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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THE LIFE OF A GERMAN INTERNEE IN GREAT BRITAIN DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR.
part of "HOBSON M T" (photographs)
'Stilleben' ('Still-life'): inmates relaxing in their quarters at Wakefield.
pair of hand-engraved clear glass tumblers
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Mayer, George 1916
Pair of clear glass tumblers made during the First World War by George Mayer in the aliens internment camp at Alexandra Palace, London, 1915-1916. George Mayer was a Czech national who came to England in the 1890s. He entered 'service' and became butler...
AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1918
Children, adults and German prisoners of war outside a barn on a British farm in 1918.
AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "SPORT & GENERAL PRESS AGENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) 1914
German prisoners of war load hay onto a wagon on a British farm during the First World War.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BRITAIN DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "SPORT & GENERAL PRESS AGENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) 1914-10
A German prisoner of war camp at Newbury Racecourse - German POWs quartered in horse boxes in the camp.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BRITAIN DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "CENTRAL PRISONER OF WAR COMMITTEE COLLECTION" (photographs)
Exterior view of the huts at Wakefield prisoner of war camp.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN GREAT BRITAIN DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "AIR MINISTRY COLLECTION" (photographs) 1917
German sailors at rest in Handforth Barracks prisoner of war camp, Cheshire.
PRISONERS OF WAR IN BRITAIN DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "CENTRAL PRISONER OF WAR COMMITTEE COLLECTION" (photographs)
Sleeping quarters for German prisoners at Eastcote Prisoner of War Camp, Northamptonshire (also known as Pattishall).