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Alternate History Books
> Invasion: The Alternate History of the German Invasion of England, July 1940
Invasion: The Alternate History of the German Invasion of England, July 1940
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Review of Invasion: The Alternate History of the German Invasion of England, July 1940:
In this book, Kenneth Macksey writes a counterfactual history, as if a historical
account, of the German invasion of Britain.
Rather than going for the usual Operation Sealion
plan, when the Germans invade
in the Autumn, Macksey sets the invasion in July
1940,
immediately after the fall of France.
This scenario probably makes the the invasion somewhat more likely of success
in purely military terms than an Autumn invasion - as British strength was probably at its lowest
point in July - but it also involves several (in my opinion) probably unrealistic assumptions:
- That the Germans would have anticipated the rapid, and relatively easy, defeat of France.
- That the Germans would have anticipated that Britain would not surrender or negotiate after
the fall of France, and therefore invasion would be necessary.
- That the Germans would have realized during the French campaign that victory was imminent, and that some
forces could then be safely withdrawn from the frontline, in order to prepare for the invasion of Britain.
- That the Germans would have been able to improvise an invasion force at very short notice.
In reality, I'm not sure that any of these assumptions are true. The Germans did not anticipate
defeating France as easily as they did, did not
anticipate Britain fighting on after the fall of
France, remained cautious and conservative during the French campaign (because
they overestimated the likelihood of successful counterattacks), and when
they did start preparing to invade Britain, took
rather a long time over their preparations.
My other criticisms with the book's portrayal
of the invasion are the usual problems with Sealion scenarios:
the Royal Navy, and logistics - both of
which, in reality, the Germans would have, to put it mildly, struggled with.
However, in this book, the naval battles go surprisingly
well for the Germans, and logistical problems somehow don't impede the invasion
too much either.
I understand Kenneth Macksey is a former armor officer, so he concentrates
on the land battles, and he does so well and convincingly. There is
a tremendous amount of military-technical detail in the text, and you
may find yourself having to read some passages more than once in order
to fully understand them. Fortunately, the book does contain many maps
which are help greatly in understanding.
As to which side wins, I won't say, but you can probably guess.
I don't want to blow the ending, but I will say this it doesn't involve
the Germans fighting street by street through the rubble of
London,
nor gradually running out of food and ammo' while surrounded by Tommies.
Over all this is good excellent book, and I'd recommend it without
reservation. Yes, there are in my opinion some unrealistic
assumptions, but who is to say that my opinion is right? I think the author
has done a superb job of constructing a Sealion scenario in which Germans have
the best possible chance of success, and while there are things that I think might
be somewhat unlikely, I don't think there is anything that is ridiculously implausible.
Disclosure: The following products' details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
By Kenneth Macksey
Greenhill Books Paperback (224 pages)
 | List Price: $22.95* Lowest New Price: $60.00* Lowest Used Price: $10.75* *(As of 20:08 Pacific 18 May 2012 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
In June 1940, as German troops massed across the Channel, poised for the invasion of Britain, Hitler seemed ready for his greatest gamble. In this compelling alternate history the Germans actually launch the invasion. Landing between Dover and Hythe, German troops push inland, supported by the Luftwaffe and the panzers, and strike toward London. A classic and harrowing insight into how Britain's war might have gone. |
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By Major Kenneth Macksey MC
Macmillan Pub Co Hardcover (223 pages)
 | List Price: $12.95* Lowest New Price: $15.39* Lowest Used Price: $0.14* *(As of 20:08 Pacific 18 May 2012 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description: Invasion : The German Invasion of England - July 1940 |
|
By Kenneth Macksey
Presidio Pr Hardcover (256 pages)
| List Price: $35.00* Lowest New Price: $127.98* Lowest Used Price: $0.50* *(As of 20:08 Pacific 18 May 2012 More Info)
Click Here |
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By Kenneth Macksey
Collier Hardcover (223 pages)
| Lowest Used Price: $9.00* *(As of 20:08 Pacific 18 May 2012 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description: Macksey's blend of what actually happened and wht might have been makes for a piece of writing comparable to Freerick Forsyth at his best. |
|
By Kenneth Macksey
Greenhill Paperback
| Lowest Used Price: $16.00* *(As of 20:08 Pacific 18 May 2012 More Info)
Click Here |
|
By Macksey Kenneth
Greenhill Books Hardcover (223 pages)
| Lowest New Price: $7.45* Lowest Used Price: $0.01* *(As of 20:08 Pacific 18 May 2012 More Info)
Click Here |
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