time was right, the Soviets would sweep into Europe (Barbarossa ruined that plan, though). With my Yank/Texan arrogance ;) though, I must believe we Americans would/could have chased the Russians out. After all, we have experience knocking down juggernauts/dictators, don't we?

Only your puppet dictators in latin America.

Originally posted by MajorGeneral2
Had Hitler invaded Britain, Stalin may easily have been the ultimate winner. He planned for the Allies/Axis to essentially destroy each other, and when he felt the time was right, the Soviets would sweep into Europe (Barbarossa ruined that plan, though). With my Yank/Texan arrogance ;) though, I must believe we Americans would/could have chased the Russians out. After all, we have experience knocking down juggernauts/dictators, don't we?

If Germany could have forced Britain to peace, let alone conquer it, Russia wouldn't have stood a chance. No diversion for the Germans, and no supplies from the West for the Russians. It was a close run thing as it was, and both of those factors would favor Germany.

Well, what happened to my grandfather (may he rest in peace) was that he crashed over London. He survived the crash (obviously) and landed in the garden of a lady, who had no other choice than to give him a cup of tea while waiting for the army to arrive and bring him to Scotland (later then to Canada).

Originally posted by Stefan Haertel
Well, what happened to my grandfather (may he rest in peace) was that he crashed over London. He survived the crash (obviously) and landed in the garden of a lady, who had no other choice than to give him a cup of tea while waiting for the army to arrive and bring him to Scotland (later then to Canada).

If only all wars could be fought in such ways.

I think someone earlier nailed it on the head by saying Hitler never wanted to invade the UK

I have heard many a story of dead germans washing up on British beaches....interpret that how you will.

It is well known hitler saw Britain as an ally, intill he saw the reality that this couldn't be so.

Well, Knowltok2, it would have taken many resources for Germany to conquer Britain, and without Barbarossa, most every unit would be there. Also, the time would have allowed Russia to develop the T-34 and other weapons, as well as stockpile them.

Well, I've got to correct the story I wrote above, as I've heard the whole story again this afternoon. In truth, it was even better than that. The lady let my grandfather go like that, he walked around London for three whole days in his German uniform (so many uniformed men were walking around London at that time nobody noticed). Then his British pounds went out. For some reason, he was only recognized and arrested as a German soldier when he tried to pay with French Francs.

Don't ask me.

Originally posted by MajorGeneral2
Well, Knowltok2, it would have taken many resources for Germany to conquer Britain, and without Barbarossa, most every unit would be there. Also, the time would have allowed Russia to develop the T-34 and other weapons, as well as stockpile them.

Conquer yes, but force out of the war? Perhaps not as much as you think. As far as the T-34 goes, it was a fine tank, but with the UK not in the war, the Luftwaffe would never have been decimated trying to defend against Allied bombing. Not suffering under constant bombardment and not having to defend France against potential invasion would have freed up enough resources to tip the balance on the Eastern Front.

I also think you could make a valid case for America not going with an Europe First strategy if England wasn't in the war. Germany may very well have not even declared war on the US in such a situation.

The main reason why Hitler never invaded Britain was not the channel, or stout British resistance, but rather he hoped the blitz would force them to sue for peace, maybe even an alliance.

As for the eastern front, Russia wouldn’t have had a chance.
For a start, Hitler would have moved on the a lot earlier (as he no longer needed to direct resources towards the blitz campaign against Britain thus had most of the air force able to assist vs. Russia. You also have to note that until a few months into the war on the eastern front, Russia was helpless, there are reports of 1 rifle between 2 men, and each rifle only having 5 rounds when the Germans first attacked, Russia was totally unprepared.
Other interesting facts include the fact that Hitler’s armies got as close as 63 miles from Moscow (by which time people were fleeing) and Stalin secretly offered a surrender twice, first time allowing Hitler to retain the captured territories, the second time was almost unconditional, providing Russia was able to keep its heartlands (near Moscow, and the Urals).
Really, if Hitler had captured Britain by the middle of 1941 (easily if he had invaded just after the blitz started and had established a beach head) Russia would have fallen rather rapidly, and doubt America would have come to her assistance.

