National Archives: Hitler planned to invade with troops in Allied uniform

Adolf Hitler planned to send German troops dressed in Allied uniforms to spearhead his long hoped for invasion of Britain.

The Nazi leader was forced to put his invasion plans permanently on hold after the Luftwaffe failed to establish aerial superiority for the Germans in the Battle of Britain in 1940.

However, he still clung to the hope that he would one day be able to conquer his bitter enemy and, according to files released by the National Archives, some details of his apparent plans were obtained by MI5 from a captured German soldier.

According to Corporal Werner Janowski of the Bau Lehr Kompanie, amphibious landings would be attempted at several points along the English coast, in Scotland and in southern Ireland.

However the main attack would be centred around the Dover area.

The assault would be preceded by a massive aerial bombardment in order to soften up the defences.

"Following the aerial attack, specially trained shock troops were to attempt to make landings with a view to seizing and holding strategic positions until the main body of German troops could be brought across the Channel in barges," MI5 reported.

"The old expedient of wearing Allied uniforms, which had been so successfully applied by the Bau Lehr Kompanie in the Low Countries and France was to be resorted to again."

It said the Janowski's own unit's instructions were "to proceed along the cliffs to a point outside Dover, where there were steps leading down to the beach and from this point they were to continue along the beach and regain the cliff head by means of some steps near the station in Dover.

"The unit was then to pass alongside the railway station and take possession of three docks, on which were located gun emplacements."