Hitler planned an invasion of UK - and Lyme Regis

1:35pm Thursday 11th October 2007

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IT seems Lyme Regis had a lucky escape during the Second World War, as new evidence reveals Hitler's plans to attack the town by sea.

Lyme was among Hitler's targets in the German's invasion plan for the United Kingdom, according to a new book, 'German Invasion Plans for the British Isles, 1940'.

Documents seized by Allied forces as they invaded Berlin in the last days of the Third Reich have been compiled and made into a book, and include instructions for the German invading forces.

Originally compiled by German researchers, it included all the crucial information an invading army would need about the UK, such as the road system, geography of regions, money, weights and measures and a translation of Welsh words.

Also included are details of Operation Sea Lion, a Nazi plan to invade the United Kingdom, beginning in 1940.

The operation would have seen nine divisions landing by sea with around 67,000 men in the first rank and an airborne division to support them.

The battle plan called for enemy forces to be launched from Cherbourg to Lyme Regis, along with attacks on Ventnor on the Isle of Wight, Brighton, Dover, Eastbourne, Folkestone and Ramsgate.

After swift victory in the Battle of France, Germany believed the war in the west could easily be won, so Hitler's plan was to secure England as far as Northampton, anticipating that the rest of the United Kingdom would then surrender.

But the main difficulty for Germany was the size of its navy, and they could not take control of the skies.

On September 17, 1940, Lyme Regis was spared its fate when Hitler ordered the cancellation of the operation, having only got as far as the Channel Islands.