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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Pictorial Representation of a True Aryan
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941
whole: text and images are integrated and set against an plain white background. The title is placed across the top, in black, with three captioned images positioned across the centre. Further text is located along the bottom in black. image: three...
Save Waste Paper - Don't Waste Paper
(posters) Made by: A J E (artist) 1941
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in white, set against a blue background. The text is integrated and placed in the upper left and centre left, and separate and placed in the lower quarter...
You Never Know Who's Listening - Careless Talk Costs Lives
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor) 1942
image: A cartoon of two women sitting on a bus having a conversation, overheard by Himmler and Goering sitting in the seat behind. text: You never know who's listening! - CARELESS TALK COSTS LIVES
Every Stamp Blots a Nazi - Buy War Savings
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
No description available
You Never Know Who's Listening - Careless Talk Costs Lives
(posters) Made by: Fougasse (artist)
PST 0142 is the same design in a smaller format
'..BUT OF COURSE IT MUSTN'T GO ANY FURTHER!' - CARELESS TALK COSTS LIVES
(posters) Made by: Fougasse
PST 0635 is the master copy of a smaller format version
' .. But Of Course It Mustn't Go Any Further!' - Careless Talk Costs Lives
(posters) Made by: Fougasse
PST 3725 is the master copy of a larger format version
Quick - You're Gaining On Him!!
(posters) Made by: Fougasse
PST 5242 is a larger format version
QUICK - YOU'RE GAINING ON HIM!
(posters) Made by: Fougasse
PST 0166 is the master copy of a smaller format version
[Tass Window 793] [caricature of Goering]
(posters) Made by: Sarkisyan, P
whole: there is one line of large, black Cyrilic type across the top of the page with a red number stuck in the upper right corner. On the right there are two images one above the other. On the left there is one image, spilt into two portions by five...