From its south-eastern tip Sussex is little more than sixty miles from continental Europe and the countys coastline, some seventy-six miles long, occupies a large part of Britains southern frontier. Before the days of Macadam and the Turnpike, water travel could prove more certain than land transportation and the seas that define the borders of our nation aided, rather than deterred, the invader.Though the last successful invasion of Britain took place almost 1,000 years ago, the gently shelving beaches of Sussex have tempted the prospective invader with the promise of both an easy disembarkation and a short and direct route to London the last time being just seven decades ago.As the authors demonstrate, the repeated threat of invasion from the Continent has shaped the very landscape of the county. The rounded tops of the Iron Age hill forts, the sheer walls of the medieval castles, the squat stumps of Martello towers, the moulded Vaubanesque contours of the Palmerstone redoubts and the crouched concrete blocks and bricks of the Second World War pillboxes constitute the visible evidence of Sussexs position on Britains front line.

From the Dunkirk evacuation, Sussex became a front-line County and a likely invasion area if the German's launched their feared attack.This book takes an in depth look at the fortification of the County, the plight of the evacuees who were hurriedly moved from London to escape the threat of the capital being bombed and who were re-evacuated when German air attacks caused much damage and loss of life. The Luftwaffe's tip and run raids were particularly feared.Many thousands of Canadian troops were stationed in Sussex, from where they launched the disastrous raid on Dieppe. Sussex was also heavily involved in the build up to D Day and suffering badly from the much feared Doodlebugs, Hitler's revenge weapon.When victory was secured in 1945 Sussex celebrated as Prisoners of War came home and soldiers, sailors and airmen were demobbed.Sussex at War 1939–1945 also looks at the role played by the civilian population, voluntary organisations and the spirit of defiance which swept the County.If you are interested in wartime Sussex history, local history of the second world war or Britain's war effort and life on the home front, then this is the book for you.

An historical atlas of Sussex

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Sussex has changed and developed since the war.

Following the recent work by the Defense of Britain Project, this is the first extensive guide to the military structures of the 20th century. It explains both the form and purpose of the structures such as anti-invasion defences, airfields, naval installations, and barracks, all of which are well illustrated. The final section provides the reader with a gazetteer of surviving examples to visit throughout Britain.