Operation Herbstreise


During World War II, Operation Herbstreise was a planned series of deception operations to support the German invasion of the United Kingdom. It would have involved an empty convoy of large transports threatening the east coast of England while the actual invasion force in small barges hit the southern coast.
Two days prior to the actual landings, the light cruisers Emden, Nürnberg and Köln, the gunnery training ship Bremse and other light naval forces would escort the liners Europa, Bremen, Gneisenau and Potsdam, with 11 transport steamers, on Operation Herbstreise, a feint simulating a landing against the British east coast between Aberdeen and Newcastle. After turning about, the force would attempt the diversion again on the next day if necessary.
Shortly before the commencement of "Sea Lion", the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, on standby at Kiel from 13 September 1940, would carry out a diversionary sortie in the vicinity of Iceland and the Faroes.
The heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer would carry out another diversionary mission by raiding merchant shipping in the Atlantic.