Rudolf Hess raided England. All by himself.

If only Germany had known Britain would find it impossible to stop small inflatable boats

As a young boy I was told by my father that he had been sent to the south coast to remove burnt bodies of German soldiers from the beach. I asked who burnt them and he told me of pipes in the water with oil in them. When the Germans landed on the coast the oil was set on fire and the German soldiers burnt. My father rarely told of such things. He was later sent to fight the Japanese in Burma, he never discussed that period but swore the burnt soldiers story was true. I never found my father out in a lie.

Its funny, but years ago there was a documentary about the defence of the UK including flame throwers under the water to which my Grandmother, quite without prompting said "Should have had them at Ventnor" and I asked her what she meant. She said that after she had trained for duties on Anti Aircraft batteries she had got orders for a posting to the Isle of Wright which got cancelled for no reason. A week later, she spoke to a Sgt who had been there who said that "Jerry had tried to nick the radar" but had been wiped out That was all she ever really knew about it apart hearing that at least one POW was taken

I live in Altoona, PA and the Germans sent people to attack the railroad shops here, but they were captured shortly after they were dropped of by U-boat.

Interesting, especially as the Isle of Wight and the South coast are mentioned. My Grandfather was in the Royal Artillery and ended up on the South coast near or on the Isle of Wight. My Dad told me years ago that my Grandfather's greatest 'fear' was being given night guard/patrol duty on the coastal paths - his reason being that there were a number of incidents where other soldiers on night patrol, simply 'disappeared', the implication being that they had been killed by German commandos.

My father was in the Royal Hampshires and he told an inquisitive me that there was a raid . I don’t remember the Location but a Group of British soldiers disappeared.

I remember a Jack Higgins novel called The Eagle Has Landed, which Germans land in England disguised as Polish soldiers in order to kidnap Winston Churchill. The movie made from that story had some big stars (Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland). Thanks again, Mark!

I lived in Puerto Rico and during WWII a German U-boat surfaced in the Mona Channel and fired 30 shells of its 105mm deck gun at a camp site lodging men from the Civilian Conservation Corps. The German crew incorrectly identified the bonfires at night as a military facility. At the end, no injuries reported.

What an excellent video Dr. Felton!! 😇

There's never a dull moment with you, Dr. Felton. Your stories are always fascinating. 👍

Another fascinating report! I don't know how you do it, Dr. Felton , but don't ever stop! Right when I think I have read and seen it all you come up with a incident that I am humbled by. Bravo Zulu from the USN, Ret.

My father served in the Orkney islands in 1940 with an anti-aircraft battery on one of the islands in Scapa Flow…. He told me that his unit was relieving another unit but when they got to the gun position there was no crew, They had disappeared.. Apparently German Commandos had landed from a U-Boat and took them prisoner back to Germany where they were displayed. My father and his mates were ordered not to say anything. As you could imagine after that they doubled up guards and kept well alert !!

Another great video by Dr Mark Felton! thank you for these as always!

Another outstanding video. Keep them coming

Well I finally have watched and listened to all of your videos on both your channels. I have learned so much. Keep up the great work. Cheers

These were the last rubber dinghies the British Government managed to stop up until this day.

Mark, this is unrelated, but I wanted to tell you how much your channel has become a part of my everyday life. I'm a Magic the gathering player and I love building new commander decks while listening/watching your videos. It's even started to influence my builds. I created a fast hitting red deck I call "Blitzkrieg". Another I use all snow lands and call it "Eastern front". And my favorite is a blue/white flyer deck I call "Luftwaffe". Thank you for your channel. It means a lot to me.

As usual stunning stuff, outstanding mate thank you

Always an outstanding video and presentation.

