Hitler orders Operation Sealion

16th July 1940: Führer Directive No.16 calls for preparations which 'must be completed by the middle of August'

On 12th July ‘The War Illustrated’ told its readers “If the Invader Comes, How He Will Be Repulsed”. The attacks would begin with paratroopers, who would capture an area to be reinforced by more airborne troops - ‘ The Nazis are supposed to have dropped small tanks from the air in Holland’. But the LDV would have contained them until larger forces arriv…