Did Churchill admit that in 1940 the Germans could have marched into the UK, but for the English Channel?

Question

In short, the British were just as unprepared as the French. The English Channel and a quickly strengthened RAF saved Great Britain from the same fate as the French. Did Churchill ever admit that?

Answer 1

Great Britain was more prepared than France. Many countries were so disgusted by the First World War that they were greatly disarmed in the decades leading up to the Second.

Great Britain knew that they had an advantage with the English Channel separating them from the continent. They relied on the Royal Navy to protect them from invasion for centuries. After the fall of France, the RAF was vital in preventing the German Luftwaffe from gaining air superiority, which may have allowed a cross channel invasion.

As unprepared as Great Britain was, the German military was even more so in respect to an invasion of England. The Luftwaffe was ill equiped to conduct a strategic campaign and the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) had no chance for wresting control of the sea from the Royal Navy, which was still the largest in the world at the time.

Answer 2

No. Churchill never said that or anything similar to that effect. Britain was almost on its knees fighting against Germany. With the British defeat at Dunkirk, Churchill's speeches were all inspirational speeches to rally the morale of the beleguered British troops. Any such admission of the likelihood of British defeat is one thing that Churchill refuse to talk about. He knew that German troops are more superior in the battlefield. If anything, Churchill never muttered any word that will undermine the British soldier's morale, no matter how bleak the war situation for Britain is.

However, most war historians agree that without the English Channel, Britain could have been easily invaded by Germany just like the others (Austria, Poland, Belgium, France, Czechoslovakia, Netherlands).

Answer 3

who cares? spain found out about the channel in1588 too. persia found out about the seas of athens. what made england and japan culturally isolated for centuries? isnt it obvious.