A sinister Nazi game in which German kids capture Scarborough confirms Hitler’s secret plans to invade Yorkshire, an author claims.
Experts were baffled when a copy of the Hitler Youth board game “Wir Kämpfen Gegen den Feind” (We Fight Against The Enemy) was rediscovered several years ago.
The “bullseye” in the hypothetical invasion was the Yorkshire seaside town.
In a new book, Scarborough At War, historian Stewart MacDonald says the game was more than child’s play - and portrayed the Nazis’ real strategic thinking.
He said a strike on the resort in North Yorkshire would “draw British forces from the main invasion area in the South East... and establish a bridgehead for a breakout towards Yorkshire’s industrial centre.
"It was also noted an attack on a popular resort would likely damage British morale.”
Mr MacDonald said wide sandy beaches had immediate access to roads there was also a rail link and a harbour.
In the game, three players move miniature U-boats, battleships, bombers and fighters, destroying RAF and Royal Navy forces until they meet in Scarborough.
But Britain was aware of Nazi interest, defences were built and the public banned from the sands until summer 1941.
By then Hitler had invaded Russia and the threat of his troops goose-stepping down Scarborough’s Golden Mile had receded.
