大象传媒

Acknowledgements: The Last Ditch (Lampe), Churchill's Secret Army (Cocks), Resistance (Foot), The Times, Daily Telegraph.

In the Spring of 1940 the Germans threw the British out of Europe.

After General Andrew Thorne had brought 48 Division home from Dunkirk, he was directed to take command of X11 Corps and to defend Britain against German invasion.

On May 14th. Anthony Eden broadcast to the nation for volunteers for a new force to go on duty with the Army against invasion. Churchill made a great deal of propaganda use of this force, greatly exaggerating its strength, arms, skill and general ability. That propaganda truly served its purpose. However, the dire situation demanded a well armed guerrilla force, something quite different.

In April, 1940, a Major Colin Gubbins was recalled from France to take to Norway five of the newly formed 鈥淚ndependent Companies鈥� to make hit and run raids on the Wehrmacht鈥檚 over-extended lines between Oslo and and Narvik.

When Colin Gubbins withdrew from Narvik he was given a special task to create an underground guerrilla force that would operate in the United Kingdom in the event of a German invasion and occupation.

Contrary to a popular view, Intelligence reports indicated that invasion from the air was unlikely since Hitler had niether sufficient aircraft nor sufficient airnorne troops for such an operation. Therefore, the Germans would probably come by sea.

As they would be most vulnerable during the first few days after they had landed the new Resistance force would be concentrated in a coastal strip from Norfolk to Hampshire.

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