Originally posted by Stefan Haertel
Well, what happened to my grandfather (may he rest in peace) was that he crashed over London. He survived the crash (obviously) and landed in the garden of a lady, who had no other choice than to give him a cup of tea while waiting for the army to arrive and bring him to Scotland (later then to Canada).

That’s absolutely amazing, a very similar thing happened to my own grandfather, early in the blitz, just when they started to do night time raids, his plane was shot down (escort fighter) and his parachute got stuck on the roof of some house in London. It wasn’t until the next morning that some lady found him hanging there (whilst he was screaming for help in German, mixed with a few curses :D ) fetched a ladder and helped him down. He promptly surrended, saying she was packing a mean looking hand-bag. When the British officers arrived a short while later, they all had a brunch. He said it was the weirdest thing he ever experienced (of course, Nazi propaganda made it out as if when he landed he would be shot on the spot). He too was then shipped off the Canada, then after the war he migrated to Australia.

KnowlTok and GodsPetMonkey, surely you realize how many resources Hitler would have needed to invade the British Isles! Also, Stalin was getting prepared, he PLANNED to invade Europe. By sheer numbers, Russia could beat Nazi Germany, with some preparation, of course. Also, the moment Germany opened a beachhead on Britain, the U.S. would have likely declared war. We realized, just like everyone else, what the implications would be if we didn't. Besides, we had grown very pro-British. As for helping Russia, no.

There does seem to be a growing historical argument that operation Sealion was nothing but a farce.

Hitler had admired Britain (thought good ole Lloyd-George was a great man) and besides, racially/genetically speaking theres not that much difference between anglo-saxons and the Germans. His main preoccupation does seem to be to expand eastwards and destroy 'Jewish-Bolshevism'. (oops, just realised this point has been made a few times in this thread- thats what you get for not checking the updates)

Anyway, yeah, assuming he did invade god knows what I would have been doing. I'd probably be a huge supporter of appeasement up untill Munich, and I imagine that I would have hated Churchill with a vengence (as I mildly dislike him now). So maybe I wouldnt have objected that much.... ermmm but then again I wouldn't have got on with the racial elements of his policy (although the holocaust was at this point unknown), and the fact his was an aggresive git.

ermmm, I don't suppose keeping quiet and secretly donating to the resistance is the type of answer I should be proud of. But it is the realistic one.

I would like to point out to all you pro Nazis would have won people. Hitler was stupid and crazy. He would have lost any way or been killed by one of his generals. If they had killed hitler the Nazis would have beaten Brittian and then we would have had one hell of a war as Russia and Germany duked it out but the winner is still undecided. The Germans could have beaten the Russians originally if they had made it to moscow which they would have done had they started months earlier no years earlier. So we will never know. But the Nazis should have one and Hitler is to blame for the loss not any one else.

P.S. America was more likely to help the Germans against Russia then the Other way around. See Communist and Facist.

I would have used nerve gas on them at the beaches.

yeah i think so. sounds right.

Originally posted by allhailIndia
Although at that time, I would technically be in India, if I were in Britain as a soldier or in some similar capacity, I would probably have given the Germans a tempting opportunity to march into London and then engaged them in a vicious Stalingrad like battle and bogged down a majority of their troops as Hitler would have probably felt it an insult if he could'nt take London almost left wide open for him.

Once bogged down, I would expect the Americans to send help if they realize that all is not lost.

Maybe, but the western allies didn't want to bog them down in the west, because essentially there was a three way war. The allies would have done everything to get them out of Britian quickly, and make Germany take the war to Russia (The third side). It served the Anglo-Americans well to have the Germans fighting the Soviets in the east, because if they were fighting Stalingrad in Britian, the Soviets probably would have taken a LOT more territory.