Thank you Dr. Felton for all you do on this platform. I'm a USAF veteran and had the great luck of living in the UK and several other places in Europe. My great uncles fought in WW2 under Gen. Patton and I was able to walk in their footsteps of many of the battles they fought in. I wish I had your channel and material in the years I served there. I did get my hands on the British Official Histories (History of the Second World War) and all the wealth of knowledge they contain. Your channel and writing combined with the British Histories have made many wonderful and informative nights for me sitting by my fire with an excellent glass of wine to accompany your works and memories of seeing battlefields from North Africa to Norway, and Britain from North to South. Again sir, thank you for what you do. Harðráði 1066

His is the only place to find newly discovered info about WW2. Thanks Dr. Felton. Your channel is a great service to all of us, and a credit to you and your research team. Keep up the great work.

What a lovely treat. Been watching Mark for a while now. Nice to see a vid on my local area

Wow! You do find some intriguing stories Mark! I'd never heard of this except in fiction ("The Eagle has Landed"). Well done yet again Mate!

"The Eagle Has Landed" is one great movie :)

A friend and former workmate of mine called Stan Flatters swore blind that his father who was in the Skegness area Home Guard was snatched by a German raid whilst he was on patrol along the sea front and he ended up in Germany as a PoW.

Another awesome video mark. Thanks

This is another great video Mark-they are all good!

Evening Mark, I live 4 miles from Ventnor on the Isle of Wight so that was even more intriguing than usual, fascinating story and thankyou.

I worked on a BBC documentary series called invasions some 20 years ago. We covered these stories back then. What you have failed to mention is they are still classified. If you visited locals who sadly are no longer with us like we did they were still tight lipped, but we got enough info to know something happened and bodies recovered.

Never seized to amaze Dr Mark Felton.

Mark Felton, you are always with very interesting subjects.

How about an episode on the German commando mission to kill Churchill which only failed because he had a double standing in for him. I can’t wait for Mark to blow the bloody doors off that story.

Impossible to believe no such activities took place.

Intriguing Dr Felton. Thank you.

Excellent. Keep up the good work 👏

My grandmother told me she once seen Ribbentrop on the top deck of a bus going from Oldham to Manchester. I asked her what he was doing there She said about twenty miles an hour

Spent a lot of time in Ventnor as my ex wife and family resided there. I knew about the stuka raids but never about any (alleged ) German commando raids- fantastic video as always Dr Felton.

Good video Mark cheers

They actually landed in force, but were chased off by animated suits of armor. I saw it in the documentary "Bedknobs and Broomsticks"

I can recommend 'Churchill's Last Wartime Secret' by Adrian Searle, the book solely focusses on the St Lawrence raid

A nice Mark Felton War Stor to break up the Birthday eve... and interesting as always!

Another gem from Dr Felton! 👏

A few years ago a German gentleman visited the Porlock visitor centre. (West Somerset/northern coastline). He told the staff this was the 2nd time he had been there. The first time was when he was a submariner on a U-boat out hunting in the Bristol Channel. The were running low on fresh water. Their charts showed a spring at Porlock. In the dead of night they rowed ashore and filled containers.

So somebody set/caused a fire and said, "I saw Germans" to cover their ass.

Wasn’t The Brandenburg Regiment(part of ABWHER) mostly committed on the eastern front?

See also Adrian Searle's book, from 2016, 'Churchill's Last Wartime Secret: The 1943 German Raid Airbrushed from History'. As Dr Felton says - 'the case seems thin.' Mr Searle completely avoids the question 'if anything happened - why are there no records from the German side?' They had no reason to hide it, internally, rather the reverse.

I born and lived on the island and this raid by the Germans was well known amongst villagers on Niton, although things were hushed-up….. But gunfire was indeed heard by some of the older locals who I spoke to as a young child, it was suggested that the Germans did get a few bits from the radar that they took back to Germany.

In the 70’s I had a True Stories Readers Digest book that described this incident as the Defence force testing a system that “set the sea in fire” as they called it. It was described as a test which have been fairly spectacular at the time.

Dr. Felton-excellent video as always. Part of me was expecting something about Oberst Kurt Steiner and his 13 paratroopers landing at Studley Constable in November 1943…

I'm loving all the comments here about burned bodies and warnings to be silent and such, it sounds much like Roswell. I'ma take mushrooms and work all these ideas into a screenplay, thanks Mark!

