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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Collections Search for "music"

recording
(sound) Made by: National Broadcasting Company (Production company) 1939-10-30
NBC radio broadcast of music from German-American Bund rally, Hippodrome, New York City, 30/Oct/1939.
recording
(sound) Made by: Anon (interviewee/speaker)
US propaganda record dropped from Allied aircraft during Second World War. Includes music and messages (in Swedish).
IWM interview
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1974-03-15
British civilian musician imprisoned as absolutist conscientious objector in Wormwood Scrubs and Wandsworth Civil Prisons, London, 1916-1918
Gedenkplatte zum 21 Marz 1933
(sound) Made by: Nationale Patria Tonplatten (Production company) 1933-03-21
German radio broadcast of ceremony held in the State Hall, Garrison Church, Potsdam, Germany, to commemorate the opening of the Reichstag on 5/Mar/1933
Baines, Thomas (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1976-03-15
British marine band boy served with Royal Marine School of Music at Eastney, GB, 1904-1906; musician served aboard HMS Triumph, in GB coastal waters, 1906-1907; bandmaster served at Royal Marine School of Music, GB and aboard HMS Conqueror in GB coastal...
Laing, John Hope (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1988-03-09
British bandsman and NCO served with 2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regt in Turkey, Singapore and India, 1922-1933; attended Military School of Music in GB, 1934-1936; officer served as bandmaster with Royal West Africa Frontier Force in Nigeria, 1937-1941
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1943-08-24
Speech by German Reichsmarschall at funeral of General Hans Jeschonnek, 24/Aug/1943
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1943-01-30
Radio broadcast by German Hitler Youth Leader on role of youth, 30/Jan/1943
IWM interview
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2001-08-22
Compilation of music and actuality entitled 'Oman Firefight-The Spargan Mortar Group Symphony De Guerre' recorded by Trooper Peter Radcliffe, Special Air Service during firefight in Oman, 1969
Last Post
(sound) Made by: BBC Radio (Production company) 1984
Music entitled 'Last Post'; recorded at Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium.