Operation Sea Lion and the Beginning of the Air War
- Hitler's plan to invade Great Britain
- Needed control of the air before this would be possible
- Luftwaffe begins bombing aircraft factories, hangars, runways, radar, convoys
- British come within days of not being able to sustain a defense
The Royal Air Force (RAF) vs. The Luftwaffe
- RAF outnumbered 3:1 by Luftwaffe
- Spitfires and Hurricanes vs. Messerschmitt 162
- 24 August Accidental bombing of London
- RAF bombs Berlin
- British in control of Enigma
The RAF Bombs Berlin; Hitler Bombs London
- Hitler had promised this would happen in Germany
- He changes strategy and bombs London for 76 nights straight
- Allows the RAF to recover
Dogfights and the British Determination
- Led by Winston Churchill
- St. Paul's Cathedral a sign of the resistance
- Americans begin the lend lease policy in 1941
Winston Churchill
- Elected as British Prime Minister after the Fall of France
- Famous for his speeches during WWII
- Perhaps the best historian of the 20th century
- Knighted
Summary
The Air War, also known as the battle of britain took place in the sky. The RAF were led of course by the Luftwaffe attacks and accidentally bombed London. The RAF retaliated and bombed Berlin. Hitler then decided to bomb London for 76 nights straight, leaving the RAF time to recover.