the battle of britain, 1940 changing the course of world war ii
TRANSCRIPT
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The Battle of Britain, 1940
Changing the course of World War II
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Winston Churchill
• One of greatest wartime leaders, officer in British Army (fighting in Cuba/India/S. Africa), historian, writer, painter and honorary citizen of the USA.
• At the forefront of British politics until disastrous Gallipoli campaign in WWI forced him out.
• Served as Chancellor the Exchequer from ’24-’29.
• Out in the ‘political wilderness’ in the 1930s
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Winston Churchill
• Warned (but was mainly ignored) about the rise of Hitler during the ‘30s by Chamberlain and his government.
• Became Prime Minister on 10th May 1940 during Britain’s darkest hour.
• His refusal to surrender against seemingly impossible odds inspired British resistance.
• Renowned for his inspirational speeches (and cutting wit).
• He led Britain to victory against the Nazis and in 2002 was voted the Greatest Briton of all time.
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The Battle of France ends
• Following the evacuation of 360,000 British/French troops from Dunkirk, Hitler turned his attention to Britain.
• Operation Sealion: the Nazi invasion of Britain is announced (16/7/40).
• To succeed, air superiority but be established and the R.A.F. must be defeated and British morale broken.
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Hitler plans the invasion of Britain
• 18th June 1940, Churchill announced to the British people that…
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German advantage?
• The Luftwaffe had a clear numerical advantage over Fighter Command (the RAF).
• German attacks began in July 1940, focusing on airfields and shipping and finally major towns and cities.
• But it soon became apparent that the Luftwaffe, led by Goering had significant disadvantages.
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…Over to you
What advantages do you think (or know) the RAF had? Think about…
1) Location2) Equipment/technology
3) Tactics/training
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British advantages - Location
1) German planes not suitable for long-distance raids (Fighters could only stay over England for 10 mins.)
2) …Whereas RAF planes could land, refuel and take off rapidly.
3) If shot down/parachuted out, German pilots were over enemy territory…
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British advantages – Technology/equipment
• Britain had RADAR: limited/but necessary planes could be sent to specific locations
• The Spitfire and Messcherschmitt were evenly matched in dogfights but the German bombers were easy to shoot down alone.
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British advantages – Tactics/training
• German pilots trained to give support to ground troops, not fight plane vs. plane.
• German air force negated earlier tactics of bombing airfields in favour of bombing cities.
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Main reason for British victory?
• Change in German tactics… But why?• Initial tactics began on 8th August:
Germans launched 1,500 bomber daily raids against airfields and radar stations.
• By late August Germans had lost over 600 aircraft to the RAF’s 260.
• But the RAF were losing badly needed aircraft and experienced pilots.
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Main reason for British victory?
• Air Marshal Dowding tried one last tactic.• He ordered a huge bombing raid of Berlin.• This enraged Hitler who, in turn, ordered the
bombing of air fields and radar stations to stop and the bombing blitz on London to begin.
• Gave the RAF time to recover. • By late September German bombers were being
shot down faster than they could be rebuilt• The RAF had won the Battle of Britain. • Operation Sealion postponed indefinately
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The Blitz
• Started in London on 7th September 1940, continued for 57 consecutive nights destroying 1 million homes and killing 20,000 in London alone.
• Strategic bombing of other British cities (Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Coventry) killed another 20,000 civilians.
• Nazi command hoped to break the morale of British people…
• It had the opposite effect, British defiance becoming known as ‘the spirit of the Blitz’.
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A turning point in the war
• Many historians see the Battle of Britain as a key Allied victory in WWII.
• Hitler’s frustration at not being able to defeat Britain resulted in him turning his attentions to the ultimately doomed invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarossa).
• The last word goes to Sir Winston…