"Well-researched and cleverly crafted. A compelling read." -NPR "A deft balance of narrative and detail . makes this book engaging for any reader." - Wall Street Journal In Operation Sea Lion: The Failed Nazi Invasion that Turned the Tide of War , author Leo McKinstry offers a meticulously researched and compellingly written account of one of World War II's most pivotal moments. In the summer of 1940, the Nazi war machine was at its zenith, having conquered France, Denmark, Norway, and the Low Countries. Only Britain stood in the way of complete Nazi triumph. Hitler planned a two-pronged offensive-a blistering aerial bombardment followed by a land invasion-to subdue his final enemy.

However, for the first time in the war, Hitler did not prevail. McKinstry's groundbreaking new assessment reveals how the British, far more ruthless and proficient than often recognized, thwarted Hitler's armies at every turn. The brilliance of the RAF in the Battle of Britain was not an exception but part of a pattern of magnificent organization that ultimately led to the failure of Operation Sea Lion. Using a wealth of archival and primary source materials, McKinstry provides an in-depth look at the six fateful months in mid-1940 when Operation Sea Lion was all that stood between the Nazis and total victory.