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 KATYN MASSACRE, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: German official photographer 1943-05-04
Members of the International Medical Commission in Berlin at the meeting with German Health State Leader, Dr Leonardo Conti. From left to right: 2nd - Dr François Naville, Professor of Forensic Medicine at the University of Geneva, Switzerland; 4th - Dr...
THE KATYN MASSACRE, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: German official photographer 1943-05-04
Professor Ferenc Orsós presenting a protocol of the International Medical Commision's work to Dr Leonardo Conti, German State Health Leader, during the meeting in Conti's office in Berlin. From left to right: 1st - Dr Vincenzo Palmieri, Professor of...
THE KATYN MASSACRE, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: German official photographer 1943-04-30
Dr Ferenc Orsós, Professor of Forensic Medicine and Criminology at the University of Budapest, dictating his diagnosis to a German Army typist. Other members of the International Medical Commission are also present: Dr Marko Markov, Reader of Forensic...
THE KATYN MASSACRE, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: German official photographer 1943-04-30
Members of the International Medical Commission - Dr François Naville, Professor of Forensic Medicine at the University of Geneva, and Dr Arno Saxén, Professor of Pathological Anatomy at the University of Helsinki - watching a display of personal...
THE KATYN MASSACRE, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: German official photographer 1943-04-30
Members of the International Medical Commission examining the body of exhumed Polish officer. From left to right: Dr François Naville, Professor of Forensic Medicine at the University of Geneva; Dr Helge Tramsen, Prosecutor at the Institute of Forensic...
THE KATYN MASSACRE, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: German official photographer 1943-04-30
Dr Ferenc Orsós, Professor of Forensic Medicine and Criminology at the University of Budapest, examining mouth of one of the victims while another member of the International Medical Commission - Dr Arno Saxén, Professor of Pathological Anatomy at the...