They say a picture is worth a thousand words so it's frightening to see aerial shots of Derby and Derbyshire in a wartime book created in Nazi Germany.

Chatsworth was one of several Derbyshire locations highlighted in German plans for the invasion of the UK back in 1939.

A photo of the stately home, together with images of Derby, Burton, Buxton and Alton Towers, long before it became a theme park, appeared in German books and documents, created with meticulous detail 80 years ago.


In a bid to take control of the UK, the Nazis drew up a comprehensive dossier listing and mapping out cities, towns and major landmarks across the length and breadth of Britain.


Chatsworth in aerial photo book covering Britain and Ireland, 1939
Chatsworth in aerial photo book covering Britain and Ireland, 1939


The discovery was made in lot 5275 in Hansons Auctioneers' July Militaria Auction.




Derby aerial photo book covering Britain and Ireland, 1939
Derby aerial photo book covering Britain and Ireland, 1939




According to Hansons the lot, which also included books covering Southern and Eastern England, 1943, and Egypt and Cyrenaika, 1942, had a humble estimate of £80-£100, and sold at auction on July 26 for £160.