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

Smiley, David de Crespigny (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1988
British officer served with 1st Household Cavalry Regt in GB and Middle East, 1939-1940; served with 52 (Middle East) Commando in Egygt and East Africa, 1940-1941; served with 1st Household Cavalry Regt in Iraq, Syria, Persia, Cyprus and North Africa,...
Hausman, Daniella Bronislawa (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1998-08-25
Polish civilian in Warsaw during German occupation, 1939-1944; served with Polish Home Army during Warsaw Uprising, 1944; POW in 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
Ranft, Martin Johannes (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2002-07-16
German gunner served with Deutsches Afrika Korps in North Africa, 1942-1943; POW in US and GB, 1943-1947
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...
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.