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.

Main menu

IWM London
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
- What's On
- Visiting Information
IWM North
Manchester
Open daily 10am - 5pm
Last admission 4.30pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
- What's On
- Visiting Information
IWM Duxford
Cambridgeshire
Open daily

Summer 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm

Winter 10am - 4pm
Last admission 3pm

Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information
Churchill War Rooms
London
Open daily 9.30am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information
HMS Belfast
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information

Collections search

British Prisoners of War, Italy
(art) Made by: Bullard, Paul 1946
image: The interior of a prisoner-of-war hut. The space is filled by the receding lines of wooden framed bunk-beds. Men lie and sit on the three-tiered bunks, clothed and unclothed. A seated figure on the central bunk has a red lozenge shape on the...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, 1943-1945
part of "ZIMNAL M (LT COL)" (photographs) Made by: Polish Official Photographer 1944-05
Two German prisoners of war, possibly soldiers of the 5th Gebirgsjäger Division (Mountain Infantry), escorted by troops of the 2nd Polish Corps. They were captured by the Poles during the fighting at Monte Cassino. Prisoner on the right is a holder of...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, 1943-1945
part of "ZIMNAL M (LT COL)" (photographs) Made by: Polish Official Photographer 1944-05
Column of German prisoners of war escorted by a soldier of the 2nd Polish Corps. They were captured by the Poles during the fighting at Monte Cassino.
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, 1943-1945
part of "ZIMNAL M (LT COL)" (photographs) Made by: Polish Official Photographer 1944-05
German prisoners of war, one of them seriously wounded, lined up by troops of the 2nd Polish Corps. They were captured by the Poles during the fighting at Monte Cassino.
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, 1943-1945
part of "ZIMNAL M (LT COL)" (photographs) Made by: Polish Official Photographer 1944-05
German prisoners of war in front of 6th Infantry Brigade HQ (5th Kresowa Division, 2nd Polish Corps) captured during fighting at the Phantom Ridge, Monte Cassino. Prisoner in the foreground has Edelweiss badge of one of the Austrian 5th Gebirgsjäger (...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, 1943-1945
part of "ZIMNAL M (LT COL)" (photographs) Made by: Polish Official Photographer 1944-05
Column of German prisoners of war escorted by a soldier of the 2nd Polish Corps. They were captured by the Poles during the fighting at Monte Cassino.
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, 1943-1945
part of "ZIMNAL M (LT COL)" (photographs) Made by: Polish Official Photographer 1944-05
Board outside the German POWs Cage (Punkt Przesyłkowy Jeńców), captured by troops of the 2nd Polish Corps during the fighting at Monte Cassino.