L'opération Sea Lion était le plan allemand d'invasion de la Grande-Bretagne pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale (1939-1945) et était prévue à la fin de 1940, après la chute de la France.
Arrière plan
Avec la victoire allemande sur la Pologne lors des campagnes d'ouverture de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, les dirigeants de Berlin ont commencé à planifier des combats à l'ouest contre la France et la Grande-Bretagne. Ces plans prévoyaient la capture de ports le long de la Manche suivie d'efforts pour forcer la reddition de la Grande-Bretagne. Comment cela devait être accompli est rapidement devenu un sujet de débat parmi les hauts dirigeants de l'armée allemande. Cela a vu le grand amiral Erich Raeder, commandant de la Kriegsmarine, et le Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring de la Luftwaffe s'opposer à une invasion maritime et faire pression pour divers types de blocus visant à paralyser l'économie britannique. À l'inverse, la direction de l'armée a plaidé pour des débarquements en East Anglia, ce qui verrait 100 000 hommes débarqués.
Raeder a répliqué en arguant qu'il faudrait un an pour assembler les navires requis et que la Home Fleet britannique devrait être neutralisée. Göring a continué à faire valoir qu'un tel effort transmanche ne pouvait être fait que comme "l'acte final d'une guerre déjà victorieuse contre la Grande-Bretagne". Malgré ces appréhensions, à l'été 1940, peu de temps après la stupéfiante conquête allemande de la France , Adolf Hitler tourna son attention vers la possibilité d'une invasion de la Grande-Bretagne. Quelque peu surpris que Londres ait repoussé les ouvertures de paix, il a publié la directive n ° 16 le 16 juillet qui stipulait:"Comme l'Angleterre, malgré le désespoir de sa position militaire, s'est jusqu'à présent montrée peu disposée à tout compromis, j'ai décidé de commencer à préparer et, si nécessaire, à mener à bien une invasion de l'Angleterre... et si nécessaire, l'île sera occupée."
Pour que cela réussisse, Hitler a posé quatre conditions qui devaient être remplies pour assurer le succès. Semblables à ceux identifiés par les planificateurs militaires allemands à la fin de 1939, ils comprenaient l'élimination de la Royal Air Force pour assurer la supériorité aérienne, le déminage de la Manche et la pose de mines allemandes, la mise en place de l'artillerie le long de la Manche et la prévention la Royal Navy d'interférer avec les débarquements. Bien que poussés par Hitler, ni Raeder ni Göring n'ont activement soutenu le plan d'invasion. Ayant subi de sérieuses pertes au sein de la flotte de surface lors de l'invasion de la Norvège, Raeder en est venu à s'opposer activement à l'effort car la Kriegsmarine manquait de navires de guerre pour vaincre la Home Fleet ou soutenir une traversée de la Manche.
Planification allemande
Surnommée l'opération Sea Lion, la planification a progressé sous la direction du chef d'état-major général, le général Fritz Halder. Bien qu'Hitler ait initialement souhaité envahir le 16 août, on s'est vite rendu compte que cette date était irréaliste. Lors d'une réunion avec les planificateurs le 31 juillet, Hitler fut informé que la plupart souhaitaient reporter l'opération jusqu'en mai 1941. Comme cela supprimerait la menace politique de l'opération, Hitler refusa cette demande mais accepta de repousser Sea Lion jusqu'au 16 septembre. étapes, le plan d'invasion de Sea Lion prévoyait des débarquements sur un front de 200 milles de Lyme Regis à l'est de Ramsgate.
Cela aurait vu le groupe d'armées C du maréchal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb traverser de Cherbourg et atterrir à Lyme Regis tandis que le groupe d'armées A du maréchal Gerd von Rundstedt a navigué du Havre et de la région de Calais pour atterrir au sud-est. Possédant une petite flotte de surface épuisée, Raeder s'est opposé à cette approche de front large car il estimait qu'elle ne pouvait pas être défendue par la Royal Navy. Alors que Göring lançait d'intenses attaques contre la RAF en août, qui se sont transformées en bataille d'Angleterre , Halder a attaqué avec véhémence son homologue naval, estimant qu'un front d'invasion étroit entraînerait de lourdes pertes.
Le régime change
Cédant aux arguments de Raeder, Hitler a accepté de réduire la portée de l'invasion le 13 août avec les débarquements les plus à l'ouest à Worthing. En tant que tel, seul le groupe d'armées A participerait aux débarquements initiaux. Composé des 9e et 16e armées, le commandement de von Rundstedt traverserait la Manche et établirait un front de l'estuaire de la Tamise à Portsmouth. En faisant une pause, ils renforceraient leurs forces avant de mener une attaque en pince contre Londres. Cela pris, les forces allemandes avanceraient vers le nord jusqu'aux environs du 52e parallèle. Hitler supposait que la Grande-Bretagne se rendrait au moment où ses troupes atteindraient cette ligne.
