Transcript File

The Battle of Britain
Intended Learning Objectives
•Understand the importance of the Battle
of Britain in preventing foreign invasion
and the role played by the Royal Air
Force pilots in the campaign.
•To consider a life without personal
freedom and social justice.
•To participate in a debate and listen and
respond to opposing viewpoints.
© 2001 - 2007 HAAP Media Ltd (Steve Woods)
The Battle of Britain (1940)
•World War 2 began in
September 1939 following
Germany’s invasion of Poland.
•By the 10th of May 1940 the
War had spread into Western
Europe following the German
invasion of France and the
Low countries.
The Battle of Britain (1940)
• By June the 25th 1940
the Germans looked to
be in a commanding
position.
• The French army had
surrendered and the
British Expeditionary
Force had been forced
to evacuate from
northern France.
British troops being evacuated from Dunkirk
The Battle of Britain (1940)
•Hitler believed the war was nearly
over and believed that an invasion
could lead to a rapid surrender.
•However he knew the German navy
wasn't strong enough to ensure a
successful invasion.
•Therefore it was important to gain
control of the air above the British
Channel before attempting an
invasion.
The Battle of Britain (1940)
•To achieve this the German forces had
to destroy or at least severely weaken
the Royal Air Force, either by bombing
airfields or destroying planes in aerial
battles.
•On 10th of July the German air force
started to attack boats crossing the
British Channel, leading to the first
aerial engagements with British fighter
pilots escorting the boats.
Air Marshall Sir Keith Park
The Battle of Britain (1940)
•On August the 13th the German
forces started to attack British radar
defence systems, as a precursor to
a sustained attack on British
airfields.
•However the radar outposts had
been built to withstand heavy
attacks and therefore avoided
sustaining serious damage.
A radar site used to locate German
submarines
The Battle of Britain (1940)
• The RAF were sustaining heavy
losses, with many planes being shot
down. Although the production of
planes was quick – up to 300 per
week, there was a shortage of pilots.
• This shortage was eased by
volunteers from Commonwealth
countries such as South Africa and
from occupied countries such as
France and Poland.
Formation of German Bombers
The Battle of Britain (1940)
•Germany was also sustaining
heavy losses and had an even
greater shortage of pilots and
planes.
•By September 7th the Germans
mistakenly believed that the British
forces had been so badly
damaged that it had been nearly
destroyed.
RAF Spitfire squadron
The Battle of Britain (1940)
• The focus of the Luftwaffe was
then focussed on civilian and
industrial targets in an attempt to
destroy Britain’s morale and
industrial infrastructure.
• However the RAF was far from
destroyed and the fighter pilots
rose up to defend London from the
attacks by the Luftwaffe.
Fire fighters at a bombed
factory in Manchester
The Battle of Britain (1940)
•However the RAF was far from
destroyed and the fighter pilots rose
up to defend London from the attacks
by the Luftwaffe.
•On the 15th of September the RAF
decisively repulsed two massive
waves of German aerial assault,
destroying 60 German aircraft in the
process.
Children made homeless
during the blitz of London
The Battle of Britain (1940)
•Because of their massive losses the Luftwaffe were
forced to switch from 24hr bombing to night time raids.
• By October the air raids had become less frequent
although they continued throughout the war.
•In December 1940 Hitler issued a directive which
signalled that there was to be no invasion of Britain. Many
have claimed that this was due to Germany’s inability to
gain control of the air above Britain.
The Battle of Britain (1940)
• The RAF had destroyed 1,023
aircraft, killing 2698 German
pilots and gunners.
• This signalled the first defeat of
Hitler’s military forces and has
been interpreted as a turning
point for the war, slowing
Germany’s previously swift
sweep through Europe.
Squadron Leader James Lacey
standing by the propeller of a
Hawker Hurricane.
The Battle of Britain (1940)
Wing Commander Alan Deere with Squadron Leader
Denis Crowley-Milling DSO DFC
The Battle of Britain (1940)
Luftwaffe Junkers Ju87 (Stuka) dive bomber in action
The Battle of Britain (1940)
Squadron Leader Stanford Tuck poses with a group of pilots of 257
Squadron, Royal Air Force under the nose of a Hawker Hurricane
The Battle of Britain (1940)
Hawker Hurricanes of 85 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Winston Churchill’s speech
• On the 20th of August 1940
the Prime Minister Winston
Churchill gave a speech
praising the efforts of the RAF
Fighter Command.
Winston Churchill’s speech
He said:
“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.”
Intended Learning Objectives
•Understand the importance of the Battle
of Britain in preventing foreign invasion
and the role played by the Royal Air
Force pilots in the campaign.
•To consider a life without personal
freedom and social justice.
•To participate in a debate and listen and
respond to opposing viewpoints.
© 2001 - 2007 HAAP Media Ltd (Steve Woods)