"Nazi commandos, uboats, raid on clifftop radar station." Topic

Nazi commandos! Uboats off shore! Secret raid on cliff top radar station in England!
No, it's not a headline from a Victor boys all action comic from the 1970s! It's here, right now, where I am sitting typing this update! I kid you NOT! And before the suspicious ones amongst you say, I knew all the time, that's why I'm here on an "adventure", well your wrong! Wrong wrong wrong.

So, what's it all about? According to a book launched last week (I know you still don't believe me when I say I knew nothing before I came here), the Germans mounted a successful commando raid upon a a cliff top British radar station, humm, well about 800 yards from where I am right now, looking out over the sea!

A tale of daring do, a fiction, a truth long covered up by government officials determined not to give the Germans any credit for their commando raid upon Englands shores? Who knows, but a lot of people down here believe it happened, some claim and give evidence supporting it, and now a book gives even more evidence supporting that it happened.
Well, for me, and you could not make this one up even if you tried, to be placed by good fortune and circumstance, here, in this beautiful part of England, to now set off on a quest, to see if it could really be true, that. German U boat sailed close off this very shore that I gaze upon right now. To think that German jack boots plodded up the beach and cliff side accent I have tread only but yesterday! That highly trained German commandoes assaulted a British radar station, whose remains I gazed upon only yesterday?
Now, who would have thought it, that fate would put me, me here in this place, in this moment? Quite by chance, with no planning or other intention other than a short new year break, I find myself consumed by such an account, and fate delivers me to the actually location!
Bloody hell and thank you very much.
It's strange but nice, when such things happen, unplanned like this.

Further reports will follow from the battleground! It's raining hard here today so I must now finish the book.
Enjoy…
The book is called "churchills last wartime secret. The 1943 German raid airbrushed from history " by Andrew Searle.

I feel a new mini range of figures coming on…………….,

I'm already there. I love the idea of a German raid on home territory, It seems perfectly plausible to me. I'd try Went the Day Well, Dads Army (U boat episode) and The Eagle has landed for a bit of background viewing.

Great story but I still suspect it was a British special ops training mission. We shall probably never know alas.

Can't see why they would use so few troops and from a convalescent bttn. Also why from the Channel Islands………

If it did happen can't see Gobbles not trumpeting German troops on the shore of England….

A good yarn but can't see it myself……

Bc1745

It's been said elsewhere – I've seen a documentary about this, Angela Lansbury, two kids and some ghosts sorted it out

All very well going off on holiday to mystery special ops destinations…get back home and get me my order! ;-)

How could I forget Bedknobs and Broomsticks? It's still a brilliant scenario idea.

Hmm. The only German raid on the UK I've seen documented was seen off by Sgt Fury and his Howling Commandos. But I'm sure the author has German archival material. Who would base a book on a couple of old-timers' war stories?

is this the Shingle street incident ? link

Other way around -- British raid on German coastal radar -- but good for inspiration!

link

Well,
Thank you for all the comments, very interesting sellection of thoughts on the matter.
I've finished the book now and will be walking to the radar station in the morning.
Here's a pod cast by the author being interviewed and he presents some of the EVIDENCE . Buy the book, visit the site and make your own mind up.

POODAST HERE
link

Enjoy,
PaulT@EWM

An old friend of the family who died a few years ago was an FBI agent during World War II and worked a case involving German saboteurs in the U.S. So I guess it would be possible to play a similar scenario set in the States.

An old friend of the family who died a few years ago was an FBI agent during World War II and worked a case involving German saboteurs in the U.S. So I guess it would be possible to play a similar scenario set in the States.

There was a German mission launched in June of 1942 directed at strategic targets in the US. The 8 saboteurs were all caught. 2 of them turned themselves in, and gave information that helped catch and convict the other 6, who were executed in August of 1942.

It is not a mystery. It is not hearsay. It is well documented history. We have US and German archival documents. We know the name of the mission, Operation Pastorius. We even know that Canaris, head of the Abwehr, named the mission in honor of a German settler in North America in the 1700s. We know the names of the saboteurs, we know the names of the officers involved in catching them (Coast Guard and FBI). One of us, evidently, is/was even friends with one of the FBI agents.

Modern history relies very little on stories and "he said / she said". It is not difficult to research documents in the internet age.

Most British secret archives about WW2 have now been opened up to the public. Look for example at the case of "Agent Fifi", a 22 year old German agent who penetrated British intelligence in late 1942 / early 1943. Fifi is the poster-child case for the conspiracy theorists' guidelines for "they'll never let that get to the public", and yet they did.

