Chapter 4

The German ‘Overlord’?

The general opinion here, that an invasion will be attempted in the near future, has gained ground.

Reuters News Agency, London, Saturday, 14 September 1940

The army plan of 27 August was, as previously stated, amended once again, following further objections from the German naval staff. The first wave was now reduced to nine divisions, but an airborne division, which obviously would not depend on the resources of the Navy for transportation, was added. The first wave would be reinforced by a second and third wave of troops once the beachheads were secured.

In detail, the complete army order of battle, and the areas they would assault, as shown on Map 2, were as follows:

Folkestone–New Romney

The first landings would be made by the Sixteenth Army’s XIII Army Corps, under the command of General of Panzertroops von Vietinghoff. This corps consisted of two infantry divisions, the 17th and the 35th, supported by a Luftwaffe anti-aircraft regiment. Commando teams from the Brandenburg Regiment would also land with these divisions and would attack along the coast towards Dover, knocking out British positions on the coast and along the Royal Military Canal, whilst a further unit would attack the coastal batteries around Dover and prevent the sinking of blockships in the harbour entrance.

Rye–Hastings

The first wave, also from Sixteenth Army, consisted of the two divisions (7th Infantry and 1st Mountain) of VII Army Corps, commanded by Colonel General von Schobert. Again, an antiaircraft regiment was attached.