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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Wulff, Guenter Kurt Walter (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2002-06-18
German private served on Eastern Front, Germany and Austria, 1943-1945. POW in Austria, Germany and GB, 1945-1947
recording
(sound) Made by: Army Film and Photographic Unit TYY 005 F37 (Production company) 1944-09-30
German prisoners marching single file on rough ground, some talking, Calais, France, 1944
recording
(sound) Made by: Army Film and Photographic Unit TYY 004 F36 (Production company) 1944-09-30
German prisoners marching out of step and talking, Calais, France, 1944
recording
(sound) Made by: Army Film and Photographic Unit TYY 004 F34 (Production company) 1944-09-30
German prisoners marching out of step, halting, talking, Calais, France, 1944
German Prisoners-of-War being Embarked at Guernsey : May 1945
(art) Made by: Hailstone, Harold William 1945-05-01
image: German Prisoners of War walk across a beach towards two waiting landing craft. A stream of people are climbing down the steps from the harbour wall which towers above.
IWM interview
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1972
German civilian in Germany 1919-1939. Served with German Army as interpreter in POW camps including Colditz 1939-1945 [Difficult audibility]
recording
(sound) Made by: Thames Television (Production company) 1972
German recollections of warfare in the desert
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC 9757 (Production company) 1944-07-26
Canadian correspondent’s account of Germans captured by Canadian troops at Verrieres, Normandy, 26/7/1944