SS 11

EVACUATION AT DUNKIRK AND BATTLE

OF BRITAIN

A NEW TYPE OF WAR: EVACUATION AT DUNKIRK

• Within days of arriving in France, German panzers had reached the English Channel• The British army, along with a large number

of French soldiers, was driven back against the sea at Dunkirk, in Western France.• A massive rescue operation was launched to

evacuate these troops and deliver them to safety in Britain

EVACUATION AT DUNKIRK

• The British navy called for every boat that was capable of crossing the English Channel to help in the effort of evacuating the men

• Hundreds of fishing boats, ferries, pleasure crafts joined naval and merchant ships in the evacuation

A NEW TYPE OF WAR: EVACUATION AT DUNKIRK

• The evacuation began on May 26 and ended June 4

• 340,000 Allied soldiers were brought to safety in Britain

• With little serious resistance, Germany swept through France, and on June 22, France surrendered.

EVACUATION AT DUNKIRK

• Significance: it represented a moral victory for Allies, and saved the best of British forces to fight another day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSoDLfQKhGI

THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Following the collapse of France on June 18th 1940, Hitler ordered plans for an invasion of Britain.

The success of the plan would depend on the Luftwaffe’s (airforce) ability to destroy the RAF first.

Air Marshall Goering promised Hitler it could be achieved given the Luftwaffe’s almost 4:1 advantage over the RAF in aircraft.

By Mr Yelland Downloaded from Kings School

I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle rests the future of Christian civilisation. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the

war. If we succeed all Europe may be free and the life of the world move forwards in to broad sunlit

uplands. But if we fail we will sink in to the abyss of a new dark age made more protracted and more

sinister by the light of a perverted science.

A NEW TYPE OF WAR: THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

• Hitler’s next assault was “Operation Sea Lion” the invasion of Britain

• The first stage of the destruction was of Britain’s air power

• On July 10, 1940, the Luftwaffe began a massive bombing campaign aimed at destroying harbours and shipping facilities in southern England

• In August, the bombing raids target air fields and aircraft factories; by September, the strategy had shifted to bombing civilian targets

THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

• These massive aerial assault of Britain became known as the Blitz—German’s plan was designed to soften British defenses prior to a land invasion.

• German planes bombed Britain relentlessly during the Blitz

A NEW TYPE OF WAR: THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

• Despite having more fighter aircraft than Britain (they were outnumbered 3:1)the Germans were unable to defeat the RAF

• Britain had a very sophisticated radar system that gave them early warnings of German attacks

• Another advantage was the Enigma—a German cipher machine which enabled the British to receive and decode German messages

• The Brits also used Spitfires and Hurricanes, two very extremely effective defence planes

The Battle of Britain

• Joined by many pilots from Commonwealth countries (including 80 from Canada), Britain had huge success shooting down German bombers• In May 1941, Germany gave up on

invading Britain: this strategy gave the RAF a chance to train and rebuild.• 23,000 people were killed during

the Blitz, mainly British civilians

Battle of Britain: Canada’s Role

• Canada played an important role in helping Britain withstand this fierce assault• Canadian pilots in the RCAF joined their allies in

the battle over British skies• Canadian navy convoys (as they had in WWI) also

ensured vital supplies—food, weapons, armed forces, etc—got through to Britain.• Canada’s contribution helped to keep Britain in

the war

BATTLE OF BRITAIN

In August and September, the RAF was able to win the Battle of Britain. •Significance: it was the first time that Hitler had been denied conquest, and the protection of Britain provided the Allies with a springboard from which to launch the invasion of Europe (later).

BATTLE OF BRITAIN=SUCCESS

• The Battle of Britain took place between August and September 1940. After the success of Blitzkrieg, the evacuation of Dunkirk and the surrender of France, Britain was by herself in Western Europe. The Battle of Britain remains one of the most famous battles of WWII

http://bombsight.org/#13/51.5147/-0.1160