The Battle of Britain

(Operation Sealion)

*Please listen to the lecture and then takes notes after slide 10

After the fall of France…

France had the second best military in Europe and the World’s best fortifications.

After their valiant 6 week struggle (*cough cough retreat *cough cough) Britain was the only strong European country left to hold out against Nazi tyranny.

RAF vs Luftwaffe Hitler wanted to control the air so he

could prepare for an attack by water, destroying the British Navy

British were outnumbered 3 to 1 But they had the advantage of radar

and the Enigma, a cipher machine that helped them receive and decode German messages

August 1940

A German bomber squadron got lost and accidentally bombed civilians in London

August 1940

British PM Churchill retaliated by bombing Berlin

August 1940 Hitler stopped bombing RAF airfields

and ordered daylight bombing raids on London (blitz) 53 Consecutive Nights

"Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few”

-Winston Churchill

August 1940

This shifted focus allowed the RAF to train and rebuild its strength, and Hitler would lose this important battle.

Horrible Histories

Pilot Song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzDxRMim7xw

NOTES START HERE: The head of the Luftwaffe,

Hermann Goering, promised Hitler that he could eliminate the RAF in 4 days. The Luftwaffe enjoyed a 3:1 advantage in aircraft.

Removing the RAF was the 1st step in “Operation Sea Lion”

Grim Situation

At this time, Britain stood alone against the Nazis. The USA was still practicing isolationism, France was defeated, and the USSR and Germany were still abiding by the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.

Big Mistakes

MISTAKE! (August 24th, 1940) Germany turns away from bombing airfields. They stop bombing radar installations and focus on hitting civilian targets like London.

Churchill’s reaction: Attack Berlin Hitler’s reaction: (The “Blitz”) major attack on

London *Discuss Malcolm Gladwell’s theory on demoralization from

David and Goliath.

What’s the Big Deal?

Significance of Hitler’s reaction: he postpones indefinitely his invasion until further notice and creates a 2 front war. Loses the chance to defeat England

3 major technological advantages for Britain:

1. Radar (gave the British warning

of raiding bombers) 2. Spitfire plane had great

maneuverability 3. Hawker Hurricane fighter: accounting

for 60% of the RAF’s victories in the battle

Lancaster Bomber

Hurricane VS Spitfire – Hurricane shot down 656 enemy fighters and bombers against 529 for Spitfires.

Lancaster Bomber

Their long, unobstructed bomb bay meant that the Lancaster could take even

The largest bombs used by the RAF, including the 4,000 lb (1,800 kg)

8,000 lb (3,600 kg), and 12,000 lb (5,400 kg

The Lancaster was primarily a night bomber, it excelled in many other roles,

including daylight precision bombing: in the latter role some Lancasters were

adapted to carry the 12,000 lb (5,400 kg) Tallboy and, ultimately, the

22,000 lb (10,000 kg) Grand Slam earthquake bombs

Significance of the Battle of Britain

1. Hitler gave the British too much time to organize their defenses. Germany lost the battle and Hitler turned his attention to the Soviet Union, opening up a 2 front war. Britain survived.

2. Britain had weathered the storm and would become a base from which attacks might later be made on mainland Europe.

3. Hitler lost the opportunity to be in total control of Western Europe.

Churchill's Speech - Never in the Field of Human Conflict..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y60xvkJ8ko

(Watch the entire video, but the famous section is from   2:38 to  3:48

"The gratitude of every home in our island, in our Empire and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. " - Churchill