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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!Alerta Campesino!
(posters) Made by: Lujan 1937
image: A peasant holding fruit in his left hand, and with ears of wheat sprouting to his right. His right hand extends into the form of a tree. One branch of the tree is named "INCAUTACIONES", and on it sit two sparrows named "INCONTROLABLE". In the...
!Campesino!
(posters) Made by: Lozano, Jesús 1936
image: A peasant's hand wielding a scythe to cut a single stalk of wheat. To the right a wooden fork can be seen behind the hand. In the background is a yellow field of ripe wheat. text: !CAMPESINO! TUS ENEMIGOS TE HICIERON TRABAJAR DE SOL A SOL PARA...
Los Fundamentos De La Nueva España
(posters) Made by: Magán 1935
image: Central panel of the emblem of Izquierda Republicana [Republican Left] above a photograph of Manuel Azaña [leader of Republican Left and Prime Minister of Spain 1931-33 and 1936, President from 1936 -1939]. The left hand panel depicts the Army,...
Salvar La Cosecha Es Tanto Como Ganar Una Batalla Al Enemigo
(posters) Made by: Helguera, Jesús 1936
image: In the foreground a soldier, depicted in dark khaki and brown, aims a rifle. Behind the soldier, in white on orange, a peasant harvests crops using a sickle. text: Salvar la cosecha ES TANTO COMO GANAR UNA BATALLA AL ENEMIGO. MINISTERIO DE...
!Campesino!
(posters) Made by: Huertas, J 1937
image: A huge sheaf of wheat against a blue sky, in the foreground is a peasant ploughing with two horses. To the lower right is the anvil, penstand and book emblem of the Partido Socialista Obrero Español [Socialist Workers Party]. Around the whole is...
Columna De Hierro. Campesino La Revolucion Te Dara La Tierra!
(posters) Made by: Bauset 1936
image: A militia man bayonets a demonic capitalist who is attacking with a knife. The militia man stands on a map of Spain. text: COLUMNA DE HIERRO !CAMPESINO. LA REVOLUCION TE DARA LA TIERRA! BAUSET A.I.D.C. "GRAFICAS VALENCIA" INTERVENIDO U.G.T.- C.N.T.
Campesinos
(posters) Made by: Calandin 1936
image: A smiling peasant woman carrying a basket of potatoes on her shoulder. text: CAMPESINOS la RECOLECCIÓN es INDISPENSABLE para nuestra VICTORIA . ES UN BATALLA GANADA al FASCISMO. ISTITUTO REFORMA AGRARIA. calandin. GRAFICAS VALENCIA INTERVENIDO U.G...
Intensificad La Avicultura Y Ayudareis A La Revolucion
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1936
image: A hen superimposed with an egg containing a chick. In the background is a blackboard with multiplication showing how quickly breeding can increase stock. text: INTENSIFICAD LA AVICULTURA Y AYUDAREIS A LA REVOLUCION. 1 produce 20 y 20x20 son 400...
Companys Camperols
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1936
image: Photograph of a man sowing seed by hand in the foreground while behind him another man ploughs the field with an ox drawing the plough. text: companys camperols. TOTS A SEMBRAR AJUDEU ELS VOSTRES GERMANS DEL FRONT! LLIUREU LA BATALLA DE LA SEMBRA...
Defiende La Pequeña Propriedad
(posters) Made by: Alandi, V Petit (artist) 1936
image: A field full of ripe wheat. On the right hand side is a group of men running away with sheaves of wheat. In the foreground a large figure sounds the alarm by blowing on a conch shell, and waves a Republican flag. Two men on the left are aiming...