Alors que le plan d'invasion continuait d'être en évolution, Raeder était en proie à un manque de péniches de débarquement spécialement conçues. Pour remédier à cette situation, la Kriegsmarine a rassemblé environ 2 400 barges venues de toute l'Europe. Bien qu'un grand nombre, ils étaient encore insuffisants pour l'invasion et ne pouvaient être utilisés que dans des mers relativement calmes. Comme ceux-ci étaient rassemblés dans les ports de la Manche, Raeder continuait à craindre que ses forces navales ne soient insuffisantes pour combattre la Home Fleet de la Royal Navy. Pour soutenir davantage l'invasion, une myriade de canons lourds ont été mis en place le long du détroit de Douvres.
Préparatifs britanniques
Conscients des préparatifs de l'invasion allemande, les Britanniques ont commencé la planification défensive. Bien qu'un grand nombre d'hommes étaient disponibles, une grande partie de l'équipement lourd de l'armée britannique avait été perdu lors de l' évacuation de Dunkerque . Nommé commandant en chef des forces intérieures fin mai, le général Sir Edmund Ironside a été chargé de superviser la défense de l'île. Manquant de forces mobiles suffisantes, il a choisi de construire un système de lignes défensives statiques autour du sud de la Grande-Bretagne, qui étaient soutenues par la ligne antichar plus lourde du quartier général. Ces lignes devaient être soutenues par une petite réserve mobile.
Retardé et annulé
Le 3 septembre, alors que les Spitfire et les ouragans britanniques contrôlaient toujours le ciel du sud de la Grande-Bretagne, Sea Lion a de nouveau été reporté, d'abord au 21 septembre, puis, onze jours plus tard, au 27 septembre. Le 15 septembre, Göring a lancé des raids massifs contre la Grande-Bretagne dans un tenter d'écraser le Fighter Command de l'Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding . Vaincue, la Luftwaffe subit de lourdes pertes. Convoquant Göring et von Rundstedt le 17 septembre, Hitler a reporté indéfiniment l'opération Sea Lion en invoquant l'échec de la Luftwaffe à obtenir la supériorité aérienne et un manque général de coordination entre les branches de l'armée allemande.
Tournant son attention vers l'est vers l'Union soviétique et planifiant l' opération Barbarossa , Hitler ne revint jamais à l'invasion de la Grande-Bretagne et les barges d'invasion furent finalement dispersées. Dans les années qui ont suivi la guerre, de nombreux officiers et historiens se sont demandé si l'opération Sea Lion aurait pu réussir. La plupart ont conclu qu'il aurait probablement échoué en raison de la force de la Royal Navy et de l'incapacité de la Kriegsmarine à l'empêcher d'interférer avec les débarquements et le réapprovisionnement ultérieur des troupes déjà à terre.
Sources
- Cruickshank, Dan. " Histoire - Guerres mondiales: la menace allemande contre la Grande-Bretagne pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale."BBC , BBC, 21 juin 2011
- « Opération Lion de Mer ».Site d'apprentissage de l'histoire
- L'évacuation de Dunkerque, l'opération Sealion et la bataille d'Angleterre ." The Other Side
FAQs
What were the plans for Operation Sea Lion? ›
Operation Sealion was the code name for Nazi Germany's planned invasion of Britain. It was supposed to take place in September 1940 and, had it been successful, would have completed Adolf Hitler's domination of western Europe. In the preceding months, the German Army had already swept across much of the continent.
What was the outcome of Operation Sea Lion? ›| Operation Sea Lion | |
|---|---|
| Planned | September 1940 |
| Planned by | OKW |
| Objective | Elimination of the United Kingdom as a base of military operations against the Axis powers |
| Outcome | Eventual cancellation and diversion of German, Italian, and other Axis forces for Operation Barbarossa |
Why was Operation Sea Lion a failure? The German air force was unable to defeat the British air force.
What was Operation Sea Lion quizlet? ›What was Operation Sea Lion and when did it begin? July 10, 1940: Nazi Germany's code name for a proposed invasion of the United Kingdom during the Battle of Britain during WW2.
Why did Operation Sealion fail? ›Several postponements took place through into September on the grounds that the essential conditions did not exist. The Luftwaffe's failure to achieve air supremacy in the Battle of Britain forced Hitler to postpone Operation Sealion indefinitely. The operation was never formally cancelled.
