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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clippers, hair, German
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Cito, Solingen
Hair clippers associated with an unknown Second World War prisoner of war (POW) camp barber at Stalag VIIIB, Lamsdorf, Germany.
SPORT IN PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN GERMANY 1939 - 1945" (photographs) Made by: Lawrence, W (W/O)
British prisoners of war playing cricket at Stalag VIIIB prisoner of war camp, Lamsdorf in Germany.
batons, conductor's, boxed
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Robert Lawrence (Bob) was an Equipment Assistant Corporal in the RAF and was aged 23 when he was taken prisoner at Maleme in Crete in 1941. He was held at Stalag VIIIB POW camp in Lamsdorf, Poland. Bob had a strong interest in music and he formed an RAF...
SCENES AT STALAG VIIIB (LAMSDORF) PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, GERMANY 1942 - 1945
part of "LAWRENCE W A (MR)" (photographs) Made by: Hill, J
View looking out over the Stalag VIIIB camp from the roof of one of the huts. The picture shows the Exchange compound block where disabled prisoners were kept pending their exchange with similar German prisoners of war in September 1944. The huts in...
SCENES AT STALAG VIIIB (LAMSDORF) PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, GERMANY 1942 - 1945
part of "LAWRENCE W A (MR)" (photographs) Made by: Lawrence, W (W/O)
A watchtower with searchlight (one of six encircling the camp) photographed in summer. In the foreground, prisoners are sunbathing between lines of clothes and bedding hung out to air. The photograph also shows the dense forest which surrounded the...
SCENES AT STALAG VIIIB (LAMSDORF) PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, GERMANY 1942 - 1945
part of "LAWRENCE W A (MR)" (photographs) Made by: Lawrence, W (W/O)
A prisoner's laundry hangs up to dry in the window of the Camp Washhouse .
SCENES AT STALAG VIIIB (LAMSDORF) PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, GERMANY 1942 - 1945
part of "LAWRENCE W A (MR)" (photographs) Made by: Lawrence, W (W/O)
Overcrowded conditions in one of the camp huts. RAF prisoners sleep and rest in their bunks. The prisoner in the foreground is Sgt Albert Willis.
SCENES AT STALAG VIIIB (LAMSDORF) PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, GERMANY 1942 - 1945
part of "LAWRENCE W A (MR)" (photographs) Made by: Lawrence, W (W/O)
Interior view of a camp hut showing prisoners' accommodation and possessions on Christmas Day 1944. Homemade Christmas decorations hang from the ceiling and the overcrowded, cluttered conditions endured by the prisoners are evident.
SCENES AT STALAG VIIIB (LAMSDORF) PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, GERMANY 1942 - 1945
part of "LAWRENCE W A (MR)" (photographs) Made by: Lawrence, W (W/O)
Prisoners' laundry hangs drying on a fence in one of the camp's interior compounds.
SCENES AT STALAG VIIIB (LAMSDORF) PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, GERMANY 1942 - 1945
part of "LAWRENCE W A (MR)" (photographs) Made by: Lawrence, W (W/O)
Prisoners of war prepare a meal in their hut using utensils which they had made themselves. On the right, a prisoner, 'Tex' a sergeant with the Royal Canadian Air Force, peels potatoes.