What If Nazi Germany Had Won The Battle Of Britain? | Real Fake History | Timeline

In September 1940 the Nazi march over Europe was halted when the brave “few” of the RAF defeated the German Luftwaffe in the skies above Britain. The RAF’s victory in the Battle of Britain was a turning-point in the Second World War, fatally weakening Germany’s airforce, dealing a psychological blow to Hitler and laying the groundwork for the Allies’ return to France on D-Day 4 years later.

But what if Britain had lost in 1940? In the first episode of a new series, historians and experts will explore what might have happened if history had turned out differently. What were the Nazis’ secret plans to invade Britain? Would Churchill have gone down fighting? Could Britain have struck a peace deal with Hitler?

To learn more about the new Battle of Britain Display at the RAF Museum London, please visit:

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Produced by Little Dot Studios.

[leach]

Wow didn’t know joe Thomas was into history, a inbetweener is a history buff 💪 love it

[samconstantinou]

Simons done well for himself after Carly left him I see

[richardgregory]

Many alternative histories seriously underestimate the Royal Navy. That was where Britain's true military strength lay. Her army was small compared to most European countries, though highly professional. The Royal Nacy was still the most powerful in the world at that time. Even with air superiority by the Luftwaffe, invading Britain would have posed an immense challenge - the Channel is a very significant natural barrier, and in defense of Britain, the Royal Navy would have thrown everything it had into the battle. The German Kriegsmarine was small by comparison - Germany was a land power, not a maritime one. In fact she did not really have the naval capacity to carry her army across the Channel, the flotilla being assembled for Operation Sealion included many adapted civilian ships. Transporting heavy equipment would have posed an even bigger problem. The British Navy could have inflicted tremendous losses - and of course, the Royal Airforce would still have existed and again, would have thrown every available fighter into the battle.

[markshortall]

Simon must have done really well in his A levels

[iainclark]

It is fairly accepted that Operatoon Sealion has no chance of success even if the Germans had won the Battle of Britain. Military experts from Britain and Germany set up an extensive wargame in the 1970s and the outcome was that while Germany could have landed some divisions very quickly they would have been cut off and forced to surrender.

[gediredi]

Many experts have considered this question over the years. As others have mentioned, it has been wargamed extensively, and the overwhelming conclusion is that it would have ended in disaster for the Germans. They did not have a practical plan for the invasion, they did not have the sealift capacity (or experience) and they did not have the airlift capacity either to transport supplies to their invasion force even IF they managed to get ashore. They treated it like a big river crossing - but the channel currents mean that they would have had to spend 18 hours in flat bottomed barges - The RN - which had a massive MASSIVE numerical superiority (I think young people today do not appreciate how huge the superiority was back then) would have raced through the invasion barges like wolves - even the wake of the destroyers would swamp the low freeboard barges. At night time the luftwaffe could do nothing. During the day the RAF reserves would be brought down from the north to protect the RN - and actually the luftwaffe statistically were not very successful at attacking manoeuvering high speed destroyers (see Dunkirk - the ones that got sunk were stationary) - oh and they had virtually no torpedo attack ability. Even if they did attack, chances are the RN destroyers and MGBs and MTBs would be amongst the German barges and troops so they would be bombing also their own. The RN captains knew full well the stakes and wrote letters home stating that they would sacrifice themselves if necessary.
So, even if they got ashore - what then? Suffering from exposure, seasickness, loss of equipment they have to assault pre- prepared defensive positions with light weaponry, and local forces with heavy weapons would converge on them.
The barges that took them there (if any survive) would have to spend 18 hours or so going back - while under attack - load up the second wave / supplies and make the same journey back.
The JU52 transport fleet just wasn't enough to supply any decent force by air. This also means capturing a (well defended) airfield, so often touted as a "gotcha" solution, means nothing really.
The wargames mentioned - the ONLY way any German force actually landed was by "cheating" and magically moving the RN out of the way for 48 hours. Even then the German force was totally defeated within days.
It was never going to happen - and the German commanders knew it really. They were hugely relieved when the plan was abandoned!

[sparkiegaz]

We won the battle but lost the war, , ,

[pacificostudios]

Fortunately, the Chain Home system was very difficult to knock out from the air. The Stukas gave their all, but they only knocked out a few stations, and they were back online in hours or days.

[akamiguelsanchez]

Still not sure Sea Lion would work. D-Day was a logistical nightmare that needed almost divine intervention to be pulled off and had more than 300, 000 personal involved

[vonvard]

This was fascinating. Well done to all involved

[adamumagpire]

This was memorizing and fantastical. You and your guests are so well versed in history and eloquent in their delivery. Bravo.

[MooresGroup]

Excellent discussion, something for everyone from those new to alternate history to the old hands chatting this for years. My Dad went "overseas" in '40 to serve in the artillery. They were tasked with home defence and later formed into a heavy artillery regiment for the ETO. Well described in Nicholson's book "More Fighting Newfoundlanders."

[nezbit]

Really interesting to muse over the potential turning points but it brings me back to my eternal gratitude to those brave resilient and selfless people who gave the ultimate sacrifice! May each and every one of them rest in peace ♥️

[Handlethetruth]

Would’ve been a better place than now . My Nan and grandad was in the raf and was fuming on what this government has done to this country. Embarrassing

[MikeJackson]

The knowledge from everyone is outstanding. Loved it, and alternative realities are always fun to explore.

[alanrogers]

It was mentioned that the British were "supposed to have had bombs which when dropped on water would spread fire". There were such bombs in World War II. They were called, "napalm". And, they are horrible. Signed, A Vietnam veteran.

[etep]

I think even if the Nazi's landed across the channel, maintaining a supply line through would have been extremely difficult. The logistics alone would have been a gargantuan and impractical task.

[voyaristika]

Always interesting, the "what ifs". Good video!

[redfernsoljah]

Ain’t nobody back then sniping out to a mile. Even a British one at 1700yards. The longest recording of a sniper kill up to the point of WW2 was Billy Dixon in 1864 at 1406m or 1538yds. Things definitely have come a long way since then with the use of modern arms, optics, ammo and ballistic devices. Current record is at 3540m or 3871 in May 2017 by a sniper with JTF-2 Canadian Armed Forces. Done with a 338 Lapua Magnum in Iraq. Interestingly it took around 10 seconds of bullet flight to hit his target. A immensive feat of the snipers skill and skills of his observation team.

[hb]

That Phosphorous bomb brought back a great memory. My grandfather used to tell a story about a day where the home guard had been training with them in the sand pits and left one behind which the local children (incl him) got hold, anyway upon ignition they panicked and tried to put it out with their shoes first and then their jackets. He said his father was furious but when the local policeman came by he had brought with him a new pair of shoes for him. Different times then.