HansenName _____________________ World HistoryPeriod _________ The Battle of Britain Note-Taking Guide Hitler’s Attack on Britain –Hitler made an offer of ____________ –When Britain refused, Hitler planned to __________ _____________. He cannot allow an anti-Nazi Britain… (why not?) ___________________________ ___________________________________________ The Advantage of Being _________ with Superior ________ ___________________ –Churchill talks about the incredible advantage of superior sea power- _________________________. Enemy might be able to ________ across, but even then, how can it defend _____________? –Necessities of __________________for a good invasion… high tide, half moon, clear weather… the problem is that the enemy ____________________ _________________as well… can be prepared… –For this reason, he argues that Britain has always been safe… even more so in WWI when __________ took away the ability of the aggressor to wait for _____________________ to help them but drive the defender away. –However, there was a new intangible in WWII … _______________________. Basic German Invasion Plan… _______________________ –Construct a Naval ________________ cordon off the ______________________ between France and Britain line it with _____________and ____________, and ferry the German army across… –Churchill claims that Britain could have ___________ _______________________________, destroyed the subs, and __________________________________ –he also says that this was the most ______________ ____________section of the British coast… The Odds –Churchill estimated that at the beginning of the Battle of Britain the Luftwaffe forces ________________________ _____________________, but there was considerable home field advantage for the British Partly this is because of ________… Luftwaffe only had about ________________of fighting time over England before having to _____________________. Also, Enigma (bigger story here) and radar : _______ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ –Churchill describes the need to defend a long coastline in Britain meant to set up forces on the perimeter that would _____________________________ and then the largest possible ________________for quick counterattack… (what he accused ___________________________in the Battle of France ) Churchill’s _________________ –Air battles between the Luftwaffe and the RAF occurred through the _______________________________________ –Operation Sea Lion would have to be launched by _______ ____________________or it would have to wait _______ _____________ winter…would the RAF __________? –RAF started ________________ because of damage to its fighter command…. I’ve read one historian who claims England came ________________ of permanently losing the air war –Churchill, in desperation, _______the Germans by ________ ______________________ Hitler had promised _________________________if German cities were _________________________ Goering (head of Luftwaffe) had promised that _______________________________________

The London ________________ –The bombing of Berlin caused _______________ The Germans altered their focus from an attack on British air power to an attack on __________________________________ tried to bomb the Brits into submission through ___________________________ –London was bombed after this for ___ consecutive ________________ –Problem of underground shelters during incendiary bombings?- ___________________ _____________________________________ Solution? – _______________________ –Thus, the Battle of Britain had two phases The attack on ____________ –And The attack on London, known as the __________________ Record Two Interesting Facts from the London Blitz Readings 1)________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ 2) ________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ The Bombings of London Were _______________ to Churchill –“London can _________________” –RAF is being _________________________ –By October, Hitler ______________the bombing of Britain Too late to launch Sea Lion –Instead, Hitler decided to deal with England via the _______ ________________________________________ (__________) ____________the British out “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” So much? __________________ So many? ___________________ So few? _____________________

Hitler’s Attack on Britain Hitler made an offer of peace When Britain refused, Hitler planned to subdue Britain. He cannot allow an anti-Nazi Britain…(why not?)

The Advantage of Being An Island with Superior Naval Power Churchill talks about the incredible advantage of superior sea power- very hard to invade. Enemy might be able to sneak across, but even then, how can it defend its supply lines? Necessities of perfect weather for a good invasion… high tide, half moon, clear weather… the problem is that the enemy can calculate these dates as well… can be prepared… For this reason, he argues that Britain has always been safe… even more so in WWI when steam power took away the ability of the aggressor to wait for favorable winds to help them but drive the defender away. However, there was a new intangible in WWII … air power.

Basic German Invasion Plan… Operation Sea Lion Construct a Naval corridor cordon off the shortest straight line between France and Britain line it with minefields and subs, and ferry the German army across… Churchill claims that Britain could have torn this minefield up, destroyed the subs, and crushed this invasion he also says that this was the most heavily fortified section of the British coast…

The Odds Churchill estimated that at the beginning of the Battle of Britain the Luftwaffe forces outnumbered the RAF 3-1, but there was considerable home field advantage for the British Partly this is because of fuel… Luftwaffe only had about 10 minutes of fighting time over England before having to head back to refuel. Also, Enigma (bigger story here) and radar Churchill describes the need to defend a long coastline in Britain meant to set up forces on the perimeter that would stall the enemy and then the largest possible reserve for quick counterattack… (what he accused the French of not doing in the Battle of France… )

RAF Planes Hurricane… first RAF plane with a top speed of over 300 mph… 8 machine guns in the wings… (gets rid of synchronizing gear) 1,715 Hurricanes flew with Fighter Command during the period of the Battle It is estimated that its pilots were credited with four-fifths of all enemy aircraft destroyed in the period July-October 1940.

Hurricane…

Spitfire “The Spitfire has always attracted more attention than the Hurricane, and is undoubtedly one of the most famous aircraft ever built. Its graceful lines combined with outstanding handling qualities to produce a "dream plane" extremely fast, and in comparison to contemporary types was second to none.” 8 machine guns in wings Spitfire

Luftwaffe Messerchmitt machine guns in the nose and two in the wings The various strengths and shortcomings of the Messerschmitt, the Hurricane, and the Spitfire largely cancelled out in combat.

Stuka Dive Bomber Won great success in battles of Poland and France, but in the Battle of Britain proved to be almost helpless without fighter cover

“The Hurricane's comparative weakness in acceleration was offset by its extreme strength and ruggedness. There was little to choose between the Spitfire and the Me109 between 12,000 and 17,000 feet, but above 20,000 feet the Messerschmitt was undoubtedly the better machine. It dived faster than its opponents, but required much more physical effort to fly. The weak, narrow undercarriage caused many accidents, but despite this and the cramped cockpit, the aircraft was popular with its pilots.”

Air battles between the Luftwaffe and the RAF occurred through the late summer and fall (1940) Operation Sea Lion would have to be launched by late September or it would have to wait through the winter…would the RAF hold out RAF started to crack because of damage to its fighter command…. I’ve read one historian who claims England came within one week of permanently losing the air war Churchill, in desperation, bated the Germans by bombing Berlin Hitler had promised never to bomb London if German cities were not bombed Goering (head of Luftwaffe) had promised that German cities would never be bombed Churchill’s Gamble

The London Blitz The bombing of Berlin caused a change in tactics The Germans altered their focus from an attack on British air power to an attack on England’s civilian population tried to bomb the Brits into submission through terror bombing of London.. London was bombed after this for 57 consecutive nights… Problem of underground shelters during incendiary bombings? Solution? – To the roof!

Primary Source Readings… Thus, the Battle of Britain had two phases The attack on the RAF And The attack on London, known as the London Blitz

The Bombing of London were a ‘Relief’ to Churchill “London can take it.” RAF is being reconstituted By October, Hitler gave up on the bombing of Britain Too late to launch Sea Lion Instead, Hitler decided to deal with England via the War in the Atlantic (Wolf Packs) Starve the British out

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

Look at Churchill Speeches from the Invasion of France and the Battle of Britain