Overview

The narrative surrounding Britain's anti-invasion forces has often centred on 'Dad's Army'- like characters running around with pitchforks, on unpreparedness and sense of inevitability of invasion and defeat. The truth, however, is very different. Top-secret, highly trained and ruthless civilian volunteers were being recruited as early as the summer of 1940. Had the Germans attempted an invasion they would have been countered by saboteurs and guerrilla fighters emerging from secret bunkers, and monitored by swathes of spies and observers who would have passed details on via runners, wireless operators and ATS women in disguised bunkers. Alongside these secret forces, the Home Guard were also setting up their own 'guerrilla groups', and SIS (MI6) were setting up post-occupation groups of civilians – including teenagers – to act as sabotage cells, wireless operators and assassins had the Nazis taken control of the country. The civilians involved in these groups understood the need for absolute secrecy and their commitment to keeping quiet meant that most went to their grave without ever telling anyone of their role, not even their closest family members. There has been no official and little public recognition of what these dedicated men and women were willing to do for their country in its hour of need, and after over 80 years of silence the time has come to highlight their remarkable role. AUTHOR: Andrew Chatterton is a Second World War historian and Public Relations professional. His role as Press Officer for the Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team (CART) led to his fascination with the secret layers of defence in place in case of an attempted German invasion during the Second World War. CART maintains the British Resistance Archive where the story of some of the civilian volunteers is kept, providing public recognition of the significant role they would have played in the event of an invasion. 50 photographs

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9781636241005

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...essential reading for anyone interested in Sealion or in the history of special operations forces. * The NYMAS Review 04/01/2023 * There is a tendency ... to try and 'sex-up' the story of clandestine military units - there is no need; here, the truth is better than fiction and Chatterton recognises this in a thoughtful, analytical and sober manner. ... One thing is for sure: this is an exciting, tantalisingly, ongoing story and in due course, more will come out. * Britain at War 03/10/2022 * ...gives a good insight into guerrilla warfare tactics and concepts from the perspective of homeland defense. Individuals who are fans of military history or are in a position of leadership regarding homeland defense will find this book informative and interesting. * DODReads 07/12/2022 * Most people tend to associate tales of wartime resistance with France, but [this] new research has revealed details of a secret civilian army of British teenagers, trained to strike back at the Nazis should they ever invade. * The Telegraph 02/01/2022 * Chatterton has pieced together the story of Section VII and other shadowy wartime organisations, and reveals this intriguing hidden chapter of the war. * The Daily Mail *

There is a tendency ... to try and 'sex-up' the story of clandestine military units - there is no need; here, the truth is better than fiction and Chatterton recognises this in a thoughtful, analytical and sober manner. One thing is for sure: this is an exciting, tantalisingly, ongoing story and in due course, more will come out. * Austin J Ruddy, Britain at War 03/10/2022 * Most people tend to associate tales of wartime resistance with France, but [this] new research has revealed details of a secret civilian army of British teenagers, trained to strike back at the Nazis should they ever invade. * The Telegraph 02/01/2022 * Chatterton has pieced together the story of Section VII and other shadowy wartime organisations, and reveals this intriguing hidden chapter of the war. * The Daily Mail *

Truly, this is a must read for those seriously interested in all the heroic actions generally known but rarely mentioned in detail we approach the 8th decade since World War II ended. -- ARGunners.com

Author Information

Andrew Chatterton is a Second World War historian and Public Relations professional. His role as Press Officer for the Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team (CART) led to his fascination with the secret layers of defence in place in case of an attempted German invasion during the Second World War. CART maintains the British Resistance Archive where the story of some of the civilian volunteers is kept, providing public recognition of the significant role they would have played in the event of an invasion.

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