Winston Churchill gave a speech expressing confidence that Britain would defend itself from the Nazi threat through resolve and sacrifice if necessary. He stated Britain would fight on beaches, landing grounds, fields, streets, and hills, and would never surrender. Britain was prepared to continue fighting alone if needed. Hitler then decided to prepare for a potential invasion of Britain to end its resistance. The Battle of Britain occurred from July to October 1940 and was the first major battle to be fought entirely in the air. Through superior technology like radar and an integrated air defense system, Britain was able to defeat the German air attacks and withstand invasion. This first defeat of Nazi Germany marked a turning point in the war.

3. I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and
if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove
ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of
war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary
alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of
His Majesty’s Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and
the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their
cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each
other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength … We shall go on to the
end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight
with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our
Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight
on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall
fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a
moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving,
then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would
carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power
and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

5. What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I
expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this
battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it
depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our
institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the
enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he
will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can
stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the
world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we
fail, then the whole world, including the United States,
including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into
the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps
more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us
therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves
that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a
thousand years, men will still say, “This was their finest hour.”

6. As England, despite her hopeless military situation, still shows no sign of willingness to come to terms, I have
decided to prepare, and if necessary to carry out, a landing operation against her.
The aim of this operation is to eliminate the English motherland as a base from which war against Germany
can be continued and, if necessary, to occupy completely. Adolf Hitler

7. The Battle of Britain 10th July – 31st October 1940
Key Figures
Watch the short video and complete the information
May – June 1940 (46 days)
July 10th – October 31st 1940
German planes used: How many?
British planes used: How many?
Who fought with the British?
Casualties: Germans British
Capturted and injured: Germans British
Planes downed: Germany The Allies
The Germans continued to bomb Britain ( The )
but turned their attention to the ___________ (Operation )

8. The British had developed an air defence network that gave them a critical advantage during the Battle of Britain. The
Dowding System – named for Fighter Command’s Commander-in-Chief Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding – brought
together technology, ground defences and fighter aircraft into a unified system of defence. It not only controlled the
fighter force, but other elements of the defence network as well, including anti-aircraft guns, searchlights and barrage
balloons.
RADAR and the Dowding System

10. The BLITZ
- Change of policy on September 6th 1940 –
bomb London
- London was bombed for 56 of the following 57
days and nights
- Other cities were targeted:
Liverpool/Glasgow/Manchester/Birmingham/C
oventry/Hull/Sheffield/southern coast
- 40 000 casualties and millions of homes
destyroyed
BUT …
- It was not a success: the Blitz spirit
- Too many targets weakened its effect
- The Luftwaffe should have concentrated on a
main, single target
- Hitler wanted a war of annihilation … it ended
in Nazi Germany’s first failure/defeat

11. Importance of the Battle of Britain:
- It was the first time since the beginning of WWII that Nazi Germany had failed to carry out its plans. It was
their fist defeat.
- Britain no longer faced the prospect of a land invasion and could serve as a base for future (US) resistance.
- It was the first time air warfare had played an important role in a war.
- New technology played an important role. The RAF planes were more modern and effective. The use of
RADAR helped the British anticipate and counter the attacks of the Luftwaffe.
- September 15th is now Battle of Britain Day in the UK
General Werner Kreipe, a member of the Luftwaffe wrote about the Battle of Britain after the war.
Though the air battles over England were perhaps a triumph of skill and bravery so far as the German air crews were
concerned, from the strategic point of view it was a failure and contributed to our ultimate defeat. The decision to
fight it marks a turning point in the history of the Second World War. The German Air Force was bled almost to death,
and suffered losses which could never again be made good throughout the course of the war.