Originally posted by calgacus
I'm not British either, but I suspect that had the Nazis achieved air superiority and had been able to invade they would have won easily (the British had virtually no tanks in England). Then, the English people would have done what all the other peoples of W.Europe did... welcome them enthusiastically; and their young men would probably have joined the SS and the Wehrmacht and the young women would marry Nazi soldiers. Then the Americans would come, and suddenly evetyone would claim oppression and most of the young men and women would claim to be "victims" while a certain random percentage would be punished for being the real :) collaborators.

I honestly believe the British would have fought like hell. It wouldn't have been like the French.

Everyone seems to be forgetting something. Hitler wanted lebensraum, and that is why he went for Ukraine instead.

No one wants to live in Britian:lol:

Originally posted by Ozz
Only your puppet dictators in latin America.

:lol:

I would head to the Peak District or the Welsh mountains or the Cheviots. Fogs pretty bad there throughout the year in my experience, stopping accurate aerial bombing. Also being high fells and mountains it would be easy to defend against land forces.

Only your puppet dictators in latin America

:lol::lol:

OOps

Bugger all, I'd guess, which would have been the realistic thing for 99% of the population.

Why would The British have fought any less or more harder than The French did, or indeed any other nation?

"Why would The British have fought any less or more harder than The French did, or indeed any other nation?"

That is what I suspected, although we have some pretty favourable terrain for guerilla fighting. I cant imagine that we would have fought HARDER - I was just curious as to what individuals on this site might have done, thereby proving the above point (I suspect)

What would one have done?
Most probably form the government with Oswald. :D

with all due respect to the RAF, British Intellegence was their primary contribution to the war effort. The extent that the British citizenry was allowed and motivated to participate is awe inspiring. Everyone knew who to contact, but no one, relitavely speaking, pried into things they really should not know. CIA should be so lucky. It is so commonly known that German agents were picked up within hours of landing, that few bother to consider the impact of the statement.

German Intelligence was on par with the best in Europe. MI6 etc beat them so badly, they didn't know they were wounded til they bled to death. It was like a checkmate on move 20 of a Grandmaster chess game. It just doesn't happen.

J

German Intelligence was not on par with the best in Europe (which would probably have been Russia), at least at espionage. The head of Abwehr (Canaris) was a feverent anti-Nazi and at the very least he supported anti-Nazi dissidents.

Frankly its a miracle the Germans had as good Intelligence as they did. Still the Allies made mistakes too - the OSS where apprehended within hours of a landing in Ireland.

Yours

Yours

Sealion was slated to actually go off, but Hitler 86ed it.

Yes, German troops were massed in France waiting to board the barges by September 1940.

It all depended on two things:

Control of the Channel - The Luftwaffe forced the Royal Navy from the Channel in August. A major accomplishment.

Control of British Airspace - The Germans had the RAF on the ropes, perhaps within a week of collapse. Suddenly Goering and Hitler switch to bombing cities instaed of airfields. MAJOR MISTAKE!

The RAF reconstitues and begins to turn the tide!

The German failure to decisively knock out British radar installations hurt the Luftwaffe very badly as well. The RAF knew where and when the bombers were coming, and chewed them up.

The RAF pilots really did save the day, and sacrificed much to do it.

The RN began to raid German shipping and dock-side supplies in French ports at night, while artillery fired across the Channel as well.

It all started to unwravel. Hitler finally threw in the towel. He had other fish to fry.

As for a hypothetical invasion:

Churchill was ready to use any means, including gas, on the beaches. However, even that would have had little effect.
The Germans did have gas masks...

I also concur the British would have fought much harder than their French allies did, to be bluntly honest. The French were already defeated before 10 May 1940. They just werent up to it.

If the Germans had landed, that would have been it. Game over.

Lucky for all of us, they didnt. :D