Summer 1940

Battle of Britain

Known in England (especially London) as the “Blitz”

Germany tries to defeat the Royal Air force and gain air superiority

Once the “RAF” is destroyed Germany will launch a cross channel invasionOperation Sea Lion

Background

10 July – 11 August: Kanalkampf"the Channel battles"

12–23 August: Adlerangriff "Eagle Attack“ - the early assault against the

coastal airfields24 August – 6 September

the Luftwaffe targets the airfields (the critical phase of the battle)

7 September onwardsthe day attacks switch to British towns and

cities.

Four Phases of the Battle

Commandant of the Luftwaffe

Hermann Göring

German air force is called LuftwaffeDuring the Blitz, the Luftwaffe is ordered not to

attack British cities without direct orders from HitlerIn response to the attacks on Britain, the British

launch a bomber raid against industrial complexes near Berlin

Due to poor weather and cloud cover, bombs drop all over the city including in civilian neighborhoods

Hitler rescinds his order and the focus of the battle changesEventually Germans begin bombing targets of political

significance and resort to terror bombing

Battle Begins

German AirplanesHe 111 Medium

Bomber

Bf 109 Fighter

Ju Junkers 87 “Stuka” Diver Bomber

British DefensesSpitfire Radio Detection and

Ranging

Germany loses 1,700 planes, England loses 900 planes

Hitler decides to cancel his invasion of England (Operation Sea Lion)

Radar helps the British hold of the invasionWinston Churchill rallies England and shortly

America would join the war

England Prevails

British Shelters

“Never have so many owed so much to so few”

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill

First defeat of Hitler’s forces“This was their finest hour” – Churchill

British are able to rebuild their military and become an allied stronghold throughout the war

Had England failed either the Nazi’s or Soviets would have controlled Europe with little America could do about it

Battle shifts American public opinion about the war

Hitler starts moving planes and troops to the East

Significance of the Battle