Operation Sealion (What If Successful)

[ParkCungHee]

And a lot of preparation, time, and vastly superior resource buildup.

But mostly the landing craft. I really can't emphasize that enough. The German invasion plan called for using River barges to cross the channel. A strong wind could literally knock over that invasion force.

 

[Brighteye]

Everyone seems to agree that a German invasion of Britain was impossible because of many redundant facts.
So why did Britain borrow so much money? Why take it so very seriously? Why was the popular perception one of an island under threat, when there were so many reasons that the population could have been told that invasion was impossible?
Was it just Churchill deciding that the Nazis were evil? Would a different Britain have reached a ceasefire, safe in the knowledge that it was safe for at least a few years?

 

[Supermath]

Everyone seems to agree that a German invasion of Britain was impossible because of many redundant facts.
So why did Britain borrow so much money? Why take it so very seriously? Why was the popular perception one of an island under threat, when there were so many reasons that the population could have been told that invasion was impossible?
Was it just Churchill deciding that the Nazis were evil? Would a different Britain have reached a ceasefire, safe in the knowledge that it was safe for at least a few years?

Because Hitler was insane.

 

[Dachs]

So why did Britain borrow so much money? Why take it so very seriously? Why was the popular perception one of an island under threat, when there were so many reasons that the population could have been told that invasion was impossible?

It was impossible partly because of the precautions that the British government took; the Germans not having to deal with an inflamed populace, a Territorial Army, and an increased RAF and Royal Navy would have greatly simplified their task, even if it would still be on the "impossible" side of extremely difficult. Besides, they had to protect the Empire; even if Britain can defend the home island, she must also exert most of her energies in keeping the colonies from falling.

Was it just Churchill deciding that the Nazis were evil? Would a different Britain have reached a ceasefire, safe in the knowledge that it was safe for at least a few years?

That is certainly part of it; had Halifax succeeded to the PMship, an accommodation would likely have been reached with Nazi Germany. Hitler did want Britain around after all, in order to spread Aryan values through the world through its empire. But one can ask the same question about Prime Minister Pitt (the Younger) and of Asquith and Lloyd George; to the leaders of the UK, one power's achievement of Continental hegemony was absolutely out of the question, as it would allow that nation to gain power greater than their own during any peacetime and come back for more. Germany would have benefited more from a truce with the UK than the British would have.

 

[RalofTyr]

Because Hitler was insane.

True. Hitler did not have the normal rational mindset of a world leader at that time.

 

[Brighteye]

Besides, they had to protect the Empire; even if Britain can defend the home island, she must also exert most of her energies in keeping the colonies from falling.
.

That was why I asked the question. With an empire, would Britain have been able to build forces better than Germany during a cease-fire? The war helped dissolve the empire, so would a cease-fire have helped protect the colonies?

 

[Sharwood]

To an extent, but considering that most British effort would have been directed towards protecting itself and preparing for a counter-attack the Empire would likely have collapsed anyway.

 

[Disenfrancised]

That was why I asked the question. With an empire, would Britain have been able to build forces better than Germany during a cease-fire? The war helped dissolve the empire, so would a cease-fire have helped protect the colonies?

Well for starters:

1) The though the Empire was built on trust, money and treaty as much as anything, the appearance of military weakness/lack of will would have caused considerable problems worrying loyal leaders/emboldening rebel ones.

2) Though the Empire could have commanded the resources to beat Hitler, once a truce was made how can you really ask the nations of the Empire to reengage in a war (as contrary to popular perception the empire was not a Borg like entity that Britain could command at will)

3) Germany had a quite significant industrial advantage, but was constrained by resources, whilst the UK and the empire had the opposite (until America waded in) - by staying at war the UK could choke the continent and build a war machine...allowing the Nazi access to global resource markets would equal disaster.