Description:

'Operation Sealion' was Adolf Hitler's aborted plan to invade England by sea, launching the attack from ports in Belgium and France during the Battle of Britain and making landings in southeast England from Ramsgate to Portsmouth. Enormous preparation went into the invasion, quite similar to the D-Day landings in Normandy, but the failure of Goring's Luftwaffe to obtain air superiority over the R.A.F. forced a cancellation of the attack. Offered here are rarely eight large format printed maps and charts, along with a very lengthy bound volume titled: 'Military Geographical Information about England South Coast Text and Picture Book with Maps'. The 8.25 x 6 in. book was issued by the German Army General Staff and was printed in Berlin on Aug. 15, 1940 at the height of the Battle of Britain. There are various pencil notes on the cover, and a receiving stamp within from the Gebirgs Artillerie Regt. 79. This 448pp. guide It also contains a large folded map at the rear showing the southern coast of England, with specific emphasis on the shore and elevations, cliffs, and rises found immediately thereat. The book, marked 'For Official Use Only!', is absolutely filled with photographs of many dozens of locations along the coast, with matching maps and views of the coast as seen from the sea. The maps have purple numbers, lines, and encircled areas which no doubt refer to other invasion plans (not included in this lot). Descriptions accompanying the maps refer to the terrain, the type of sand or other terrain one could expect upon landing, etc. The military maps and charts present include: a 1940 map showing Great Britain with a key to assist in locating cities and towns; a map of all major bodies of water; locations and types of radio stations and other transmitters throughout Great Britain and Ireland with transmission lines; location of power stations and the electrical grid in Great Britain and Scotland; railway stations and lines throughout the country; and a very large, highly detailed 'Military Geographical Operations Map', a topographical map showing marshlands, beaches, hills, mountains, rivers, depressions, etc., all crucial elements in planning a cross-country attack. The maps are all in excellent condition, the covers of the guide book are lightly soiled. One can only imagine the amount of espionage involved in gathering the vast amount of data included herein!

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June 14, 2023 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000