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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Collections search

Untitled
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole. image: caricatured depictions of a large group of Entente prisoners in a camp, including soldiers from British and French colonies. A German and an Austro-Hungarian soldier stand guard. text: LITH ADOLPH FRIEDLÄNDER...
Der Weg zum Frieden! [The Way to Peace!]
(posters) Made by: von Sartor (artist) 1918
whole: the nine images occupies the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in white. The text is separate and is positioned above each image, in white. Further text is integrated and positioned within the images, in black....
The Nation's War of the World
(posters) Made by: Nevitt, J Cornes (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the centre, held within a black border. The title and subtitle is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the lower third, also in black. All set against a white background....
The Extirpation of German Control and Influence
(posters) Made by: Touchel, Jacques (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the centre left. The title is separate and positioned in the centre right, in red. The text is separate and positioned mainly in the upper quarter and lower third, also in red. All set against a white background, and...
Wij Zijn Bereid!
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1942-09
whole: 13 images occupy the majority. The title is partially integrated and positioned in the upper centre, in black. The text is separate and located in the centre left and right third, in black. Further text is integrated and placed in the left half,...
Il n'y a pas de Quoi [It’s not Worth Thanks!]
(posters) Made by: Radlov, N (artist)
whole: the image is positioned across the centre, with the title separate and positioned at the top, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the upper quarter and in the lower third, also in black. All set against a white background. image: a...
[It's not Worth Thanks]
(posters) Made by: Radlov, N (artist)
whole: the image is positioned across the centre, with the title separate and positioned at the top, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the upper quarter and in the lower third, also in black. All set against a white background. image: a...
Tommy, Vainqueur des Huns
(art) Made by: Simont Guillen, Jose
image: A British soldier standing in the centre of a recently taken German trench. He stands with his rifle butt resting on the ground, the end close to the bayonet gripped in his hand. He looks into the distance over the top of the trench, his head...
Le Trophée
(art) Made by: Job
image: a wounded French cavalryman on horseback brandishes a captured German flag, leaning on a British cavalryman also on horseback beside him, his horse's bridle held by a Belgian infantryman on foot. On the road behind them is a column of French...
Le Trophée
(art) Made by: Job
image: a wounded French cavalryman on horseback brandishes a captured German flag, leaning on a British cavalryman also on horseback beside him, his horse's bridle held by a Belgian infantryman on foot. On the road behind them is a column of French...