Its common knowledge that Germany sent agents and saboteurs to the USA, but most if not all were captured (apparently) So it wouldnt be too far of a stretch to not have done the same to the UK, which would have been much more accessible considering the distances involved. Certain aspects of WW2 are still to this day shrouded in secrecy, and so I wouldnt be surprised at all if successful operations/attacks were conducted in both the USA and UK by German forces, but not made public for reasons of national security etc.

Very interesting video

I remember seeing something about a German raid on the English coast that was repulsed by a witch and the three children she was tending to. Air cover was provided by a flying bed and her broom stick.

A family friend once told me that, as a lad during the war, he delivered newspapers to the garrison in the fortifications dug into the cliffs at Newhaven. One morning, he was not allowed in the place. He later learned that all his 'customers' had had their throats slit in a commando raid.

I don't credit it myself but a Dorset man I met claimed that the Germans attempted a commando raid on the explosive works at Holton Heath and this explains some of the wartime German graves at Wareham. These graves bear other explanations, but, it's an intriguing story. Holton Heath was certainly the target of Luftwaffe attention.

Very interesting, thanks.

Thank you for the lesson.

Thank you Dr Mark Felton for your interesting story. My grandfather was a NCO in the Royal Engineers in 1940. After being evacuated from Saint-Nazaire with other elements of the British Expeditionary Force, the Royal Engineers were put to work bolstering the coastal defences between the Thames Estuary and Solent area. He recalled installing the devices to flood the sea with oil/petroleum a few yards from the beaches which would be set on fire to deter any invasion landing craft from coming ashore. There were also devices similar to WWI Levins Flame Projectors on the most vulnerable beaches to fire at troops who might have been able to land. When I asked if the Germans ever landed? His reply was that he was involved with removing burnt dead bodies of Germans from some South Coast beaches. Other than that he said he was bound by the Official Secrets Act and could say no more. Whether the the Germans attempted invasion landings and/or commando raids is a matter of conjecture without any documentary or photographic evidence. Perhaps the most plausible answer to burnt dead German bodies being washed up on the beaches was the Germans carrying out mock invasion rehearsals on the French Coast between Boulogne-Sur-Mer and Le Harve and were attacked by the RAF bombers and sunk; thus allowing burned corpses to be carried by the tide and being washed up on the British South Coast. The After the Battle Book on Operation Seelowe documents RAF reconnaissance and bombing raids on the French ports used for German invasion preparations. I have seen a You Tube post that made claims that a German “Slapton Sands” type rehearsal was attacked near Le Harve. Dr Mark is there any evidence to confirm this?

A relative of a relative (RIP) was in telephone communications in WW2 - GPO Telephones. He said he overheard on the lines of an attempted landing that was defeated with all Germans killed. He said the lines were buzzing with activity.

Mark. Thanks for providing my Friday Night entertainment!

Doctor, always a pleasure to learn from you sir

Yes they did! The secret German Kommando raid occurred in 1940, in preparation for Operations See Lion. The astonished Grrmans were discoverd and repulsed by a practicing country Witch, who, through the "Substitutiary Locomotion" spell, managed to animate some medieval armour from the local museum, which drove them back into the sea. As she sailed over the battlefield upon he broomstick, directing her erstwhile troops, she was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed to the ground, but was ok as her fall was cusioned by a nearby hedge. The Old Home Guard arrived to mop up and took credit, while brave Egglintine's efforts were lost to history.

Something happened, i live in Portsmouth and there was talk of navy ships leaving the harbour in a hurry and when they returned after 3 days the sailors were swarn to secrecy. I know of the shingle street incident, perhaps that was the reason, cammando raid on orford ness to get radar equipment.

We've all seen Bedknobs and Broomsticks, we know how it really went down 😂 All jokes aside - another impeccably put together video!

As being both interested in WWII history and an old radio enthusiast, I must say that is a beautiful old radio at 5:55.

