In the first of our Fortress Britain episodes, we step back from the secret guerrilla units and look at the bigger picture—how ready was the UK, really, to stop a German invasion in 1940?
Andrew Chatterton returns to break down Britain’s physical defenses—from the rapid construction of stop lines and pillboxes to the strategic thinking behind them. We talk about how much of the country was actually covered, why mobility was so limited, and how even a random brick hut on the coast fits into a much larger defense plan. It wasn’t just Home Guard with pitchforks—there was real doctrine, structure, and urgency.
We also look at the overlooked air and naval elements: radar, decoy airfields, and the sheer power of the Royal Navy—along with the PR, panic, and practical improvisation that shaped the public's view of the war.
Andrew’s work
Fortress Britain: 1940 – https://amzn.to/3Sd5iJ4
Britain’s Secret Defences – https://amzn.to/4jYuT4x
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/historicalandrew
More from Underground Strategy
Discover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7
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