Battle of Britain
Operation Sea Lion and the Beginning of the Air War
Royal Air Force (RAF) vs the Luftwaffe
The RAF Bombs Berlin; Hitler Bombs London
Dogfights and the British Determination
- Hitler's plan to invade Great Britain
- Needed control of the air before this would be possible
- Luftwaffe begins bombing aircraft factories, hangars, runways, radar, convoys
- British come within days of not being able to sustain a defence
Royal Air Force (RAF) vs the Luftwaffe
- RAF outnumbered 3:1 by Luftwaffe
- Spitfires and Hurricanes vs Messerschmitt 162
- 24 August Accidental bombing of London
- RAF bombs Berlin
- British in control of Enigma
The RAF Bombs Berlin; Hitler Bombs London
- Hitler had promised this would never happen in Germany
- He changes strategy and bombs London for 76 nights straight
- Allows the RAF to recover
Dogfights and the British Determination
- Led by Winston Churchill
- St Paul's Cathedral a sign of the resistance
- Americans begin the lend lease policy in 1941
Hitler's plan to invade Great Britain was referred to as Operation Sea Lion. This was the origins of what would become the major air battle of the Second World War. Germany needed control of the air for this to be successful plan, thus Hitler commanded his fleet to destroy hangers, factories, runways etc that contributed to Britain's airforce. This battle was essentially the Royal Air Force vs the German Luftwaffe, and the Luftwaffe outnumbered the RAF by 3:1. The British were using Spitfires and Hurricanes against the German Messerschmitts. During this major battle, there was an accidental bombing of London. This was the first attack that Germany had taken on innocent civilians of Britain. In response, Britain bombs Berlin. However, this only bred disaster, as Hitler had promised his country that the war would never come to Berlin. Hitler reciprocated by bombing London for 76 nights straight. This allows the RAF aircraft to recover before they struck back again. The dogfights that ensued from the Battle of Britain took place in the air over Britain. St Paul's Cathedral was a sign of the resistance against Germany, as it never seemed to take any damage from the disasters, and was always seen rising above the flames of the city.