Why was Operation Sealion so important? ›amphibious invasion, termed Operation “Sea Lion.” Victory in the air battle for the Luftwaffe would indeed have exposed Great Britain to invasion and occupation. The victory by the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command blocked this possibility and, in fact, created the conditions for Great Britain's survival, for the…
Is the Japanese sea lion still alive? ›...
| Japanese sea lion | |
|---|---|
| Extinct (1970s) (IUCN 3.1) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
Seals and sea lions are marine mammals called 'pinnipeds' that differ in physical characteristics and adaptations. Sea lions (left) are brown, bark loudly, "walk" on land using their large flippers and have visible ear flaps. Seals have small flippers, wriggle on their bellies on land, and lack visible ear flaps.
Why were sea lions hunted? ›Sea lions were harvested for meat, oil and blubber. Bone and whiskers were used for tools, sinews for cordage, intestines and stomachs for waterproof containers and clothing, and the skins were used for baidarkas (kayaks). Unalaska sites have yielded implements and decorative pieces fashioned from sea lion bone.
How many people died during Operation Sealion? ›Of the 90,000 German troops who landed, only 15,400 returned to France. 33,000 were taken prisoner, 26,000 were killed in the fighting and 15,000 drowned in the English Channel. All six umpires deemed the invasion a resounding failure.
What were the chances of Operation Sealion being successful? ›
As Dan Gall says, there was virtually zero chance of Operation Sealion being a success. The German Army probably realised this, and the German Navy definitely did.
Why are sea lions in danger of extinction? ›Why are sea lions endangered? Sea lions around the world are endangered, in part due to humans hunting them in the 19th century, where whole colonies were wiped out. Sealing stopped in Australia in the 1920s, but population numbers of all pinnipeds have taken a long time to recover.
When did Operation Sea Lion end? › When did Operation Sea Lion start? › Where did Operation Sea Lion happen? › How long did France take to fall in ww2? ›To Churchill at that time, France's army seemed a powerful bulwark against possible Nazi aggression towards other European nations. The defeat of this powerful army in a mere six weeks in 1940 stands as one of the most remarkable military campaigns in history.
What was the failed airborne operation in ww2? ›...
Operation Varsity.
| Date | 24 March 1945 |
|---|---|
| Result | Allied victory |
The Battle of Stalingrad was not part of Operation Barbarossa, though it is often confused with having been part of it since the two operations happened around the same period. Operation Barbarossa mainly targeted the capital Moscow and the resource-rich Ukraine.
Why did Germany never invade Britain? ›The most probable reason was that the German Army had overstretched its supply lines. The Germans did not have substantial resources to fight an urban battle against thousands of British and French troops.
What was the largest sea land military operation? ›D-Day - 6 June 1944 - was the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare. The statistics of D-Day, codenamed Operation Overlord, are staggering. The Allies used over 5,000 ships and landing craft to land more than 150,000 troops on five beaches in Normandy.
What was the largest land sea operation? ›
The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944, brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest invasion force in human history.
What is the rarest lion alive? ›The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is a subspecies of the lion which today survives only in India. Asiatic lions stand at between 1 and 1.2 metres tall.
Will a sea lion hurt a human? ›Though not typically aggressive to humans, attacks can occur for several reasons: illness, hormonal changes related to breeding, and human desensitization. Like most animals, sea lion mouths contain numerous flora and bites are at risk for polymicrobial infections.
Can you touch a sea lion? ›NOAA Fisheries does not support, condone, approve, or authorize activities that involve closely approaching, interacting, or attempting to interact with whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, or sea lions in the wild. This includes attempting to swim with, pet, touch, or elicit a reaction from the animals.
Are seals friendly to humans? ›Seals appear to be appealing and friendly, which they are indeed. Most zoos and marine attractions showcase seals as trainable, intelligent, and friendly to humans. They can be taught to perform shows and provide entertainment to humans.
Do orcas eat sea lions? ›Orcas hunt everything from fish to walruses, seals, sea lions, penguins, squid, sea turtles, sharks, and even other kinds of whales. Depending on the season and where they are, their diet varies—some orcas eat more fishes and squid than seals and penguins.
Which is more aggressive seal or sea lion? ›Generally speaking, seals are friendlier to humans and are less likely to attack, and sea lions can be a little more hostile. However, it does depend on the seal. Many sea lions are accustomed to humans, with many being kept in zoos and wildlife parks, and are used to human interaction, making them very friendly.