German troops probably landed in Britain routinely, both officially and unofficially. I live in Canada and my housemate, who grew up in Nova Scotia on Canada’s Atlantic coast, told me a story in his family that one Friday night in a small Nova Scotia town, in the local dance hall, a group of tall, bearded, blonde men walked in and got drinks. They spoke with a foreign accent and were very polite, drank - danced - and left. It was only long afterwards everyone began to work out who they could have been - with the U-boat possibly waiting somewhere out in the darkness!

The Disney movie "Bedknobs and Broomstick" ends with a German raid that is driven off by museum pieces and a small body of Home Guards. It is intriguing there might be a snippet of history hidden in the story.

This man never disappoint.

Interesting question, would like to hear more history about it. Thx.

A friend of mine, sadly passed away, told me that he had a friend who insisted he was snatched by a German raiding party whilst in patrol between Dover and Folkestone. He was in the Home Guard at the time and returned to Britain after VE day. I wish to goodness I could verify the story.

I live close to Shingle Street. There has long been rumours of an incident at Shingle Street including a statement from a local man claiming during the war he was ordered to the beach and witnessed damaged rubber boats and dead bodies with burns and wearing German uniforms. Years later there were reports in German documents of soldiers with burns returning to Europe. Many British documents about any incident here were put on a 100 year secret list. The few documents that were released under public pressure a few years ago had been heavily censored. It could have been a failed raid, an Allied training exercise that went wrong or it could have been nothing at all.

Great video again but surprised that a commando raid/invasion attempt at Shingle Street hasn't been mentioned in this video. Can't see why any attempts would still be covered up after 80 years, what difference would it make finding out about it now after all these years?

In his memoirs called "Dear Me", Peter Ustinov mentioned guarding a patch of coast in Sussex or Kent for a time, and hearing a rumour that earlier guards had been abducted by German raiders. Ustinov was a private in the British Army during WW2.

The Radar site attacked was not at Ventnor - it was at St Lawrence which is near to Ventnor - the low key radar site based there was hidden - also there was a mobile Radar site at Niton Isle of Wight, this radar was on a semi circle track and was wheeled out when required and wheeled back into cover when not required. My father was the runner for the local police motorcycle rider and rode pillion with him - the police officer was elderly and so required a runner to deliver and pick up messages from the various sites around the Ventnor area.

Good point. Always wondered why Germany didn’t do any recon. Seems to make sense they would have. Thanks for this one.

Dr. Felton a war story on the makin island marine raid in 1942 would be fantastic

I live in Niton, on the south coast of The Isle of Wight. I moved here just over five years ago from the mainland. My dad decided to avoid being called up for national service in the early 50's by joining up instead. He didn't fancy the army and so joined the Royal Air Force instead. He worked within the chain radar network and so I was very interested in the Ventnor radar site and have visited what remains of it on several occasions. Much is still spoken here in Niton of increased military activity here at one point during the middle of the war. Trucks full of soldiers arrived along with some navy personnel on high alert and extensive patrols and searches were carried out along the coastline between St Catherine's Lighthouse, Reeth Bay and Niton Undercliffe. It only happened on this scale once apparently and it was to do with an attack on the Ventnor radar station, according to village gossip.....

Apparently in west Wales German submarine crews would come ashore to find water and in one case went to a pub. A friend of ,mine remembers talking to an old German veteran in Porthgain who was visiting where he had come ashore. The locals thought they were Dutch allies serving in Wales.

If they had landed, the men of the Walmington-on-Sea platoon would have been waiting for them! Seriously, you would suspect that the Germans might have mounted some operation to glean insite into Britain's RADAR capability. It has always intrigued me that German high command did not focus more and earlier attention on attacking CHL sites. Thankfully, they did not. Also, when attacking CHL sites they targeted the towers (rather than the huts full of equipment and valuable trained operators). The towers could be easily repaired or replaced.

Dr. Felton. I can’t with you. I just CAN’T ! Every time I look at one of your videos, I’m reminded of my AMATEUR STATUS as a World War II Buff.

It's Friday, I'm off work and Mark Felton just dropped a new vid. Life is good 🙏

Need longer videos dr Felton….

