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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Collections search

Generale Buttafuoco
(art) Made by: Freeth, Hubert Andrew (RA) 1942
image: A head and shoulder portrait of General Buttafuoco in uniform, facing slightly away from the viewer.
General Babini
(art) Made by: Freeth, Hubert Andrew (RA) 1941
image: A head and shoulders portrait of General Valentino Babini in uniform.
General Cona
(art) Made by: Freeth, Hubert Andrew (RA) 1941
image: A head and shoulders portrait of General Ferdinando Cona wearing a hat and uniform.
Italian POW, Tobruk, 1943
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli 1943
No description available
Italian POW, Tobruk, 1943
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli 1943
No description available
Italian POWs at Carpenter's Shop, Tobruk, 1944
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli 1944
No description available
Austrian Prisoners driven in from the Austrian Lines, 1918
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney W 1918
image: A scene at dusk of a column of Austrian prisoners-of-war in greatcoats and carrying packs. They are guarded by an Italian officer on a grey horse, holding an upraised sword, the tip resting on his shoulder.
Italian Prisoners-of-war Working on the Land
(art) Made by: Ford, Michael 1942
image: View across an onion field in autumn with sixteen Italian prisoners-of-war gathering in the crop, supervised by a single British soldier at the near edge of the field. The PoWs are wearing clothing marked with a distinctive red spot on the jackets...
The Battle of Egypt, 1942: Italian Prisoners in a Corps Prisoner-of-War Cage
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: Nine Italian prisoners of war are held captive in a camp secured with tall barbed wire fencing. Four are standing and the other five are seated.
recording
(sound) Made by: Thames Television (Production company) 1972
Italian soldier's recollections of war in North Africa; POW