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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Almanac 1941, Hutchinson Internment Camp, Douglas, Isle of Man
(art) Made by: Weissenborn, Hellmuth 1940
Hellmuth Weissenborn was interviewed by the Sound Department in 1978, Sound Record 3771
View from Douglas Camp, IOM
(art) Made by: Weissenborn, Hellmuth 1940
Hellmuth Weissenborn was interviewed by the Sound Department in 1978, Sound Record 3771
The Café 'Internment' series
(art) Made by: Uhlman, Fred 1940
image: the interior of the café of Hutchinson internment camp, near Douglas on the Isle of Man. Nine male German internees sit around a long table, four of the men wearing glasses. Washing hangs along two clothes lines above them.
Douglas, Isle of Man 1941. "Happy New Year!"
(art) Made by: Fechenbach, Hermann 1940
Image: view of a sunset/sunrise over Douglas Bay through a barbed wire fence. Text: Douglas I.o.M. 1941 A Happy New Year
View from Internment Camp, Douglas, I. of Man, 1940
(art) Made by: Weissenborn, Hellmuth 1940
Hellmuth Weissenborn was interviewed by the Sound Department in 1978, Sound Record 3771
From Window, Hutchinson Camp, I.o.M
(art) Made by: Weissenborn, Hellmuth 1940
Hellmuth Weissenborn was interviewed by the Sound Department in 1978, Sound Record 3771
Le Petit Souper Menu, Douglas, I.o.M, le 26 Decembre 1940
(art) Made by: Weissenborn, Hellmuth 1940
Hellmuth Weissenborn was interviewed by the Sound Department in 1978, Sound Record 3771
Decorated Poem
(art) Made by: Weissenborn, Hellmuth 1940
This illustrated Goethe poem was included in The Camp, Almanac 1940-1941.
Almanac 1941, Hutchinson Internment Camp, Douglas, Isle of Man
(art) Made by: Weissenborn, Hellmuth 1940
Hellmuth Weissenborn was interviewed by the Sound Department in 1978, Sound Record 3771
A Dream, Isle of Man, 1940 'Internment' series
(art) Made by: Uhlman, Fred 1940
No description available