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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ITALIAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BRITAIN DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division official photographer
Italian prisoners of war attend a church service in a prisoner of war camp in Britain.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BRITAIN
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
German POWs at Glen Mill camp, Oldham, on Christmas Eve 1940.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BRITAIN
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
German POWs repair a barbed wire fence at Glen Mill Prisoner of War camp, Oldham, England on Christmas Eve, 1940
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BRITAIN
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
German POWs working in the vegetable garden at Glen Mill prisoner of war camp, Oldham on Christmas Eve, 1940.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BRITAIN
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
German POWs taking vegetables harvested from the camp garden to the cookhouse at Glen Mill prisoner of war camp, Oldham, on Christmas Eve.
The Café 'Internment' series
(art) Made by: Uhlman, Fred 1940
image: the interior of the café of Hutchinson internment camp, near Douglas on the Isle of Man. Nine male German internees sit around a long table, four of the men wearing glasses. Washing hangs along two clothes lines above them.
Parachutists - Eight Figures Beyond the Wire 'Internment' series
(art) Made by: Uhlman, Fred 1940
image: eight internees stand behind a barbed wire fence at Hutchinson camp near Douglas on the Isle of Man. The word 'Parachutists' is on the wall behind them. Four of the men wear glasses and all but one of them appear to be wearing kippot, indicating...
Isle of Man, 1940 - Air Raid 'Internment' series
(art) Made by: Uhlman, Fred 1940
image: a woman and her daughter stand side by side, their arms flailing and mouths open in panic, due to an air raid. They appear to be standing behind a wire fence.
Isle of Man, 1940 - Air Raid 'Internment' series
(art) Made by: Uhlman, Fred 1940
image: a mother stands with her young daughter in front of her, with her left hand on top of her daughter's head and her right hand holding her daughter's right hand. She wears a terrified expression on her face.
Isle of Man, 1940 - The Window 'Internment' series
(art) Made by: Uhlman, Fred 1940
image: three internees look out of a large window that is covered with horizontal metal bars, with barbed wire also covering the exterior.