2. The air war and its effects: The Battle of Britain and the Blitz, bombing of Germany Flashcards
The Battle of Britain:
As France surrendered, Churchill spoke about what the future held for the country?
“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.”
The Battle of Britain:
Contentious issue about?
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
The Battle of Britain:
what did churchill oppose?
opposed peace with Hitler, forcing him to attack
The Battle of Britain:
‘Operation Sea Lion’ ?
– invasion of Britain, needed control of air and sea to invade, later abandoned
The Battle of Britain:
the British air battle is known to have ?
saved Britain from a German invasion
The Battle of Britain:
how many phrases?
3
The Battle of Britain:
first phrase?
After fall of France, Luftwaffe staged preliminary attacks on coastal ports and shipping in the English Channel
The Battle of Britain:
2nd phase?
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
The Battle of Britain:
3rd phase?
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
The Battle of Britain:
what did the attack on London mean for Britain?
more distance to fly to London meant more opportunities for RAF to intercept and shoot down German aircraft
The Battle of Britain:
Battle shift in favour of ?
britain
The Battle of Britain:
German air raids dropped after September as?
Hitler postponed plans for invasion and turned attention to east and prospect of war with Russia
The Battle of Britain:
Battle of Britain won due to -
- 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
The Battle of Britain:
Battle was key turning point in war as?
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
The Battle of Britain:
Denis Richards state that the British victory made ?
“possible the final victory and the liberation of Europe from the Nazi terror”
The Blitz:
when?
15 sept
The Blitz:
when did it occur?
massive daylight which later changed to night bombing raid on London
The Blitz:
where did attack?
Britain’s town/cities and its centres of production
The Blitz:
main target?
London main target and bombed almost every night between 7 Sept and 13 Nov
The Blitz:
By mid Nov, German attacks aimed not only London, but ?
industrial and communication centres across Britain
The Blitz:
when did main force of blitz occur?
between Sept 1940 and May 1941.
The Blitz:
when blitz scale down?
By May, Hitler scaled down Blitz as contemplating invasion of Russia
The Blitz:
impact of nine months of blitz?
over 40 000 civilians died and over 2 million houses destroyed
The Blitz:
despite loss of life and damage, what was not affected?
industrial production was not affected and able to recover. As bombing became worse, British determination to fight strengthened
