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Walter Schellenberg

Invasion 1940: The Nazi Invasion Plan for Britain by SS General Walter Schellenberg Paperback – March 1, 2001

by Walter Schellenberg (Author), John Erickson (Introduction)

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In August 1940, in compliance with the Führer's directive on the imminent invasion of Britain, the Gestapo prepared a secret handbook to be distributed to the occupation forces. It offered an astonishing insight into exactly how the Nazis perceived Britain and her empire, offering detailed analyses of the political and economic structure of the country, with chapters covering everything from Parliament and public schools to freemasonry and the Boy Scouts. The chapter on British Intelligence was considered so embarrassingly accurate that the few copies retrieved at the end of the war were retained by the authorities. It is only now, more than half a century later, that a translation has been made, revealing the full and remarkable truth.

Print length

287 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Little, Brown Book Group
Publication date

March 1, 2001
Dimensions

5 x 1 x 7.75 inches
ISBN-10

0953615138
ISBN-13

978-0953615131
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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In August 1940, in compliance with the Führer¹s directive on the imminent invasion of Britain, the Gestapo prepared a secret handbook to be distributed to the occupation forces. It offered an astonishing insight into exactly how the Nazis perceived Britain and her empire, offering detailed analyses of the political and economic structure of the country, with chapters covering everything from Parliament and public schools to freemasonry and the Boy Scouts. The chapter on British Intelligence was considered so embarrassingly accurate that the few copies retrieved at the end of the war were retained by the authorities. It is only now, more than half a century later, that a translation has been made, revealing the full and remarkable truth.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown Book Group (March 1, 2001)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 287 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0953615138
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0953615131
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1 x 7.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,916,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #33,872 in World War II History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
17 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

17 global ratings

5 star		55%
4 star		31%
3 star		9%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		5%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Anthony Genualdi

Chilling read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 22, 2008

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This book isn't for someone who expects a quick read. It was put together with typical Nazi zealousness by SS officer Walter Schellenberg. It was purportedly for the troops going into Britain for Operation Sealion. It wouldn't have been much use for the average soldier, but rather the administrators that would run a German-held Britain. It's most unsettling portion is the "Special Wanted List GB," which contained the names of many people the Gestapo would want arrested. Many famous names are included, such as Winston Churchill and H.G. Wells.
If you are a student of history, and would want to know what the Nazis would have done in Britain, give this book a read.

4 people found this helpful

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4 N ER

My Father

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 21, 2016

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The main reason I purchased this book (used) was because my father appears in the "Special Wanted List". Considering all the other names of notable persons it should be a honor at this time. Not so much so during the 1940th.
Historically, it too is very interesting and worth every minute.

One person found this helpful

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Paul P

Excellent book. Although this was writen in the forties ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 21, 2016

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Excellent book. Although this was writen in the forties the information is still relevant. Believe it when i say that the current "Powers that be" have not only read this, but studied it. A must read if you follow current social and political trends.

2 people found this helpful

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Av8r

Fascinating and chilling at the same time

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 30, 2014

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The prose can get dry in places, but that's understandable considering it was translated from German. The accuracy and detail with which the Germans had analyzed British government and society is breathtaking. They would have been well-prepared if they had ever invaded. This book is a fascinating piece of history that belongs in every World War II history buff's collection.

2 people found this helpful

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Burton Dale

What if Hitler won?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 30, 2013

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This is a concise inventory of who is to live and who is to die in England. Chilling. Nothing more be said.

