Could the British Home Guard have repelled an invasion by German paratroopers?

Question: Could the British Home Guard have repelled an invasion by German paratroopers!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

As others have stated the major problem the German army had with invading Britain was not the British army!. That was in a poor state and had left most of its kit on the beaches at Dunkirk!.

The invasion needed the destruction of the RAF and The Royal Navy!. Any invasion force heading into the channel would have had the British Fleet steaming out of Rosyth and Scapa Flow!. Later in the war it would become obvious that capital ships where very vulnerable to air attack, but the ships would have been sailing under some protection from the RAF!. The reason the Germans fought the Battle of Britain was so they would be free to attack the British fleet when the invasion started!.

So if we take the RAF and the Royal Navy out of the equation, General Student's Paratroops would later prove themselves against regular British soldiers capturing Crete in May 1941!. They had recently scored a great success in capturing the Belgian fort of Eben Emael!. Later in the war they would show themselves to be an elite fighting force holding Monte Casino for many months against overwhelming odds!.

I would not denigrate the people who served in the home guard, but at that time in the war the Home Guard would have been annihilated by any sizable force of German paratroopers!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

To many planes carrying the invasion force would have been shot down for the Germans to have used that as a credible mode for invasion ,and if you look at how massive the force that left the south of England for the D-day landings was you realise how poorly planned the German invasion of Britian was (operation sealion) in 1940 !.!.The only way the Germans could have been successful would have been to blockade Britian and try and starve Britian into submission ,although it's unlilely that this would have worked as they would have had to commit to much time effort and equipment to the taskWww@QuestionHome@Com

I agree with Haydn an invasion by German paratroopers would have been unthinkable with the RAF still viable, the only possible way of invasion was a channel crossing which was prevented by the 'Battle of Britain'!.

As for the courageous Home Guard, most were armed with pitchforks etc!. it would have been a massacre!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It depends how many paratroopers*!.
They were designed more as a tool to slow down and harass the enemy, so the regular army could be moved to the enemy!.

*For instance- my grandfather captured a german pilot who parachuted out of his plane!.
He was all alone and didn't offer any resistance (although he was armed)!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Could you please oblige us with a bren gun
The lack of one is wounding to our pride
Last night we caught the cutest, little german parachutist
He looked at our kit, and giggled a bit
Then laughed until he cried!.

I leave you to draw your own conclusions!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Similar formations were hurled into the Battle of Moscow by the Soviets, and were massacred!. Stalin took the view that they did at least use up German ammunition!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Undoubtedly!. "They don't like it up them"!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It could certainly have frustrated them!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No would be the answer, the RAF might have tho!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

led by general moron!.!.!.er montgummery!? hahaha not a chanceWww@QuestionHome@Com

Have you seen Dad's Army!?Have you!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

"Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler"

Realistically!.!.!.!.!.!.Not a Chance Www@QuestionHome@Com

not a hope in hellWww@QuestionHome@Com