History of The Battle of Britain -
A brief account

The German objective was to eliminate the Royal Air Force (RAF) and gain air superiority for a seaborne and airborne invasion. The Battle began with heavy Luftwaffe attacks on British shipping and ports in July 1940. Following phases targeted radar stations, fighter airfields, and London itself, with a peak on September 15. The RAF, despite being outnumbered, successfully defended, leading Churchill to praise their resilience. The Battle transitioned into night bombings on ports and industrial centres. Despite initial challenges, RAF’s Fighter Command persevered, securing the home base and contributing to wider Allied victories in Europe and beyond. The Battle of Britain Historical Society honours those who fought and educates future generations about its significance. We urge support for their ongoing mission through membership to ensure the legacy endures.

Unfortunately, many people especially students are of the opinion that the Battle of Britain was Britain’s involvement in the Second World War and the continued bombing that had been sustained from late 1939 until the end of 1944. In actual fact, the Battle of Britain was one of the first major battles of WW2 that lasted officially from July 10th until October 31st 1940.

The Battle of Britain will be known for two very important reasons in the annals of modern history. First it was the only battle to be staged in military warfare that was ever to be fought entirely in the air, even to this day. Secondly it was to turn the tide for the whole future of the Second World War, because if the Battle of Britain had been lost German forces would have invaded Great Britain and would then have had total domination of Northern Europe and possibly have succeeded in being a world power. But, because of the outcome, we shall never know.

After continued successful ‘Blitzkrieg’ invasions of Poland, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and France, Germany, under Adolf Hitler’s Nazi rule need only to defeat and complete a successful invasion of Great Britain to stand fast as a world power to be taken notice of. As the last of the tired and exhausted allied personnel had been taken from Dunkirk, Hitler’s armies were busy marching towards Paris and the claim that France had been defeated and now belonged to Germany.

The British Prime Minister included in his speech at the fall of France:

“….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.”
 WINSTON CHURCHILL June 18, 1940