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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Nelson, Thomas Robert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984
British officer POW in Stalag Luft III, Sagan in Germany, 1942-1945 including participation in Great Escape, 3/1944
Hargreaves, Edgar Charles Stewart (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1981-11-23
British officer served with Special Operations Executive attached to Chetnik forces in Yugoslavia, 1942-1943; POW in Belgrade, 1943; inmate in Buchenwald concentration camp, 1943-1944; POW in Maerisch-Truebau and Oflag IV C, Colditz, Germany, 1944-1945
Hill, Johanna (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1993-07-14
Austrian civilian nurse in Vienna and Styria, Austria, 1938-1943; arrested and imprisoned in Graz Prison, Austria, 1943; member of Austrian Resistance in Styria, Austria, 1943-1945
Hildebrandt, Franz (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1979-02-14
German civilian pastor emigrated to GB, 1937; interned in Huyton Camp, Liverpool, and Central Promenade Camp, Isle of Man, 1940; worked as church minister in GB, 1940-1944
Dale, Stephen (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1994-08-26
German Jewish civilian imprisoned in Sachsenhausen camp, 1938; emigrated to GB, 1939; refugee in GB, 1939-1940; internee in GB and Hay Camp, Australia, 1940-1942; private served with Pioneer Corps in GB, 1942-1944; served with Special Operations...
recording
(sound) Made by: Railton Harris, John V (Production company) 1982
Norwegian civilian active in resistance 1940-1943 and arrested in Korshammer in 1943 during German occupation; imprisoned in Germany [Recorded in Norwegian; typescript in English]
recording
(sound) Made by: Railton Harris, John V (Production company) 1982
Norwegian soldier in Norwegian Army in GB during German occupation of Norway 1940-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Railton Harris, John V (Production company) 1983
Norwegian civilian supporter of Milorg in Norway arrested in 1942 during German occupation 1940-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Railton Harris, John V (Production company) 1982
Six Norwegian civilians, lived in Lillehammer during German occupation 1940-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Railton Harris, John V (Production company) 1982
Norwegian civilians active in resistance in Lillehammer during German occupation 1940-1945