Battle Of Britain: WW2 History Facts For Kids

World War Two, or the Second World War, was a global conflict that took place between 1939-45.

The invasion of Poland done by Nazi Germany, led by Hitler, on September 1, 1939, is widely considered the starting point of World War Two. The United Kingdom and France consequently declared war on Germany on September 3.

Thanks to the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, which partitioned Poland and established German domains of influence over Finland, Romania, and the Baltic States, Germany captured or controlled much of continental Europe from late 1939 to early 1941, also forming the Axis alliance with Italy and Japan.

Thanks to a series of operations and treaties, Germany had seized or taken control over much of continental Europe between late 1939 and early 1941.

How did all this happen?

Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany in 1933. He had emerged as a beacon of hope for the general German public that was going through a severe economic and social crisis. As he came to power, Hitler abolished democracy and embarked on a massive rearmament campaign, demanding a fundamental, racially motivated rewriting of international law.

At the same time, France gave Italy complete autonomy in Ethiopia to maintain their alliance, which Italy coveted as a colony.

Hitler rejected the Treaty of Versailles that had been signed after the First World War. The treaty had humiliated Germany as well as put it at a great economic disadvantage by taking away resource-rich territory and money.

He pushed his rearmament program and introduced conscription when the Saar Basin Territory was legally reunited with Germany in early 1935. And this is how Hitler's antics started, which then went on for a decade.

In 1918, the British Royal Air Force had become an autonomous component of the British Armed Forces. Although it grew slowly after World War One, it saw a period of tremendous development in the second half of the '30s, partly in reaction to the mounting danger posed by Nazi Germany.

The Battle of Britain, also known as the Air Battle for England, was a Second World War military operation. The Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm defended the United Kingdom against large-scale raids by Nazi Germany Luftwaffe. The Battle of Britain was ultimately a showdown between the German Luftwaffe and the Royal Air Force.

'The Battle Of Britain,' a movie featuring Laurence Olivier as Captain Hugh Dowding, was released by MGM in 1969. 'Battle Of Britain,' a documentary made by brothers Colin and Ewan McGregor to commemorate the event's 70th anniversary, and 'Voices Of The Battle Of Britain,' a documentary featuring first-hand stories from RAF veterans, are two additional important projects.

Battle Of Britain: History

In the summer and the fall of 1940, the Battle of Britain was a decisive battle waged over southern England.

The invasion of Poland by Hitler-controlled Germany on September 1, 1939, is widely regarded as the start of World War Two. Germany attacked Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and France two days later, marking the formal start of World War Two.

After defeating Poland, Germany invaded Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and France. After Germany and Adolf Hitler controlled most of Europe, including France, the United Kingdom was the only significant country remaining to oppose them.

Germany planned to conquer the United Kingdom, but first, they had to eliminate the Royal Air Force.

Adolf Hitler issued Directive No. 16, directing the preparations for the invasion of the United Kingdom in what was known as Operation Sea Lion. Hitler insisted that the British Air Force must be devastated to the point where it could no longer provide any sustained opposition to the invading armies.

Approximately 1,000 British planes were shot down during the fight, while approximately 1,800 German planes were destroyed. According to Churchill, the Great Invasion Scare served a very positive function in Britain by keeping every person tuned to a high pitch of preparation.

He warned the War Cabinet on July 10 that invasion might be disregarded since it would be a risky and suicidal operation. The Messerschmitt Bf109 and Bf110 fighter planes were the most numerous in the combat.

The Local Defense Volunteers were founded in May 1940 as a last line of defense against a German invasion. The German Luftwaffe was created on February 26, 1935, with Goring as its commander-in-chief. During World War One, he was a well-known fighter pilot and one of Hitler's closest political friends.

The Luftwaffe launched a series of air attacks against RAF airfields in the southeast of England. Beginning on July 10 with bomber operations against trade, a growing barrage of bombings against British convoys and ports began and continued until early August.

Then, on August 13, Hitler started his primary assault against air bases, aircraft factories, and radar installations in southern England, codenamed Adlerangriff (eagle strike).

Battle Of Britain: Significance

During World War Two, the Battle of Britain was crucial.

Britain's success in the Battle of Britain highlighted the country's military power and civilians' tenacity and endurance, allowing them to remain free of Nazi domination.

It also allowed the Americans to set up a base of operations in England in preparation for the invasion of Normandy on D-Day in 1944.

The only major country that remained to resist Germany and Hitler after they had captured much of Europe, including France, was Great Britain. Germany planned to conquer the United Kingdom, but they tried and failed to eliminate the Royal Air Force.

The Battle of Britain occurred when Germany attacked the United Kingdom in an attempt to eliminate their air force and prepare for invasion. 

