The Battle of Britain
After the fall of France in 1940, Hitler turned his attention to Germany’s
sole remaining enemy: Great Britain. His plans to invade Britain depended
on crippling Britain's Royal Air Force. In July the Luftwaffe, the German air
force, began its attempt to bomb Britain into submission - the resulting
conflict was known as the Battle of Britain.
Much of the Battle of Britain was
fought in the skies over southern
England in what became known as
the 'Spitfire summer'. In June and
July German bombers began
attacking convoys off the south
coast and making raids on the
ports of Dover and Plymouth. The
RAF’s 700 or so Spitfire and
Hurricane fighters were outnumbered at the start but Britain had several
advantages. Its radar was then the most advanced early warning system in
the world, the Spitfire was a very effective fighter plane and British industry
had the ability to manufacture more planes at an astonishing rate.
In August the terrifying aerial
battles intensified - the Luftwaffe
began launching attacks of more
than 1,000 aircraft in one day.
They focused on Britain’s airfield
and radar installations, which were
vital in warning of the approach of
the German aircraft. By the end of
the first week in August, the RAF
had lost nearly 100 fighters and the Germans more than 190 planes. A few
days of bad weather in mid August gave exhausted pilots on both sides a
much-needed reprieve - but soon the attacks began again.
During the last two weeks of August the RAF sustained heavy losses but the
German losses were greater. By the end of the month the Germans had lost
more than 600 aircraft and the RAF about half that number. But the loss of
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experienced RAF pilots and the
bombing damage done to the radar
stations had left Britain very
vulnerable. If the attacks on air
installations had continued then
the eventual outcome could have
been very different - but Hitler
soon shifted the focus of his
attacks.
At the beginning of September Britain launched air attacks on some of
Germany’s industrial areas - and Berlin itself. The air raids on Germany are
said to have angered Hitler so much that on 7th September he ordered the
Luftwaffe to bomb British cities. Whatever the reason, the Luftwaffe
changed tactics and shifted their attacks away from Britain’s air defence
installations. Under attack instead were major population centres, especially
London and its docks. It was the beginning of the blitz.
On the 15th September more than
1,000 enemy aircraft carried out a
day and night attack on London - it
was a day of very heavy fighting
and later became commemorated
as Battle of Britain day. The RAF
announced that they had shot
down 175 enemy aircraft - the
figure was wildly inaccurate - the real number that the Germans had lost was
closer to 56 - but the inflated numbers were accepted at the time as both
sides fought a propaganda battle as well as a military war. The Spitfire
summer was nearing its end.
The attacks on British cities
caused widespread damage and
loss of life. If German forces had
continued to concentrate their
attacks on British air bases they
might soon have overwhelmed
Fighter Command. But, as it was,
German air chiefs overestimated
the number of British casualties and their bombers were being shot down
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faster than they could be manufactured. Hitler needed summer weather for
his channel invasion - so as winter approached with no breakthrough, the
threat of invasion receded.
Hitler had failed to establish air
superiority and his fleet of invasion
barges assembled in French ports had
also suffered heavy losses in RAF
bomber attacks. In mid October he
ordered his invasion fleet dispersed.
The battle was over and Britain was
safe. About 1,700 Luftwaffe bombers
and fighters had been shot down in just a few months and Britain had lost
more than 900 fighter planes. Nearly 500 British pilots and aircrew had also
been killed. The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill memorably said:
"Never... was so much owed by so many to so few”
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Questions
What targets did the Nazis attach in the opening stages of the battle of
Britain?
Name the two famous fighter aircraft that did most of the fighting for
the British in the Battle of Britain?
What technological advantage did the British have over the Nazis in
the Battle of Britain?
By August of 1940, the Nazis switched the focus of their attacks.
What did the Nazis attack in August?
What great strategic error did Hitler make on September 7, 1940?
Explain why this tactical error ends up spelling defeat for the Nazis?
What name is given to the final phase of the Battle of Britain (when
British cities are being attacked)?
What was the cost to each side in this battle in men and material?
Explain the validity of Winston Churchill’s famous quotation:
"Never... was so much owed by so many to so few”
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