Seelöwe Nord: The Germans are coming… SYNOPSIS
Seelöwe Nord is a war novel that tells the alternative history of Operation Sealion, the proposed German invasion of Britain in 1940. In Andy Johnson’s debut novel, the invasion actually takes place, but instead of falling on the south coast of England as was expected, the Germans land on the east coast of Yorkshire between Scarborough and Skipsea. The invasion also involves a parachute attack on RAF Driffield and a glider-borne assault against the gun batteries on Spurn Head. In the days following the invasion, the Germans fight their way south-westwards through Holme-on-Spalding Moor in an attempt to cross the River Ouse between Selby and Goole.
While the British forces in the area put up desperate resistance in order to delay the German advance, the British reserves are rushed northwards to deliver a counter-attack, which eventually takes place four days after the German landings. This results in a climactic final battle on both sides of the Ouse in the vicinity of Church Fenton, Cawood and Ricall. In addition to this, the area of Filey Bay, Bridlington and Holme-on-Spalding Moor, become the settings for some spectacular battle sequences, and readers familiar with this part of Yorkshire will be able to follow the action, quite literally, field by field.
The novel is written using the snapshot method, switching between the German and British forces and is written from a soldier’s perspective. The colourful language, black humour and sometimes absurd nature of battle, will resonate with serving or former soldiers. The book contains a mixture of historical figures, such as Churchill, General Alan Brooke, and the German Commander of the SS Totenkopf Division, Theodor Eicke. In addition, there are many fictional characters typical of the low level soldiery from both sides.
The scenario was originally designed by the author for a command training exercise when he was a serving soldier in the British Army. Due to operational commitments, the exercise was never conducted before the author’s retirement, and so he decided to take the scenario and turn it into a novel, some of the profits from which could then be donated to military charities that care for British soldiers injured in modern conflict.
Seelöwe Nord is not for the feint hearted and is certainly not a nostalgic trip down memory lane with ‘blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover’. Containing graphic scenes of battle, strong language, and descriptions of war crimes, this is a blunt, robust and unpretentious war story. For the reader who isn’t too fussed about the academic debate over whether Operation Sealion was ever a real possibility, but who is keen to understand the sound, smell and feel of battle for the man at the sharp end, this book is an absolute must.
Seelöwe Nord: The Germans are coming… is out now; available in large paperback from any good book shop by quoting the title and International Standard Book Number 978-1-907294-38-9. The novel is also available from a range of internet retailers including www.amazon.co.uk