Adolf Hitler20 June 1940
Plans for the defeat of Britain at the Fuhrer Conference
Germany · Warfare / World War, 2nd. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
Plans for the defeat of Britain at the Fuhrer Conference
Military chiefs meet to discuss the invasion of Britain but Raeder advises against
Says invasion should commence by mid August but the services revise this to 15th Sept
Sets the latest date for "Sea Lion" as 15th September 1941
Plans to land 90,000 men in the 1st 6 days of the invasion of Britain
Sets 20-26 September as the earliest date on which the Navy can be ready
Believes air superiority was "not enough". Donitz later stated, "we possessed neither control of the air or the sea; nor were we in any position to gain it"
Issues a directive for launching Operation Sea Lion
Signs jointly with Hitler the directive for authorizing Operation Sea Lion
Raeder believes that air superiority might make a successful landing possible although it would be a risky operation and required "absolute mastery over the Channel by our air forces"
Rejects the Navys proposals for carrying the Army to England as "suicide"
Kesselring is ordered to concentrate his forces in the Pas de Calais
Says victory is dependent on vicory in the Air. Issues a directive for Naval & Army operations for the invasion of England
Given command of operations to invade England, subject to victory in the air
At the request of the Services the invasion of England is postponed to 21st September
Issues a directive with the decision to invade England be taken by 11th September
Goering arrives at Kesselrings HQ to take command of Operation Sea Lion
The 11th Septmber deadline is passed & the invasion of England is cancelled. Postpones Operation Sea Lion by 3 days to the 24th September
Postpones Operation Sea Lion awaiting orders to be issued September 17. Postpones Operation Sea Lion
Says Germany does not enough air superiority over England to launch Sea Lion
The Operation begins on Adlertag ("Eagle Day") by German forces, elimination of British air cover had been set as one of the prerequisites for Sea Lion - the amphibious assault of Britain. Initial Luftwaffe estimates are that it will take four days to defeat the RAF Fighter Command in southern England. Believing the RAF is broken Goering bombs London, 1,300 sorties are flown
Suspends operation Sea Lion scheduled for 27 September
Operation Sea Lion is postponed indefinitley
Invasion fleets in the Channel & North Sea are dispersed to prevent damage by the RAF
The British invasion forces are released. After pressure from the Army & the Navy calls off Operation Sea Lion until the Spring
Preparations are deferred to the Spring but only to keep pressure on the British. Operation Sea Lion is called off
Britain will not allow Hitler a free hand in the east & will not sue for peace
Sets up a wirless intercept system to hear RAF messages
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