Battle of Britain
Evy Tanner
Event Information
Battle of Britain
When?
Friday, Mar 7, 194, 10:00 PM
Where?
English Channel, Europe
Why did the Battle of Britain happen?
In June 1940, France was captured by Nazi Germany. Hitler thought that Great Britain would want to end the war and make peace. But he was wrong. The new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill thought Nazism as evil and something that needs to be stopped at all costs.
The Battle is on!
In the Battle of Britain, Nazi Germany and Great Britain were fighting mostly in the English Channel and in Northern France. Luffwaffe, the German Air Force, started to create bases in Northern France and began to attack British convoys in the English Channel. On July 10th, 1940 was the official start of the Battle of Britain and when the air battles were at their intensest. Luffwaffe never came close to be able to kill ratio to defeat the RAF (Royal Air Force) even though they had great tactics. RAF had more pilots and aircraft than Luffwaffe. Luffwaffe's strength soon decreased. On September 7th of 1940 Luffwaffe finally bombed few of Great Britain's major cities after RAF bombed Berlin, Hitler order the attack. But that week's weather was bad. When Luffwaffe came to bomb London RAF was there to meet them and it was foggy. The RAF came in a double wave. The RAF was much better at flying in the fog because of the Great London Fog and Luffwaffe not as good. When Luffwaffe bombers came over the city they couldn't see their target because of the fog, so they blindly dropped the bombs. Bombing continued until the end of September of 1940.
Tactics and goals from both sides
Luffwaffe's Tactics & Goal:
Luffwaffe wanted to gain air superiority so that they could invaded Great Britain.
RAF's Tactics & Goal:
RAF wanted to kept the enemy of upper air superiority.
Hermann Göring (German General)
Göring was born on January 12th, 1893 in Rosenheim, Bavaria. In World War 1 he was a fighter pilot. At the end of the first World War he was a German air force hero. In 1922 he joins the Nazi party. Göring was very close buddies with Adolf Hitler. In March of 1935 Göring became the commander-in-chief of the new German Air Force, Luffwaffe. In the summer of 1940 his reputation suffers when Luffeaffe did not defeat Great Britain's Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain. On May 7th, 1945 Göring was arrested by U.S troops. He was sentenced to be hanged, but on the night before he was to be hanged he commits suicide by swallowing a cyanide pill. He died on October 15th, 1946.
Hugh Dowding (U.K. General)
Hugh Dowding was born on April 24th, 1882 in Moffat, Scotland. At age 17, Dowding dedicated his life to the military. He Graduated from the Royal Military Academy in 1900. He began to be fascinated with flying and aircraft. Dowding was a quick learner and learned flying fast. In December of 1913 he joined the Royal Flying Corps. That next year World War 1 broke out. He served on the front. Dowding was at Fighter Command when World War 2 began. He was a steady but distant leader, his nickname with his men was "Stuffy". Dowding's tactics for the Battle of Britain was to fight over Britain rather than the English Channel. A drowned pilot could be rescued rather than lost at sea. Dowding was removed from Fighter command in November 1940 after the victory of the battle. Dowding later died in February 15th, 1970.
British Won the Battle of Britain!
Germany bombs London
During the Battle of Britain, Germany bombed London and other major cities in Great Britain. September 7th-15th of 1940.
Losses for both German and British
For the Royal Air Forces lost 1,012 Aircraft and 537 Airmen.
For Luffwaffe lost 1,918 Aircraft and 2,662 Airmen.
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of Great Britain through most of World War 2.
Significance of battle
If Great Britain would have fallen under Germany then Germany would have won World War 2 before Russia and the U.S even joined the war. Germany would have had complete control over Europe. But lucky Great Britain was able win the Battle of Britain. One very significant change in the battle was when one lost German bomber bombed a completely civilian city. The British were outraged and imminently sent bombers to bomb Berlin. That one lost pilot changed the battle and maybe even the whole war.
Sources:
- http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/whic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=WHIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&u=lees33148&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within_results=&p=WHIC%3AUHIC&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CCX3447000157
- http://www.history.co.uk/shows/13-hours-that-saved-britain/videos/13-hours-that-saved-britain-fight-for-survival
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11029903
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/battle_of_britain/
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/germany_bombs_london
- http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/battle-of-britain.asp
- http://www.history.co.uk/biographies/hermann-goering
- http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007772
- http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/airforce/p/hugh-dowding.htm
- http://info-poland.buffalo.edu/britain/airbattle.html