Is sea lion meat edible? ›Whoever retrieves an animal tends to keep the sea lion liver, the heart, the flippers, and some shoulder steaks. They are most likely to give away the backstrap and the breast meat to elders. The skin, tailbone, and head are discarded back into the sea, but the vertebrae are often used for soup.
Have sea lions saved humans? ›Marine animals (dolphins, sea lions) and other creatures have helped save humans and other animals from dangerous situations all over the world.
Do sharks eat sea lions? ›Southern California coastal waters are a nursing area for juvenile white sharks, which prey mostly on rays and bottom fishes. As adults, they prey on seals and sea lions.
How many sailors died at sea in ww2? ›
| Branch | Killed | Wounded |
|---|---|---|
| Navy | 62,614 | 37,778 |
| Marines | 24,511 | 68,207 |
| Coast Guard | 1,917 | Unknown |
| TOTAL | 407,316 | 671,278 |
The Race to the Sea
This line would remain essentially unchanged for over three years. In less than five months, the armies on the Western Front had suffered nearly two million casualties, including half a million deaths.
The original records are held by The National Archives and are perilously damaged. Almost 45,000 Royal Navy sailors died in the Great War and, for most, the sea is their last resting place. Those without graves are mostly commemorated on the huge naval memorials at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth.
How many seals are left in the ocean? ›...
| Harbor seal | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Phoca |
| Species: | P. vitulina |
| Binomial name | |
| Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758 | |
Even so, without sea lions, there will be less total energy available for the killer whale population. The decrease in available energy due to sea lion extinction is likely to affect the killer whale population in several ways. Some whales may die from starvation.
Why are so many seals dying? ›With climate change and overfishing dramatically reshaping marine ecosystems, the answer is almost always multifactorial. “We have to be really sure its domoic acid before we say that publicly,” said Gridley.
What are sea lions scared of? ›1) Galapagos sea lions are not afraid of people
The only predators they have are sharks, killer whales, and dogs.
Seals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is against the law to touch, feed or otherwise harass seals. Harassment occurs whenever your behavior changes their behavior. The rule is to keep at least 50 yards, four car lengths, away — to give them their space.
What eats a sea lion? › What efforts are being made to save sea lions? ›All seals and sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and some are also listed under the Endangered Species Act. Together with our partners, we work to study, protect, and conserve these unique marine mammals and their habitats.
When did Operation Sea Lion begin? ›
What was a result of Operation Sea Lion quizlet? ›What was a result of Operation Sea Lion? Hitler gave up his plan to invade Britain. Why did Germany invade the Soviet Union? Hitler wanted the country's natural resources.
Why are sea lions vitamins so cheap? ›Why are Sealions vitamins so cheap? All our Sealions products are on par with the quality of other major vitamin and supplement market leaders. We just do things differently here. We believe our customers should not have to front the standard high margins of vitamin products.
Will a sea lion save a human? ›Marine animals (dolphins, sea lions) and other creatures have helped save humans and other animals from dangerous situations all over the world.
Are sea lions friendly? ›Many sea lions are accustomed to humans, with many being kept in zoos and wildlife parks, and are used to human interaction, making them very friendly.
Why was the Japanese sea lion hunted? ›Valuable oil was extracted from the skin, its internal organs were used to make expensive medicine, and its whiskers and skin were used as pipe cleaners and leather goods, respectively. At the turn of the 20th century, they were captured for use in circuses.
What happened to the Japanese sea lion? ›Japanese commercial capture of Japanese sea lions ended in the 1940s after Japanese trawlers caught as many as 16,500 sea lions. This was the final blow that is thought to have caused their extinction.
When did Operation Sealion end? › What is the rarest Sealion? ›The New Zealand sea lion numbers around 12,000 and is one of the world's rarest sea lion species. They are the only species of the genus Phocarctos.
How many people died during Operation Sea Lion? ›Of the 90,000 German troops who landed, only 15,400 returned to France. 33,000 were taken prisoner, 26,000 were killed in the fighting and 15,000 drowned in the English Channel. All six umpires deemed the invasion a resounding failure.
Why were seals and sea lions nearly hunted to extinction? ›
Starting in the 1700s, the maritime fur trade of the Pacific Northwest depleted nearly all species of marine mammals including sea otters, whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions. Elephant seals were hunted almost to extinction for their oil-rich blubber, which was used to make oil for lamps and lubrication.
How does the Sea Lion break apart its prey? ›Rather, they swallow their prey completely whole. If a prey item is too large, they will whip their heads around to tear their prey into smaller pieces. We are fortunate to have the resources to feed our sea lions a variety of fish: mackerel, herring, squid, capelin and butterfish.