The Battle of Britain

May 31st, 2017

“…Now that the Battle of France is over, I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin”

-Sir Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill

• British Prime Minister during WWII, elected in May 1940

• Famous for inspirational speeches that bolstered British morale during very bleak times

• Blood, toil, tears & sweat

• Wrote many books on British history and the War

• Won Nobel Prize for literature in 1953

British & German Airfields

“We shall never surrender”Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

British Aircraft

Spitfire

Hurricane

German Aircraft

Messerschmitt

Junkers JU 88

Battle of Britain

• Operation Sea Lion was Hitler’s plan to invade England

• He knew it would only be possible if Germany first gained control of the skies

• The Luftwaffe began a heavy campaign of bombing in August 1940

• Targets included:– Air & Naval bases– Harbours– Communication Centres– War industries

The London Blitz• The British began flying retaliatory raids on Berlin and

other German cities

• In retaliation Hitler decided to step up attacks and began targeting cities

• His plan was to break British morale

• London was among the hardest hit

• City wide black-outs were enforced

• Many took shelter in the extensive subway system

• However, because military targets were not being hit, Britain was able to rebuild air strength.

• By October 1941 Germany ceased the air war

• The Battle of Britain was a British Victory