Operation Starkey was the invasion that never was.

http://www.combinedops.com/Operation%20Starkey.htm

Daybreak on 9 September 1943 saw the English Channel busier than at any time since the Dunkirk evacuation. In a 355-strong mini-armada sailing towards France were self-propelled Thames barges, cross-Channel pleasure steamers and destroyers, ready to beat off an attack... but they carried no invading army! To cap the pretence, the entire mile-wide 'assault force' responded to the code word Backchat at 0900 hours by making a smart 180 degree turn and sailing back to their UK ports.

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Was there ever any reaction by the Germans , say, something that would come up during Overlord in their plans etc. Or any reports made in 1943?

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I believe the Germans missed it all.

Troops had moved to embarkation ports and gone through the whole loading exercise.

The RAF also clobbered some French coastal villages in support of Starkey, causing fairly heavy losses to the French Inhabitants.

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Whe're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful wizard of OZ - 6 Australian Infantry Div, Bardia January 1941

I believe the Germans missed it all.

Troops had moved to embarkation ports and gone through the whole loading exercise.

The RAF also clobbered some French coastal villages in support of Starkey, causing fairly heavy losses to the French Inhabitants.

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Whe're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful wizard of OZ - 6 Australian Infantry Div, Bardia January 1941

Thanx Ali!

Interesting that so much effort was put into it and Germans perhaps did not notice a thing. Must say I have not seen any hint by the Germans to the possible invasion in 1943...Maybe too busy in the south at the time!

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