# Operation "Sealion" (Invasion of England)-Would It Have Worked? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 17, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-sealion-invasion-of-england-would-it-have-worked/189124 "2003-07-17T12:43:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-sealion-invasion-of-england-would-it-have-worked/189124/41 "2003-07-21T19:30:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\ ***dropzone** - IIRC, The French came up with some of the weirder/better plans at Colditz \*\* I _have to_ research that now! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-sealion-invasion-of-england-would-it-have-worked/189124/42 "2003-07-21T20:57:18Z")
I don’t think Hitler could have mounted a successful amphiobious invasion of Britain, and I doubt whether he really wanted to try. His best hope was to strike a deal with Britain, one that recognized Hitler’s domination of the continent of Europe in exchange for a promise to leave Britain’s empire intact. While Churchhill wouldn’t have gone for that, there were no few Tories who’d probably have jumped at such an offer. ---
**Author:** ![rogue4007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@rogue4007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogue4007)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-sealion-invasion-of-england-would-it-have-worked/189124/43 "2003-07-21T22:30:51Z")
One possible scenario would be for the germans to use Ireland as a base for its airforce, whilst saying they were neutral, there was a great deal of support for the Germans in Ireland. Many saw a german victory as a chance for a united ireland ---
**Author:** ![Shortie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Shortie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shortie)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-sealion-invasion-of-england-would-it-have-worked/189124/44 "2003-07-21T22:34:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rogue4007 \* > \*\*One possible scenario would be for the germans to use Ireland as a base for its airforce, whilst saying they were neutral, there was a great deal of support for the Germans in Ireland. Many saw > a german victory as a chance for a united ireland \*\* While I believe we did respect Irish neutrality, I can’t see us jest ignoring them if they openly aided Germany, and we’re a whole lot closer. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-sealion-invasion-of-england-would-it-have-worked/189124/45 "2003-07-22T12:14:27Z")
The Germans could have easily occupiedthe islandof Iceland in 1940-and this would have made the U-Boats unbeatable! With Iceland as a base, the U-Boats could have dominated the North Atlantic, and made the transport of supplies to England impossible. Since Iceland only had around 200,000 inhabitants, I’m sure 2-3army divisions would have sufficed to secure the island. ---
**Author:** ![Eolbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@Eolbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eolbo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-sealion-invasion-of-england-would-it-have-worked/189124/46 "2003-07-22T15:09:00Z")
Given the disparities in naval strength I doubt Germany could have landed 3 divisions in Iceland, and certainly couldnt have maintained supply lines to any garrison there. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-sealion-invasion-of-england-would-it-have-worked/189124/47 "2003-07-22T16:46:45Z")
The British beat the Germans to the “occupation” of Iceland in 1940. The British turned over Icelandic “occupation” to the US in 1942. There was a good thread about this not too long ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-sealion-invasion-of-england-would-it-have-worked/189124.md?page=2)