The Battle of Britain (Operation Sea Lion)
Notes:
- 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
- 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
- Hitler had promised this would never happen in Germany
- He changes strategy and bombs London for 76 nights straight
- Allows the RAF to recover
- Led by Winston Churchill
- St. Paul’s Cathedral a sign of the resistance
- Americans begin the lend lease policy in 1941
- 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 Battle of Britain was a result of Hitlers plan to invade Great Britain after they controlled the skies. Germany began to bomb factories, hangars, runways and eventually London for 76 nights straight.
Subjective question: What would happen to Britain if they did not have the leadership of Winston Churchill?
Quote: "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." - Winston Churchill
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