The German Luftwaffe was Europe's largest and most powerful air force. The Luftwaffe was organized differently from Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF), divided into 'Commands' depending on their functions.

The Luftwaffe was organized into Luftflotten (air fleets) or self-contained formations that included fighters, bombers, and other aircraft.

Before Dunkirk, the Luftwaffe had destroyed the air forces of Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and the RAF contingent. Its crews were experienced and confident, and its commander believed that the RAF would be defeated in a matter of days.

Still, German planes could not take down the British Royal Air Force.

Causalities Of The Battle Of Britain

The German air force continually assaulted towns, cities, and airfields across the south coast of England, the Midlands, and the northeast.

Due to underachievement in aircraft manufacture, the Germans faced supply challenges and a scarcity of aircraft reserves throughout the war. Their rapid advance through western Europe spurred them to establish a network of aircraft sites across conquered Europe in the spring of 1940.

Because the Germans were unable to create adequate local repair facilities, damaged aircraft were forced to be transferred to Germany for repair. There were similar shortages of German aircrew. Compared to their British colleagues, German fighter pilots were well-trained and had a lot more combat experience.

On the other side, the Luftwaffe struggled to make up for the loss of talented pilots. After being shot down over British soil, RAF pilots were able to safely bailout. On the other hand, pilots who survived being shot down by the Luftwaffe became prisoners of war or hostages.

To reduce Luftwaffe losses, the Luftwaffe concentrated its bombing operations on British towns at night. Germany conducted a massive bombing strike on London on September 15, 1940. They felt as if they were on the verge of winning.

The Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom took to the skies and scattered the German aircraft. Several German planes were shot down by them. This fight demonstrated that Britain had not been beaten and that Germany had not been successful.

Even though Germany continued to attack London and other British cities for a long time, the raids slowed as they recognized they could not destroy the Royal Air Force.

Nearly three-quarters of the Polish pilots served in 11 Group, accounting for 10% of the Group's overall strength during the height of the battle. One out of every five pilots in combat on September 15, 1940, today known as 'Battle of Britain Day,' was Polish.

During the Battle of Britain, as many as 1542 British pilots had gotten killed, 422 were wounded, and 23,002 civilians were killed.

Paul Farnes, a fighter pilot, was the last surviving ace, a title given to pilots who downed at least five enemy planes. He received the Distinguished Flying Medal, the Royal Air Force's highest honor for non-officers.

Battle Of Britain: Results

Luftwaffe's Commander-in-Chief was Herman Goring. The powerful, combat-experienced Luftwaffe intended to easily take Britain, but the Royal Air Force proved to be a serious foe.

The Treaty of Versailles prohibited Germany from having an aviation force after the First World War. On the other hand, Germany discreetly disobeyed the pact and trained air force, pilots, and support staff on combat planes with the aid of the Soviet Union.

The Conflict of Britain was a WW Two air war between Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Luftwaffe of Germany. It was the first air battle in history.

Pilots and support staff on both sides took to the skies from July 10 to October 31, 1940, battling for control of the airspace above Great Britain, Germany, and the English Channel to invade Britain, but the fight stopped them from attaining that vital control. The Germans began their campaign by striking coastal regions.

Images of Spitfires and Messerschmitt's clashing in the air are widely used to describe the Battle of Britain. But what if the ground was the determining element in this battle for air supremacy?

Despite having more planes and pilots, the British were able to hold off the Germans and win the battle. This was because they fought over their area, were protecting their motherland, and possessed radar.

The British used radar to predict when and where German planes would attack. This allowed them to get their planes into the air to assist in the defense. German pilots and bombers were being shot down by British fighters quicker than the German industry could create them.

The Luftwaffe turned almost completely to night raids on Britain's industrial hubs to escape the devastating RAF aircraft.

RAF Fighter Command used the durable and heavily equipped Hawker Hurricane to combat the heavy bombers, preferring to save the quicker and more agile Supermarine Spitfire, unequaled as an interceptor by any other fighter in any other air force, for use against the bombers' fighter escorts.

If the Luftwaffe had won the air combat, Great Britain would have been vulnerable to invasion by the German army, which owned the ports of France only a few miles over the English Channel at the time.

The British forces won the Battle of Britain due to a combination of causes. They were protecting their native land. Therefore, they were more determined to succeed than the invaders, and they also understood the local topography better.

The Dowding System, named for Commander Hugh Dowding, was another important contributor.

In the end, the fight was won by the Royal Air Force's Fighter Command, led by Sir Hugh Dowding himself, whose success not only prevented invasion but also set the circumstances for Great Britain's survival, the continuation of the war, and the final defeat of Germany and its friends.