Burton Dale

One person found this helpful

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Dr. Robert B. Lynch

MISNAMED BOOK

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 19, 2008

This book is incorrectly titled "Invasion 1940." The book is a handbook for occupation forces after the invasion. It nowhere purports to be an invasion plan.
This book was not compiled by "SS Police." Walther Schellenberg was an SS Surmbannfuhrer (Major) at the time of the compilation of the book. He was a Dept. Head in the SD (Security Service) He was promoted Brigadefuhrer und Generalmajor (Major General)in 1944.
Schellenberg was an attorney and like so many unemployed professionals joined the elite SS. He was noticed by SD Chief Heydrich ( combat fighter pilot (Norway), olympic grade fencer and concert hall level violinist). Heydrich always sought the brightest men for the SD. Schellenberg although known to the top level leaders of the Third Reich was unknown to the public.
As an Academy graduate, retired Army officer and retired attorney/judge I see the lawyers hand in this book. While the book is a summary of of an entire nation there is a noticeable economy of words. The organization of data is superb. This is NOT a book for the casual history reader. For the historian, especially those who ponder alternate history it is a goldmine!
Schellenberg was not just an intellectual he was a man of action and personal bravery in that he personally engaged in a gun battle with British agents in Holland and brought them as prisoners to Germany. For that action he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class.

12 people found this helpful

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Sailordude

Cover Art For Book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 20, 2011

Not a review of the book, but I noticed the cover art of the soldiers in front of Big Ben was used for the DVD cover art of the movie "It Happened Here". I liked the movie a lot and just wanted to pass that along. It's about a German occupation of England during WW2 (what if alternate reality). If you are looking here though you probably already knew about this film, lol. Maybe not though as it's an obscure film, but should be at Netflix.

2 people found this helpful

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bladerunner2180

Misleading description and poor content

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 7, 2010

"A detailed analysis of how the Nazis intended to invade Britain in 1940."

Only, it's not. No part of this booklet really covers the actual invasion plans, the Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine and Wehrmacht preparations, which formations were earmarked to take part in the initial operations, operational plans or the German estimate of the make-up and positions of the British defenses, Home Guard and regular army (as well as Commonwealth units) strength and disposition.

All that this volume does is summarize some empiric facts about 1940 Great Britain - facts, I might add, that you can easily and at no cost find on the internet, even on Wikipedia (which also is, ironically, a much more thorough source for the *actual* invasion plans surrounding "Sea Lion"). The second part also is of little interest or use even for readers from a professional academic history background, unless someone needs names for his or her own attempt at writing historic fiction.

All in all, the volume is a disappointment, largely due to false advertising. Taken at face value, it does exactly what General Schellenberg intended it for, which is giving a brief overview over Great Britain for administrators and officers atop the command chain of a possible occupation force. But neither does it warrant its title of "Invasion 1940" nor the description. If you want an account of the actual invasion plans, you'll find more on wikipedia's "Sea Lion" articles than in here.

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

R. L. D. Cooper

British Freemasons were to be persecuted by the Nazis - revealed by the Nazis' own plans...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 13, 2017

Verified Purchase

An interesting and powerful insight to the Nazi mind if the UK had been invaded by Hitler in 1940 - Operation Sealion. Herman Goring's failure to achieve air superiority by wiping out the RAF (aka the Battle of Britain) caused Hitler to cancel the invasion. Then, like Napoleon before him, he made the strategic mistake of attacking Russia leaving the UK (on both occasions) as a 'back door' into into Europe. Fighting a war on two fronts ultimately proved fatal to both.
Before Germany invaded a country the Gestapo prepared it's own invasion plan which was to be implemented by the SS and other branches of the Nazi regime. These secret plans contained directions as to how deal with 'problem groups' in the newly occupied country. These secret plans were known as Black Books. This book 'Invasion 1940: The Nazi Invasion Plan for Britain' is based on the only existing Black Book for Britain.
The contents are chilling. The economy of the UK is analysed with particular attention to on how to deal with ideological enemies - including a full list of people (their names, addresses and occupations are provided) wanted by particular branches of the Nazi machine.
Of great interest is the fact that Freemasons appeared to be, at that time, to be of more importance than the Jews.
This is by no means a full copy of the original Black Book but the contents are interesting for a glimpse of Nazi intentions following an invasion.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0953615138/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_7

One person found this helpful

Helga

Interesting book for my dad

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 18, 2013

Verified Purchase

My dad is finding this interesting to read and is working through it, along with other 10 other Second World War books!

philb

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 8, 2015

Verified Purchase

waited a long time to get it was worth it

RAYMOND WELCH

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 11, 2015

Verified Purchase

GOOD ITEMS, FOR THE USE I NEED THEM FOR.

One person found this helpful

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