Exhibition Preview - Catalyst: Contemporary Art and War
Exhibitions & Displays, IWM North
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Find out more about this session from the list below and then complete our visit request form.
Find out more about this session from the list below and then complete our visit request form.
Find out more about this session from the list below and then complete our visit request form.
Find out more about this session from the list below and then complete our visit request form.
Find out more about this session from the list below and then complete our visit request form.
Find out more about this session from the list below and then complete our visit request form.
Find out more about this session from the list below and then complete our visit request form.
A visit to IWM North can support programmes of study in History, Art, English, Literacy, Philosophy, Religious Education, Politics, and Citizenship and includes handling original artefacts as well as using documents, photographs, posters, paintings and film.
Post-16 and Higher Education - 45 minutes
Does the truth just depend on your point of view? Our perceptions of war, peace and the cyclical nature of conflict are explored using genuine and replica First World War source material. Online resources support this session.
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Post-16 and Higher Education - 20 minutes
An introduction to the architecture of Daniel Libeskind's iconic building and the history of Trafford Park.
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Post-16 and Higher Education - 20 minutes
Prior knowledge of the Holocaust is essential. Through looking at the artefacts on display and hearing personal stories, students gain an insight into the impact of the Holocaust on survivors and their families.
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Post-16 and Higher Education - 90 minutes
Prior knowledge of the Holocaust is essential. Using a range of source material, students piece together a picture of what happened to Lodz and the people imprisoned in the ghetto there during the Second World War.
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Post-16 and Higher Education - 45 minutes
This session encourages students to think about how we learn about history by exploring four personal stories linked to conflicts from the First and Second World Wars and the Iraq War 2003.
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Post-16 and Higher Education - 45 minutes
Students deepen their understanding of how political, economic and social change in Germany between 1919 and 1939 affected the people who lived there. They use artefacts and archive material to make links between individuals, groups and events.
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Post-16 and Higher Education - 20 minutes
In this gallery-based activity, students gain an understanding of what soldiers experienced in the First World War trenches by looking at genuine artefacts and personal stories. Ideal for smaller groups.
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Sessions take place in our Learning Studio or in the galleries and encourage students to engage, examine and reflect on the impact of war and conflict on the lives of ordinary people whether on the home or battle fronts.
Exhibitions & Displays, IWM North
Family activities, IWM North
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Tours, IWM North
Family activities, IWM North
Family activities, IWM North
Tours, IWM North
Family activities, IWM North
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From the World Wars to the Cold War, IWM gives teachers and students in UK schools everything they need to explore the course, causes and consequences of conflict from the First World War to today.
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