It makes for a fun story. And there's no reason not to game it as an amusing "what-if". But it is, perhaps, the greatest crime of our press and media that they prefer an interesting story presented as history, over a well researched story presented as history. There is no reason to accept old wives' tales as history. Just do a bit of research and find out if there is any "there" there.

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Hey Mark,
Thanks for your post and taking the time to list your thoughts. I would strongly urge you to give the author a chance. I have found his book both an interesting and thought provoking read, and his evidence was years in the finding and compiling. He gives his evidence a real context, and there is "hard" evidence, mixed with other more subtle contributions.
I respect your views and position, all I ask is you take the time to hear this story out, in all it's detail, and then make your decision.
Yes he comes across on the podcast as a bit Geeky, but his passion for history, accuracy and knowledge is beyond reproach.

I walked the location today, from the landing beach, up and into the area of the radar station. Having now read the book, and walked the ground, and having a clear view of the 2 obvious covered approach routes, it's amazing what you can find there.

I have had a magnificent adventure, today being the closure of one chapter of it. I now have more research to do after today's discoverys.
Any book that no matter it's subject, if it captures you, carries you along with its tale, paints images in your mind and inspires you. Inspires you to reconsider previous "established " facts , entices you to seek more knowledge and information, to visit places otherwise unseen. To ask questions and delve deeper into our history.
Then that's got to be a good thing I think?
Enjoy
PAul T@EWM

Mark 1.

One could always find information on German saboteurs from the internet, but Mr. Grady's stories (the former FBI agent) were always more interesting.

By way of an update on my German Commandos, uboats and clifftop radar station raid adventure.

The sun was delightful yesterday and again today as I'm crossing Sea returning home as I type this update. What an adventure, unplanned yet totally gripping with high degrees of excitement, anticipation and discovery.
Yesterday I got to visit the site of the landing beach and walk part of the radar station. It's was a crisp, clear day, cold but bathed in glorious sunshine. I had my detector with me. By the beach, there is some slightly higher ground over which you can see and select the best "covered approach" to the now visible radar station with its bunkers and 2 sets of concrete bases that once mounted the radar Aries. From beach head at the top of the cliff, to the radar bunkers, I would estimate 650 to 750 yards max. A number of "approach routes are visible, so I selected the most accessible one. Along this approach march, some short distance from the clifftop entry point, I found a number of interesting items!
I'm bringing them home to clean and look for more evidence on them and then research them in more detail before I make any pronouncement. The items are caked in mud and fragile, so I want to clean them carefully.
To say I was excited upon my discoveries, would considerably understate how I felt!!!! I was in some degree of shock and carried away by what this might mean, what to do with my finds, who to tell? To find so much, so quickly when looking at the ground by putting a military head on I.e covered approach route selection, also surprised me.

So, my adventure on the Island ends, but another may open up. In fact, one already has. A friend, Michael Perry is already planning a skirmish game, building terrain for the "German Commando" raid. He's already ordered the pylons. He's as desperate as I am to see the discoveries cleaned and then we can tell what they really are, from what they appear, caked in mud, to be…….
One thing is sure, I totally know the ground there now, I now know all the "back story, evidence both hard and supportive" available. Mr Perry is planning a fine game based on what is suggested to have happened, and I can dine out on the whole story for quite some time I suspect? Both with what I have found, how it felt at the time of discovery and what they turn out to be? Either way, it's been a fantastic adventure, unplanned but extremely welcome. I feel so blessed to have had this experience, no matter what happens next.

Cheers
PAul T@EWM

You're a tease Paul.

Sorry Deephorse,
I've not been even starting cleaning yet. I got back and Peter chained me to the EWM workshop to help us catch up on our massive new website orders. I shall try again Wednesday evening.
I did show Peter and Nigel the finds, most impressed, but until we clean them up…….

Cheers, off to bed now.

Well here is the latest with pictures of the day in question. I am still studying the subject of rifle casings which is hard work indeed. I still am not certain as to what they are yet. But what ever they are, the ADVENTURE will remain a joyful and unforgettable experience I shall treasure for a long time.
ENJOY

earlywarminiatures.com/nazi-commandos-uboats-and-cliff-top-raid-on-radar-station-in-england

Paul T@EWM

I found a copy of Mr. Searle's book on sale today in 'The Works'. Down to £6.00 GBP from £19.99 GBP so I thought I'd get a copy. I am a natural skeptic so I look forward to having my eyes opened. Or maybe not!