The Battle of Britain and ‘the Blitz’

Abstract

Hitler, an admirer of the British Empire, hoped that once France was defeated the British would see sense and sue for peace. There were those in the British ruling elite who wished to, fearing that Britain would be bankrupted by the war. However, Churchill, now Prime Minister, made it clear that under his leadership, Britain would fight on. The Germans had no specialist equipment for an opposed sea crossing. As a precondition for Operation Sealion, which would cross the English Channel at its narrowest point with converted river barges, the Luftwaffe had the task of achieving air superiority, so that it could prevent the Royal Navy interfering. Britain’s ground forces had left most of their equipment behind at Dunkirk, so if a successful crossing was made, it was likely that another German victory would follow very quickly. In the way stood the RAF — effectively, the squadrons of Fighter Command, commanded by Air Chief Marshal Dowding.