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

Are You Helping to Make Anti-Waste News?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper quarter and the lower quarter, in black and in white outlined black, held within yellow insets with black borders. The main text is integrated and located over...
Russia's Fight is Ours!
(posters) Made by: Kokorekin, Alexei & Kukryniksi
whole: four images, each depicting a Soviet poster, occupy the majority, set against a blue background. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, with the text separate and positioned upper right, both in white. Further text is separate...
To Arms!
(posters) Made by: Hill, Leonard Raven (artist) 1914
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the lower centre, in red. The text is partially integrated and positioned in the upper right, along the top edge and the bottom edge, in black. All held within a red border...
Auca De Quiepo De Llano
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1937
image: A series of 48 cartoons in the style of woodcuts, satirising the life of Quiepo de Llano, a Nationalist general. text: AUCA DE QUIEPO DE LLANA. [captions for each cartoon] EDICIO DEL COMISSARIAT DE PROPAGANDA DE LA GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA. Imp....
Die Parteien! [The Parties!]
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1919
whole: a series of seven groups of images are positioned in the upper centre, centre and lower centre. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black gothic script. The text is separate and positioned down the left half and right half...
Français! Lisez-tous l'Anti-Boche [People of France! All read L'Anti-Boche]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned down the left edge, with the title partially integrated and positioned across the majority, in black. The text is separate and positioned across the bottom edge, also in black. All set against a background of blue, white...
Français! Lisez-tous l'Anti-Boche [People of France! All read L'Anti-Boche]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned along the left edge. The title is partially integrated and occupies the majority, in black. The text is separate and positioned along the bottom edge, in black. All set against a blue background. image: a cartoon of a...
Il n'y a pas de Quoi [It’s not Worth Thanks!]
(posters) Made by: Radlov, N (artist)
whole: the image is positioned across the centre, with the title separate and positioned at the top, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the upper quarter and in the lower third, also in black. All set against a white background. image: a...
[It's not Worth Thanks]
(posters) Made by: Radlov, N (artist)
whole: the image is positioned across the centre, with the title separate and positioned at the top, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the upper quarter and in the lower third, also in black. All set against a white background. image: a...
Peace
(posters) Made by: Orpen, William (artist) 1919-06-29
whole: the image is positioned in the lower two-thirds, held within a narrow black border. The title is integrated and positioned in the centre, in black. The text is partially integrated and positioned in the upper half, in black. All set against a...