THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

1. THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

2. When the Battle Started • The battle started on June 10, 1940 but the real air war didn’t start until August 12, 1940. • It involved the British (RAF) against the Germans (Luftwaffe) • The Luftwaffe attacked radar stations and airfields

3. What Happened? • The focus was on military targets, factories, and ports • After an allied plane (British) bombed Berlin, Germany started to focus its air raids on London. • Nightly attacks were designed to destroy the British will to resist. • Thousands were killed but Londoners were determined to resist. • Children were evacuated to the countryside and spent their nights in bomb shelters and subways.

4. Why did Britain and Germany Fight? • Hitler decided that he would try and take over Britain after he took over France. • His plan was to take over the world and at the time Britain was the biggest threat to Germany • If Hitler could defeat Britain then he would become the ruler of the world.

5. THE KEY PLAYERS ADOLF HITLER • Leader of Germany (Nazi party) • Responsible for starting WWII & the deaths of over 30 million people. • After taking over France turned his attention on the RAF. (Royal Air Force) • He wanted Germany to be the leading country of the world.

6. WINSTON CHURCHILL • The Prime Minister of Great Britain • Lead Britain during the Second World War • His political career started in 1900 & ended in 1964

7. SPITFIRE SUMMER • The battle was fought over the skies southern England and it became known as the “spitfire battle”. • June and July Germans attacked convoys off the south coast ports of Dover and Plymouth. • Though out numbered at the beginning the Brits had some advantages like radar. • The most advanced warning system in the world.

8. BATTLE INTENSIFIES • In August 1940 the terrifying battles intensified. • The Luftwaffe began launching attacks more than 1,000 in one day. • the RAF lost 100 fighters. • Germany lost more than 190 planes.

9. Sustained Attack • RAF sustained heavy losses but the German losses were greater. • By the end of the month the Germans had lost 600 aircraft. • damage to the radar stations had left Britain very vulnerable. • air installations had continued then the eventful outcome could have been so different. • Hitler shifted the focus of his attacks.

10. CITIES TARGETED • In September 1940 Britain launched air attacks on some of Germanys industrial areas • this angered Hitler • On September 7th he ordered the Luftwaffe to bomb British cities. • The Luftwaffe changed tactics and shifted their attacks away from Britain's air defense.

11. PROPAGANDA • Germany attacked more then 1,000 aircraft on September 15th. • Heavy fighting and later became commemorated as battle of Britain day. • The RAF said they shot down 175 aircraft but really it was only 56 German aircraft. • The inflated numbers were accepted at the time as both sides fought propaganda battle as well as a military war. • The spit war was coming to its end.

12. GERMAN TACTICS • Attacks on British cities caused widespread damage and loss of life. • Bombers were shot down faster then they could be manufactured. • Hitler needed summer weather, so as winter approached the threat of invasion receded.

14. THE AIRCRAFTS USED IN THE BATTLE • Henkel 111- slow. • Lumbering: easy to shoot down with a pitifully small bomb load. • Messerschmitt 109: fast, dangerous, especially its cannon. • They used lots of cannons and machine guns up in the air.

15. IN THE END! • Hitler failed to establish air superiority. • The fleet of invasion barges assembled in French ports suffered heavy losses in RAF bomber attacks. • Battle was over and Britain was safe. • Winston Churchill said: • “ never was so much owed by so many to so few”

17. MAP

18. RESULTS FOR BRITAIN AFTER THE BATTLE • The RAF lost 902 aircraft compared to the Lufwaffe who lost 1598 • The British could consider themselves still the most powerful country in the world • With their development of radar they could track the Germans • They learned how to crack the German code to interceptthere plans in the future against them.

19. Results of the Battle for Germany • 1598 Luftwaffe were shot down. • They began to try to take over Russia instead. • The end of the battle on Britain gave the Luftwaffe enough time to make up sum of there loses.

20. Who Won The Battle? • Hitler decided to withdraw from Britain on September 17 but he didn’t stop fighting them until October 31, 1940 • As a result Germany was not able to defeat Britain and had to pull back. • (Germany would now focus on the Soviets, [invade Russia] which violated the Nazi-Soviet Pact)

21. THE END!!!