starter activity

What can this poster tell about the Battle of Britain in 1940? How useful are propaganda posters in learning about WWII?

How did the RAF How did the RAF win the Battle of win the Battle of Britain Britain (summer 1940) (summer 1940) ??

To explain the meaning of To explain the meaning of ‘Operation Sealion’‘Operation Sealion’

To weigh up the reasons why the To weigh up the reasons why the RAF RAF managed to defeat the managed to defeat the

LuftwaffeLuftwaffe

LOs

Your taskYour task Read p.162- in Peace and War and note Read p.162- in Peace and War and note

the key objectives of ‘Operation Sealion’the key objectives of ‘Operation Sealion’ Find out why the RAF eventually Find out why the RAF eventually

succeeded in defeating the Luftwaffe. succeeded in defeating the Luftwaffe. Complete a table similar to the one below:Complete a table similar to the one below:

Extension task. What evidence is there Extension task. What evidence is there that Luftwaffe could have won?that Luftwaffe could have won?

British advantages German weaknessesGerman weaknesses

Operation SealionOperation Sealion

H. planned to invade GB – Operation H. planned to invade GB – Operation SealionSealion

Attack airfield, ports & radar Attack airfield, ports & radar stationsstations

Gain air superiorityGain air superiority

Which was more important for the Luftwaffe to destroy first, the radar stations on the runways?

British advantagesBritish advantages

Spitfire & Messerschmitt evenly Spitfire & Messerschmitt evenly matchedmatched

British increased production by 1836 British increased production by 1836 planes in 4 months of fightingplanes in 4 months of fighting

Possession of ‘Ultra’ – key to Possession of ‘Ultra’ – key to German radio codes gave them German radio codes gave them advance warningadvance warning

Use of RADARUse of RADAR

German weaknessesGerman weaknesses

Fighters could only carry fuel for 30 mins Fighters could only carry fuel for 30 mins flight over Britainflight over Britain

German losses greater than British ones, German losses greater than British ones, e.g. 16-30 Sept 1940, Luftwaffe lost 213 to e.g. 16-30 Sept 1940, Luftwaffe lost 213 to 133 RAF planes133 RAF planes

Germans producing 156 new planes per Germans producing 156 new planes per month compared with 563 planes in Britainmonth compared with 563 planes in Britain

Luftwaffe flying over enemy territoryLuftwaffe flying over enemy territory Military planning. Goering & Hitler Military planning. Goering & Hitler

underestimated resistance.underestimated resistance.

Evidence of German Evidence of German strengthsstrengths

British pilots were British pilots were reservistsreservists & part- & part-timerstimers

Germany trained 800 pilots per month Germany trained 800 pilots per month (Britain, 200)(Britain, 200)

Luftwaffe outnumbered RAF e.g. 824 Luftwaffe outnumbered RAF e.g. 824 German fighters to 591 British German fighters to 591 British fightersfighters

RAF pilots overstretched, 35 mins RAF pilots overstretched, 35 mins between between sortiessorties

Your taskYour task

Watch the clip from ‘Battlefield Watch the clip from ‘Battlefield Britain’ and complete the questions Britain’ and complete the questions on your task sheet.on your task sheet.

Your taskYour task

Imagine you work for the Ministry Imagine you work for the Ministry for War. You have been asked to for War. You have been asked to write a short piece for radio, write a short piece for radio, encouraging young men like those in encouraging young men like those in the photo to enlist in the RAF. the photo to enlist in the RAF. Highlight the advantages of being a Highlight the advantages of being a pilot, the importance of their role pilot, the importance of their role and the types of machines they flew.and the types of machines they flew.

ExtensionExtension

Visit the Battle of Visit the Battle of Britain memorial Britain memorial at Capel or at Capel or conduct some conduct some online research online research and write your and write your own ‘web page’ own ‘web page’ entry to attract entry to attract visitors to the visitors to the site.site.

Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel

PlenaryPlenary

What was ‘Operation Sealion’?What was ‘Operation Sealion’? Give 3 reasons why the RAF won Give 3 reasons why the RAF won

and 3 reasons why the Luftwaffe lost and 3 reasons why the Luftwaffe lost the Battle of Britainthe Battle of Britain

Extension. Does the Battle of Extension. Does the Battle of Britain remind you of any other Britain remind you of any other great British victories you have great British victories you have studied?studied?