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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[Tass Window 869] To The Bushes
(posters) Made by: Sarkisyan, P (artist)
whole: The majority of the poster is filled by the image except for a band across the top of the page containing a block of black Cyrillic type, positioned to the right. In the upper right corner of the band a piece of paper has been stuck, marked with...
[Don't Bend the Truth]
(posters) Made by: Zharov, A (artist)
image: In the upper half of the poster a grey faced Goebbels points to a propoganda poster. The scene below shows Goebbels thrown back in surprise by the reality of working Russian industry. text: Don't bend the truth. [Also additional verses in...
[Tass Window 718] [Nemets]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: The majority of the poster is filled by the image except for a band across the top and bottom of the page. The band at the top contains one word in black Cyrillic script. In the upper right corner of the band a piece of paper has been stuck,...
[Tass Window 846] A Radical Compromise
(posters) Made by: M O A (artist)
whole: The majority of the poster is filled by the image except for a band across the top of the page containing a line of black Cyrillic type. In the upper right corner of the band a piece of paper has been stuck, marked with the poster number in red...
[Coming from Germany - the circus 'Hitler and company']
(posters) Made by: KUKRYNIKSI (artist)
image: Hitler as ringmaster, holding whips and wearing a bloodstained overcoat, directs eight circus performers (caricatures of prominent fascist figures). Each figure (including Hitler) is numbered, corresponding to a verse written below. Figures...
[Tass Window 618]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: The majority of the poster is filled by the image except for a band across the top of the page containing a line of black Cyrillic type. In the upper right corner of the band a piece of paper has been stuck, marked with the poster number in red...