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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Prisoners At Blechhammer
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: a group of Soviet POWs being marched onwards by a guard. They are followed by a group of AEL prisoners and a German guard. At the end of the procession is a Polish prionser, followed a woman and a man wearing blue overalls, carrying tools.
Prisoners At Blechhammer
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: a group of prisoners in yellow and blue uniforms being marched onwards by guard in a black coat. They are followed by a group of French POWs and a group of Jewish prisoners.
Arbeit Adelt [Work Ennobles]
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: a group of Prisoners of War with shaved heads stand stand in line, holding their caps, waiting to go through a gate marked with the words 'Arbeit Adelt' [Work Ennobles]. A camp guard stand behind them.
Polier, Wachtmeister, Schieber, Juden
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: a foreman shouts at a German camp guard and a Jewish guard. Behind them a crowd of Jewish prisoners stand holding shovels and buckets.
POWs At Work
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: a group of POWs at work stacking bricks from piles on the floor. A small cart sits on a track that runs in front of the prisoners. Next to the cart a German guard stands with his back to the prisoners, holding a bunch of keys.
POWs At Work
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: Jewish prisoners work alongside POWs digging or working with pick axes with an industrial plant in the background. A Jewish guard stands on the right, arguing with a prisoner. A German guard stands on the left. In the foreground one prisoner has...
Prisoners Carrying Railway Tracks
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: Prisoners in blue overalls marked with the letters 'AEL' carry a section of railway track between them, under the supervision of a German camp guard. Several tools are lying in the foreground. In the background are some other prisoners shovelling...
Prisoners Carrying Cement
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: Prisoners in blue and yellow uniforms line up to carry bags of cement from a waiting truck, up a walkway to a storeroom. They are supervised by a large German guard standing in front of a smoking brazier. In the background are some large...
Prisoners At Work
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: Prisoners in striped uniforms dig under the supervision of a German camp guard, standing next to a railway track . One prisoner in the foreground appears to be asleep, resting on his shovel.
Jewish Prisoners At Work
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: a line of seven male Jewish prisoners carry a large red pipe on their shoulders. In front of them a Jewish guard stands waving his arms. In the background there is a stack of similar pipes and an industrial building.