Britain's Secret Defences

Civilian saboteurs, spies and assassins during the Second World War

By: Andrew Chatterton

Most people associate tales of wartime resistance with France, but this hardback book shines an incredibly well-researched spotlight on the details of a secret civilian army of British teenagers, trained to strike back at the Nazis should they ever invade. Very little is known about the resistance force because Britain was never invaded, and all the recruits had to sign the Official Secrets Act on joining. But this book details the story of Section VII and other shadowy wartime organisations and reveals this intriguing hidden chapter of WWII.

For many, the story around Britain's anti-invasion forces is often centred on 'Dad's Army'-like characters running around with pitchforks, on unpreparedness and a sense of inevitability of invasion and defeat. The truth, however, is very different. Top-secret, highly trained and ruthless civilian volunteers were being recruited as early as the summer of 1940. Had the Germans attempted an invasion they would have been countered by saboteurs and guerrilla fighters emerging from secret bunkers, and monitored by swathes of spies and observers who would have passed details on via runners, wireless operators and ATS women in disguised bunkers.

Alongside these secret forces, the Home Guard were also setting up their own 'guerrilla groups' and SIS (MI6) were setting up post-occupation groups of civilians - including teenagers - to act as sabotage cells, wireless operators and assassins had the Nazis taken control of the country. The civilians involved in these groups understood the need for absolute secrecy and their commitment to keeping quiet meant that most went to their grave without ever telling anyone of their role, not even their closest family members. There has been no official and little public recognition of what these dedicated men and women were willing to do for their country in its hour of need, and after over 80 years of silence the time has come to highlight their remarkable role.

This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the early days of WWII, as it gives a good insight into guerrilla warfare tactics and concepts from the perspective of homeland defence. A thoroughly recommended read.

Size 165 x 241mm, 256 pages, Hardback, ISBN: 9781636241005