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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Sobolewski, Stanislaw Franciszek (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1993-02-10
Polish cadet with 40th (Lwow) Infantry Regiment in Poland, 1939; POW in Russia, 1939-1941; officer served with 6th (Lwow) Regiment in Russia, Middle East and Italy, 1941-1945
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
Gibbons, Harry (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2001-11-08
British NCO served with Glider Pilot Regt in GB and North West Europe, 1944-1945; POW in Stalag 357, Fallingbostel, Germany, 1945
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...
Peet, Stephen Hubert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1990-10-30
British civilian filmmaker conscientious objector joined Friends Ambulance Unit, worked London hospitals and shelters 1940-1942, driver and orderly Palestine and Cairo to Tunis 1942-1943, hospital work in Dodecanese and capture by Germans 1943, hospital...
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1999
British civilian living in Oswaldtwistle, GB, from 1945. Memories of German POWs in area
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1999
British civilian living in Oswaldtwistle, GB, from 1945. Invited Germans POWs to home, 1946. Memories of German POWs in area
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1999
British civilian living in Oswaldtwistle, GB, from 1945. Married German POW
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1999
Two British civilian schoolchildren living in Oswaldtwistle, from 1946. Family invited German POWs to home for Christmas, 1946. Memories of German POWs in area
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1999
British civilian child, family invited German POW into home for Christmas, 1946