Description:

Mark Cross, 35km N of Eastborne, England: To exploit the success of the second phase of Operation Sealion with the capture of Canterbury in northern Kent, Rommel's re-equipped 7th Panzer Division began landing at Rye at the southern end of the German bridgehead on July 20th.

Instructions to Rommel from 16th Army were clear. The 7th Panzer was not to make a full scale assault until the entire division was ashore and the 7th Infantry Division was in position to support a drive west to flank the British GHQ Line defending the approaches to London. But Rommel had already won a reputation for making 'favorable interpretations' of his orders and taking risks if he sensed a weakness in the enemy.

The campaign in England would be no different. As soon as the tanks, armored cars and anti-tank support attached to the I/25 Panzer Battalion had rolled ashore they were sent 'probing' westward through the nearly deserted English countryside.

The panzers' apparently triumphant progress suddenly turned serious near the village of Mark Cross, south of Royal Tunbridge Wells, when the leading reconnaissance vehicles stumbled upon the remnants of the reorganizing 1st Armoured Brigade.

Sources:

• [1] Kenneth Macksey 'Invasion - The Alternate History of the German Invasion of Britain, July 1940' 

• [2] Richard Cox 'Sealion'

• [3] Westfront ´Operation Sealion` scenario `Rommel Again` by D.Bevard