
Hitler's Spies
Lena and the Prelude to Operation Sealion
Mel Kavanagh(Author)
Pen & Sword Military (Publisher)
Published on 29. October 2020
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-1-5267-6872-8 (ISBN)
Description
September 1940: Britain stands alone against the might of the advancing German Army and the spectre of invasion looms.
Using a wealth of primary material including sources previously designated secret, this is the first book, written in English, dedicated to the story of the first four German spies who successfully arrived in the south of England.
Using the codename Operation Lena, it was the initial undertaking to necessitate Hitler's invasion of England, itself codenamed Operation Sealion.
These men were to be the pathfinders, the scouts, the eyes and ears that would help the first invasion of England for several hundred years.
This extraordinary story stands as evidence of the only part of the invasion actually to arrive, of the abysmal quality of their selection and training, of the extraordinary fair-mindedness of a British jury, especially when Britain was gripped by spy paranoia.
This is possibly one of the most audacious and least known episodes of the Second World War.
Using a wealth of primary material including sources previously designated secret, this is the first book, written in English, dedicated to the story of the first four German spies who successfully arrived in the south of England.
Using the codename Operation Lena, it was the initial undertaking to necessitate Hitler's invasion of England, itself codenamed Operation Sealion.
These men were to be the pathfinders, the scouts, the eyes and ears that would help the first invasion of England for several hundred years.
This extraordinary story stands as evidence of the only part of the invasion actually to arrive, of the abysmal quality of their selection and training, of the extraordinary fair-mindedness of a British jury, especially when Britain was gripped by spy paranoia.
This is possibly one of the most audacious and least known episodes of the Second World War.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Illustrations
16 black and white illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-5267-6872-8 (9781526768728)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
12/2020
Pen and Sword Military
€5.99
Available for download
Person
Born in Hampshire, Mel Kavanagh spent his childhood in Surrey before joining the RAF in 1972.
He comes from a family steeped with military history. His father served with the army during WWII, serving overseas. Other relations served in the Royal Navy and RAF. His grandfather was at the Battle of Jutland during WWI aged just 16.
He spent many years in IT as a computer programmer and systems analyst before retraining as a teacher in 2003.
_Hitler's Spies: Lena, The Prelude to Operation Sealion_ is his first work in non-fiction.
He comes from a family steeped with military history. His father served with the army during WWII, serving overseas. Other relations served in the Royal Navy and RAF. His grandfather was at the Battle of Jutland during WWI aged just 16.
He spent many years in IT as a computer programmer and systems analyst before retraining as a teacher in 2003.
_Hitler's Spies: Lena, The Prelude to Operation Sealion_ is his first work in non-fiction.