The Battle of Britain Five Months That Changed History, May—October 1940 by James Holland (z-lib.org).epub

crossing’. Separate raids on the Isle of Wight and Cornwall were suggested,
as was bringing up all large guns to the Pas de Calais under the unified
command of the Kriegsmarine to create artillery cover over the ‘water
lanes’. Hitler agreed with these plans in principle but made it clear he also
wanted Spain drawn into the fight in order to build up a stronger, longer
front against Britain. ‘The Führer is greatly puzzled by Britain’s persisting
unwillingness to make peace,’ noted Halder. ‘He sees the answer (as we do)
in Britain’s hope in Russia and therefore counts on having to compel her by
main force to agree to peace.’ But Hitler was worried that if Britain was
defeated then her Empire would disintegrate, which would only benefit
Japan, the United States and others.
Two days later it was the turn of Admiral Canaris, head of the Abwehr.
Listening to this latest conversation was Hitler’s army adjutant, Gerhard
Engel. ‘Main point of conversation, as always in recent weeks,’ noted
Gerhard, ‘Britain.’ Hitler was bemoaning not having whisked the Duke of
Windsor from France when he had had the chance. Now it was too late; the
former King and Emperor was in Lisbon, in neutral Portugal. ‘My
impression,’ noted Gerhard, ‘is that F. is now more irresolute than ever and
does not know what to do next.’ After all the differing views over the
previous few days, it was hardly surprising Hitler was feeling a little
indecisive. Like most of his commanders, Hitler was inherently a
Continental. The Wehrmacht had been designed for Continental war; and
the Luftwaffe had evolved as an instrument of that Continental war. It could
now use the Luftwaffe as the spearhead with the army following behind, but
while the principle was the same, operationally it was a very different kettle
of fish. The Channel changed everything. Germany was no longer on terra
firma, literally and metaphorically.
How Hitler must have cursed during that week in the Berghof. If only
Britain would see sense! Neither he nor Göring really understood the people
or what it was like to be an island nation; what that narrow stretch of water
that separated her from the Continent meant to the psychology of Britain’s
leaders, and indeed the nation as a whole. And nor did Hitler understand
that, for all its shortcomings, parliamentary democracy and the basic rights
of the common man were something that had been hard fought for and were
highly valued both consciously and subconsciously by the vast majority of
British people. Yes, there were fascists in Britain and there were
communists too, but these were fringe parties; there was little appetite for