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Edward VIII “encouraged Nazis to bomb UK into submission” in World War Two, in line with a brand new Channel 4 documentary.
The documentary, Edward VIII: Britain’s Traitor King, will present proof the previous king — who abdicated in 1936 after the Church of England, the federal government and the general public condemned his choice marry American socialite Wallis Simpson — handed data to Germany and inspired the Nazis to bomb Britain earlier than reappointing him as king.
It will reportedly additionally present proof that Edward VIII aided the Nazis with the autumn of France in 1940.
The revelatory documentary, which is able to air on Sunday, 27 March, relies on the work of historian Andrew Lownie whose e-book Traitor King might be launched in May.
The documentary makes use of proof from captured German paperwork held within the Royal Archives.
Edward was identified to jot down stories whereas residing in Paris that uncovered weaknesses within the French military, together with poor management. The data was then handed, maybe unwittingly, to a Nazi sympathiser, Charles Bedaux.
Jane Ridley, a professor of recent historical past on the University of Buckingham and speaking head on the documentary, claims: “[Edward] knew, when he boasted about the inadequacy of French war defences, that this would go back to Germany”.
In 1937, Edward and his spouse met Hitler and he was famously pictured giving a Nazi salute.
After Winston Churchill, who was prime minister on the time, despatched the Duke to manipulate the Bahamas, Edward despatched a coded telegram to a Nazi affiliate saying he was prepared to return to Europe.
Mr Lownie argues within the documentary that this means Edward was conscious of Operation Willie, the German plan to place the Duke again on the throne as the top of a puppet state.
The rumours are longstanding. In 2015, researchers on the Institute of Historical Research on the School of Advance Study on the University of London pieced collectively from open archives throughout 30 international locations, together with Germany, Spain and Russia.
They revealed that Edward, the Duke of Windsor, advised the Spanish diplomat Don Javier Bermejillo that the efficient bombing of England “could bring peace”.
Dr Karina Urbach, the senior analysis fellow who labored on the research, mentioned: “This report went to Franco and was then passed on to the Germans. The bombing of Britain started on 10 July.”
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