I live on the island and have been told this story, there are a few slightly different versions. which are quite plausable, but no definate accurate evidance to support any version.

Mark, I can't begin to explain how much I enjoy your channel. You have taught me so much and opened up paths about history I would have never known about. You will continue to be a constant in my life, thank you very much.

My grandfather was RAF, protecting a RADAR station. I could not pry much detail from him, however, he said he was posted on the South East coast were he witnessed several inflatable dinghies coming assure from a U Boat. His section had only a few rounds of ammunition each. The end was a battle with bayonets on the beach were the Germans were repelled. I wish I could have learned more.

There was a segment on a bbc factual show, coast I think, where they showed the pipes used to transfer the oil to the tidal zone at Weymouth Dorset, the pumping station was in a hotel basement on the promenade.

My father was captain of a minesweeper based on the east coast, he mentioned that they opened British minefields to allow German troops access to a particular area before the sea was set on fire. If correct it would seem to indicate that they knew they were coming.

never knew that....

There is an interesting book by Peter Haining: Where the Eagle Landed, obviousky picking up on Jack Higgins' novel. Refers particularly to E. Anglia and a place called Shingle Street.

YES, without watching Mr Feltons Video...which are always Exceptional! It was Recon stuff only though to my knowledge.

There was the "Battle" of Graveney Marsh, 27 September 1940 in Kent, where shots were fired and one German was injured. I believed this ended with the captured Germans being taken to the local pub.

Yes a friend told me about the pevensea bay raid many years ago......he said his dad was on leave at the time from r a f coastal and had removed dead German bodies from the beach on pevensea

This was mentioned to me quite independently, by a couple of people who I was interviewing a few years ago when I was writing a book on RNAS Sandbanks. One who was living on Sandbanks as a child was taken by his mother to see some bodies of German soldiers washed up on the beach at Studland. While at the National Archive, I also stumbled across a memo from Winston Churchill worrying about the proximity of the Radar Research Establishment at Worth Matravers near Swanage to the coast. I have wondered about this ever since. Food for thought?

Shout out from the Isle of Wight, thankyou for acknowledging our existence! A couple of things; Firstly while I deeply appreciate your commitment to proper pronunciation, please feel free to say Ventnor as "Ventnah", as I've certainly never heard a local pronounce it so correctly. Second, this is the first I've heard of this raiding story, my personal instinct would be that it's not true. Ventnor bay would have been exceedingly difficult to approach in any craft unlikely to be detected, and the adjacent heads at St Lawrence and Luccombe are no kinder. This part of the island's coast is notoriously tricky with rocks and was used by lamping wreckers for many years. Lastly I recall talking with an old Ventnorian who well remembered the days of the war, he told tales of sitting watching the dogfights over the Solent and channel East of Ventnor, and that on the occasion a spitfire pilot was shot down into the bay, they rowed their tender out to rescue him (something that was surely ill advised and probably a bit illegal). While I don't believe it, I will have another scour around the Luccombe landslip and lesser explored parts of the Ventnor area, chiefly because it's a lovely place to walk around. If I find any Messerschmitt parts or long-stowed German commando dinghies, you shall be the first to know! Big love from IOW, big fan.

I always wondered if there was any truth in the movie 'Bed knobs and broomsticks' with the Germans invading?

Fascinating story and statements made here. The future will tell the tale! Thanks again Dr. Felton for the interesting information.

I will speculate that though there is no record of a Brandonburger unit raiding England, that does not preclude other German agencies did not, since the Intel organizations among the various military forces were divided amongst themselves and did their own thing, competing against each other. The Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Wermarcht, SS, and others could have ran their own special ops independent of each other. Hitler's government was a polyanarchy, which is why Goering made his own Luftwaffe ground divisions.

Completely unrelated to this story, but my dad was a commando in WW2. He served in Italy and North Africa. I think they were unkindly dubbed the D Day dodgers. I did have his medals, but unfortunately, they disappeared in a house move many years ago.

... Mark,Could you do a vid,on the Luftwaffe Field Divisions ?.