The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940
The battle begins, summer 1940

After defeating France in June 1940, Hitler assumed Britain would sue for peace but ordered his armed forces to prepare for invasion. Hermann Goering assured him that a sustained air assault would destroy the RAF, winning the air superiority needed.
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

July 1940 saw German planes target shipping in the Channel, drawing the RAF into combat, before radar stations, communications centres and airfields faced round-the-clock bombing in August. The battle reached a climax with attacks on London in September.
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Joan 'Elizabeth' Mortimer, Elspeth Henderson and Helen Turner of the WAAF. All three received the Military Medal for courageous conduct during attacks on Biggin Hill airfield. Biggin Hill suffered a total of ten major attacks between 30 Aug and 5 Sept.
Non-British personnel in the RAF
Non-British personnel in the RAF

A group of pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF return from a sortie. The first Polish squadrons were formed in the summer of 1940. Pilots came from several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand and the USA.
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

RAF Duxford was a Sector Station in 12 Group, responsible for defending the Midlands and East Anglia. As the fighting intensified, Duxford's squadrons were called on to support 11 Group's defence of London and the south-east.
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Despite incessant attacks, the RAF's defences held. The Luftwaffe could not continue, and in the autumn switched to 'nuisance' raids and night operations. The failure to defeat the RAF convinced Hitler to postpone his invasion plans indefinitely.

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Snap into it - Men 18-19 1/2 - Home Defence

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<a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/24019?cat=posters" target="_blank"><img alt="Snap into it - Men 18-19 1/2 - Home Defence" class="" src="http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib/279/media-279224/standard.jpg?action=e&cat=posters" /></a> <span>Snap into it - Men 18-19 1/2 - Home Defence<a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright" target="_blank">© IWM (Art.IWM PST 14599)</a></span>

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[url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/24019?cat=posters][img]http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib/279/media-279224/large.jpg?action=e&cat=posters[/img][/url] [url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/24019?cat=posters]Snap into it - Men 18-19 1/2 - Home Defence. © IWM (Art.IWM PST 14599)[/url][url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright/licence]IWM Non Commercial Licence[/url]

1/2
2/2

© IWM (Art.IWM PST 14599)

Catalogue number

Art.IWM PST 14599

Place made

Great Britain

Subject period

Second World War

Materials

medium: lithograph
support: paper

Dimensions

Support: Height 749 mm
Support: Width 491 mm

Alternative Names

object category: Poster

Creator

Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist)
Fosh and Cross Ltd, London (printer)
Her Majesty's Stationery Office (publisher/sponsor)

Category

posters

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Object description

whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a blue background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in red cursive script. The subtitle is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in white, set against a green background. The main text is integrated and located in the upper right, in white. Further text is separate and positioned across the bottom edge, in red, set against a green background. image: a half-length depiction of a British soldier, in full kit and holding a machine gun. Behind him, his shadow shows him in civilian clothing. text: 'Snap into It' MEN 18-19½ HOME DEFENCE Apply at any Army Recruiting Centre Now Printed for H.M. Stationery Office by Fosh and Cross Ltd., London. (51/7561) P.R.2 No.31

Physical description

PR2 No 31 Part of a series of similar posters (see PST 14620 and PST 14618) (51/7561) PST 19881 is the master copy of a small format version PST 0777 is artwork for the poster

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