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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ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR AT OFLAG IVC, COLDITZ
part of "COLDITZ CASTLE" (photographs) Made by: Unknown 1941
Lieutenant Leo de Hartog holding 'Moritz', one of the two dummy heads of POWs made to mislead German guards during daily roll calls. Oflag IVC, Colditz. 'Moritz' and 'Max' (second dummy) were made of plaster by a fellow Polish POW and painted by another...
ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR AT OFLAG IVC, COLDITZ
part of "BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR 1939 - 1945" (photographs) Made by: German official photographer 1941
Senior officers of the Oflag IVC in front of Colditz Castle chapel. From left to right: Unidentified Yugoslavian Army Captain; Colonel de Smet, Belgian Army; Admiral Józef Unrug, Polish Navy; General Tadeusz Piskor, Polish Army; Colonel David Stayner,...
ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR AT OFLAG IVC, COLDITZ
part of "BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR 1939 - 1945" (photographs) Made by: German official photographer
Group of Dutch Navy officers and 'Moritz', one of the two dummy heads of POWs made to mislead German guards during daily roll calls. Oflag IVC, Colditz. Standing from left to right: Lieutenant Gijs van Nimwegen, Lieutenant Diederick van Lynden,...
ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR AT OFLAG IVC, COLDITZ
part of "COLDITZ CASTLE" (photographs) Made by: Unknown 1941
Senior officers of the Oflag IVC in front of the Colditz Castle chapel. From left to right: Seated - Admiral Józef Unrug, Polish Navy; General Tadeusz Piskor, Polish Army; General Le Bleu, French Army. Standing - unidentified Yugoslavian Army Captain;...
ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR AT OFLAG IVC, COLDITZ
part of "COLDITZ CASTLE" (photographs) 1941-05-12
The rope of bed linen hanging on the west front of the guardhouse after the Polish Army Officers, Lieutenant Mikołaj Surmanowicz and Second Lieutenant Mieczysław Chmiel, had been caught in mid-air, sliding past a window. Oflag IVC, Colditz Castle.
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
Personal inscription made by Corporal H. Robinson of the 8th battalion, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders; Army service number 2981572, POW number 41357. Caption is incomplete and reads: '2981572 Cpl Robinson ...th A&SH Captured 7/6... Escaped...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
Angle view of the right wall in the 'bathroom' showing a whole section of graffiti - 'Silence' warning; head of a black man with a top hat; head of cartoon character Popeye; star; a figure of an Australian soldier; head of a bald man; head of a man with...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
Right wall in the 'bathroom' showing a whole section of graffiti - head of a man with a monocle called 'Mickey' saying possibly 'Catholic and All That'; unreadable caption; sketch of a bald man's head; a figure of an Australian soldier; a star; head of...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
Right wall in the 'bathroom' showing a whole section of graffiti - head of a man with a monocle called 'Mickey' saying possibly 'Catholic and All That'; unreadable caption; sketch of a bald man's head; a figure of an Australian soldier; a star; head of...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
Another photograph on the left wall in the 'bathroom' showing a whole section of graffiti - 'SILENCE' warning; head of man with a beret; nude pin-up lady; caption 'Mickey's Goil'; head of a smiling woman; two musicians playing a trumpet and and accordion...