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.

Main menu

IWM London
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
- What's On
- Visiting Information
IWM North
Manchester
Open daily 10am - 5pm
Last admission 4.30pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
- What's On
- Visiting Information
IWM Duxford
Cambridgeshire
Open daily

Summer 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm

Winter 10am - 4pm
Last admission 3pm

Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information
Churchill War Rooms
London
Open daily 9.30am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information
HMS Belfast
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information

Collections search

Heroes of the XXth Century: Hitler and Mussolini
(art) Made by: Mayen, Eric 1995
image: An Italian postage stamp bearing the images of Hilter and Mussolini. The border is painted in umber acrylic paint and decorated with a flying flag in each upper corner. This is placed just below centre within a white sheet of paper.
Heroes of the XXth Century: Hitler
(art) Made by: Mayen, Eric 1995
image: A German postage stamp bearing the image of Hitler with a painted border in umber acrylic paint. This is placed just above centre within a white sheet of paper.
Battleship 1985
(art) Made by: Kinley, Peter 1985
image: A view of the starboard side of a battleship set against a green background.
Shlomo 1
(art) Made by: Halter, Roman 1974
image: A head and shoulders portrait of the artist's brother shown with his arms outstretched, in a manner evoking the crucifixion. Above and around him are other smaller figures including a family group embracing in the upper portion of the canvas....
Moses The Prophet
(art) Made by: Halter, Roman 1974
image: A head and shoulders portrait of Moses. His beard is represented by a large group of naked women and children standing huddled together. The rest of his features comprise of faces and Jewish symbols such as the menorah.
Mother with Babies
(art) Made by: Halter, Roman 1974
image: A group of naked women stand together holding their babies tightly in their arms. They are enclosed by a web of black lines crossed by lines of Hebrew text.
Starved Faces
(art) Made by: Halter, Roman 1974
image: A portrait of a man comprising of several smaller faces. The face is also surrounded by more faces and has several lines of Hebrew text inscribed on the forehead.
Woman Wearing Mantilla
(art) Made by: Halter, Roman 1974
image: A portrait of the artist's mother with her eyes downcast wearing a dark mantilla. Crowds of faces and figures can be seen within the delicate pattern of the veil.
Transport
(art) Made by: Halter, Roman 1974
image: There are two main portraits showing a woman and a man with their heads covered facing the viewer, but inclining their heads towards each other. In the lower left corner there are two other, smaller faces also facing the viewer. In the upper right...
Man on the Electrified Barbed Wire
(art) Made by: Halter, Roman 1974
image: A man slumps forward clutching a barbed wire fence. Amongst the folds of the man's clothes there are other smaller figures also hanging from the wire. The main figure is surrounded by Hebrew text.