2. The air war and its effects: The Battle of Britain and the Blitz, bombing of Germany

Question 1

The Battle of Britain:

As France surrendered, Churchill spoke about what the future held for the country?

Answer 1

“I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin…Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our empire.”

Question 2

The Battle of Britain:

Contentious issue about?

Answer 2

Hitler’s intention to invade Britain as it was Aryan race and his goal was expansion to east, he sought peace with Britain after Dunkirk and Fall of France

Question 3

The Battle of Britain:

what did churchill oppose?

Answer 3

opposed peace with Hitler, forcing him to attack

Question 4

The Battle of Britain:

‘Operation Sea Lion’ ?

Answer 4

– invasion of Britain, needed control of air and sea to invade, later abandoned

Question 5

The Battle of Britain:

the British air battle is known to have ?

Answer 5

saved Britain from a German invasion

Question 6

The Battle of Britain:

how many phrases?

Answer 6

3

Question 7

The Battle of Britain:

first phrase?

Answer 7

After fall of France, Luftwaffe staged preliminary attacks on coastal ports and shipping in the English Channel

Question 8

The Battle of Britain:

2nd phase?

Answer 8

August 1940: Luftwaffe began concerted attempt to destroy RAF Fighter Command and win control of skies over Channel and South East England as prelude to invasion

Question 9

The Battle of Britain:

3rd phase?

Answer 9

From Sept 1940, Luftwaffe began to attack London (as RAF bombers launched minor attack on Berlin or as Overy suggests for negotiation/quick victory with Britain) reducing pressure on Fighter Command

Question 10

The Battle of Britain:

what did the attack on London mean for Britain?

Answer 10

more distance to fly to London meant more opportunities for RAF to intercept and shoot down German aircraft

Question 11

The Battle of Britain:

Battle shift in favour of ?

Answer 11

britain

Question 12

The Battle of Britain:

German air raids dropped after September as?

Answer 12

Hitler postponed plans for invasion and turned attention to east and prospect of war with Russia

Question 13

The Battle of Britain:

Battle of Britain won due to -

Answer 13

• Radar detect and track German fighters,
• RAF fighting over home territory could land, refuel and more time in air,
• RAF pilots courageous and brave,
• Luftwaffe lacked specific aim and leadership,
• British aircraft production increased

Question 14

The Battle of Britain:

Battle was key turning point in war as?

Answer 14

survival of Britain had major implication for future course of war, Hitler had to face a two (later three) front war, invasion of Russia may have been more successful, USA had base in Britain

Question 15

The Battle of Britain:

Denis Richards state that the British victory made ?

Answer 15

“possible the final victory and the liberation of Europe from the Nazi terror”

Question 16

The Blitz:

when?

Answer 16

15 sept

Question 17

The Blitz:

when did it occur?

Answer 17

massive daylight which later changed to night bombing raid on London

Question 18

The Blitz:

where did attack?

Answer 18

Britain’s town/cities and its centres of production

Question 19

The Blitz:

main target?

Answer 19

London main target and bombed almost every night between 7 Sept and 13 Nov

Question 20

The Blitz:

By mid Nov, German attacks aimed not only London, but ?

Answer 20

industrial and communication centres across Britain

Question 21

The Blitz:

when did main force of blitz occur?

Answer 21

between Sept 1940 and May 1941.

Question 22

The Blitz:

when blitz scale down?

Answer 22

By May, Hitler scaled down Blitz as contemplating invasion of Russia

Question 23

The Blitz:

impact of nine months of blitz?

Answer 23

over 40 000 civilians died and over 2 million houses destroyed

Question 24

The Blitz:

despite loss of life and damage, what was not affected?

Answer 24

industrial production was not affected and able to recover. As bombing became worse, British determination to fight strengthened

Question 25

The Blitz:

Basil HArt?

Answer 25

“…it had not succeeded in its object of destroying the RAF’s fighter strength and the British people’s morale”

Question 26

Bombing of Germany:

at beginning of war, why was Allied bombing ineffective?

Answer 26

ineffective due to poor navigation equipment and difficulties in night-flying

Question 27

Bombing of Germany:

however, what helped Britain?

Answer 27

However, attacks on German cities provoked Hitler to switch to Blitz which was key factor that helped Britain win Battle of Britain

Question 28

Bombing of Germany:

Overy?

Answer 28

“By the end of the year, losses were running at such a rate that Bomber Command was facing difficulty in replacing aircraft…”

Question 29

Bombing of Germany:

who took control of Bomber Command?

Answer 29

Feb 1942, Air Marshal Harris

Question 30

Bombing of Germany:

Effectiveness of Bomber Command increased with ?

Answer 30

introduction of Lancaster bomber, technological improvements and addition of American Flying Fortresses

Question 31

Bombing of Germany:

what happened July 1943?

Answer 31

city of Hamburg was almost totally destroyed by Allied bombers in order to undermine the morale of the German people, highlighting success

Question 32

Bombing of Germany:

impact of bombing of Hamburg?

Answer 32

40 000 people died and one million ppl became homeless

Question 33

Bombing of Germany:

however, German air defence

Answer 33

improved and by late 1943 Bomber Command faced major losses

Question 34

Bombing of Germany:

what switched the balance back in favour of Allies though?

Answer 34

the development of long-range fighter escort aircraft

Question 35

Bombing of Germany:

By beginning of 1945, germany was?

Answer 35

defenceless against allied bombing, seen clearly when Dresden was attacked in Feb. 1945.

Question 36

Bombing of Germany:

what was the bombing Dresden extremely effective in?

Answer 36

weakening Germany’s ability to wage war and gradually destroyed Germany’s economic base, as Overy states, “the economy gradually creaked almost to a halt”