SS-GB Nazi-occupied Britain, 1941

Prolific English writer Len Deighton's SS-GB: Nazi occupied Britain 1941 is one of the earlier titles in this genre with the title referring to the branch of the Nazi SS that controls Britain.

Published in 1978 it depicts London in 1941 suffering under German rule nine months after Britain's surrender to the Nazis. Detective Superintendent Douglas Archer is investigating the murder of a prominent nuclear physicist involved in the resistance against Nazi rule.

In this novel King George VI is imprisoned in the Tower of London and his daughters have sought exile in New Zealand. Winston Churchill has been arrested and executed by the Nazis.

Archer battles a power struggle between his Nazi SS overlords as he attempts to solve the crime. He discovers the Resistance is attempting to free the King.

British author Graeme Shimmin writes in his blog that “SS-GB is a convoluted and downbeat story with no heroes and no easy answers, but Deighton’s skill keeps the reader engrossed and creates an entirely believable world. It is one of the key novels of alternate history, and a must read for all alternate history fans.”


Deighton, Len. SS-GB: Nazi occupied Britain 1941, London: Book Club Associates, 1978.

References:

Graeme Shimmin's Review 
Existential Ennui Blog Review 
SS-GB Wiki 
Goodreads Reader reviews
Len Deighton's Website