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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ATTILA 20
(posters) Made by: Tato, S G 1916
design Kaiser Wilhelm II in the guise of Attila the Hun. The full-length figure wears animal skin and leggings. He holds a heavy spiked mace in his left hand and dangles skulls from his right text: "ATTILA 20" (stylised lettering, upper right corner)...
[Tass Window 836] [OPERETTA]
(posters) Made by: Sarkisyan, P (artist)
image: Mussolini, in typical crossed-arm pose and in full regalia and holding a whip, is in the driving seat of a carriage being pulled uphill by a dying horse. In the back of the carriage are seated well-dressed propagandists writing with giant fountain...
Neutralita....Armita [Armed Neutrality]
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Retrosi, Virgilio 1915
design suit of armour, full-length with fantastically spiked helmet, pauldrons, codpiece, kneecops and sabatons. Peeping through the eyeslits of the helmet is a tiny caricature portrait of King Victor Emmanuel III wearing the Italian tricolour. Attached...
PIOGGIA CHE NON RINFRESCA
(posters) Made by: Scorzon, A 1918
image: Emperor Karl of Austria-Hungary, half-length caricature figure, in uniform and high crowned képi. The figure anxiously dabs his sweating forehead, at the same time fanning himself, as he eyes the skies. Overhead a fleet of Italian warplanes drop a...
Poveri Versi Miei Getta ti al Vento
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Ferroz, R 1918
design Gabriele D'Annunzio, full-length caricature figure, strolling to right. He wears a laurel wreath crown, evening dress and carries a scroll, marked "DISCORS", in his left hand and a three-stringed lyre in his right. Following him is Dante Alighieri...
L'Innocente... [The Innocent]
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Fram 1916-08-26
image: Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany as the Medusa. His eyes roll madly and his huge mouth is open to reveal horrific fangs. text: 'L'INNOCENTE..' [The Innocent].