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 LIBERATION OF STRAFFLAGER (PENAL CAMP) VI-C AT OBERLANGEN, 12 APRIL 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Keystone Press photographer 1945-04
Three babies born to Polish women during their internment as POWs at the Oberlangen camp being cared for by their mothers. The women, soldiers of the Polish Home Army and survivors of the Warsaw Uprising, were imprisoned in the camp after the collapse of...
THE POLISH RESISTANCE 1939-1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: US Official photographer 1945-04
Polish girl, who was an officer of the Polish Home Army during the Warsaw Uprising, shows her smiling face after being liberated by troops of 75th Division, Ninth US Army somewhere in Germany. On her right stands a 52 year old woman from Crimea in...
THE LIBERATION OF STRAFFLAGER (PENAL CAMP) VI-C AT OBERLANGEN, 12 APRIL 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Keystone Press photographer 1945-04
Smiling female survivors of the Warsaw Uprising looking through a barbed wire of the former German POW camp at Oberlangen. The women, members of auxiliary units of the Polish Home Army, were imprisoned in the camp after the collapse of the Uprising and,...
THE LIBERATION OF STRAFFLAGER (PENAL CAMP) VI-C AT OBERLANGEN, 12 APRIL 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Keystone Press photographer 1945-04
Wounded women helped by their fellow inmates taking a walk after a liberation of a POW camp at Oberlangen (Strafflager VI-C). The women, soldiers of the Polish Home Army and survivors of the Warsaw Uprising, were imprisoned in the camp after the collapse...
THE LIBERATION OF STRAFFLAGER (PENAL CAMP) VI-C AT OBERLANGEN, 12 APRIL 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Keystone Press photographer 1945-04
Women guards pacing an inner confines of a high barbed wire at the former German penal camp (Strafflager) VI-C in Oberlangen, Germany. The women, soldiers of the Polish Home Army and survivors of the Warsaw Uprising, were imprisoned in the camp after the...
THE LIBERATION OF STALAG XB AT SANDBOSTEL, APRIL 1945
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Chitham (Sergeant) 1945-04-30
After meeting heavy opposition, troops of the Guards Armoured Division captured Stalag XB at Sandbostel, near Zeven. This camp also contained a large number of political prisoners of all nationalities as well as British POWs and Allied soldiers. The...