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Causes
-          Germany had a numerically superior and experienced air force
-          Britain had refused to seek peace with Germany
-          The Germans decided to bomb Britain to destroy their equipment such as planes, bases, radars etc. but also to lower British morale. They hoped, through a show of aerial force and bombing British cities,  to cause a British surrender.

-          Germany had control over Europe

Consequences
-          After accidentally bombing London, the British returned the bombing on Berlin which enraged Hitler and caused him to divert his bombers to British cities rather than airfields, turning the tides in the British's favour
-          “The Luftwaffe suffered from over-confidence, changing operational priorities, and an underestimation of RAF strength, losses and aircraft production figures. “
-          The Germans lost the battle which caused heavy losses in the German air force (1,977 aircraft destroyed out of a total of 4,074) and eventually the Germans losing the war.

-          Both sides suffered heavy losses, and set Germany back.

-          It was significant because Germany was thought to be unstoppable at the time and it gave hope to conquered Europeans.

-          Britain was preserved as a base for offensive action against Germany

-          Due to failing to conquer Britain, Hitler turned towards the Soviet Union in the east. Leading to a war on two fronts, and his ultimate downfal

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Operation Catapult – plan to neutralise French Navy so it wouldn’t fall into German hands.

Eagle Day – Aug 13, 1940, the day where 1400 German planes attack southern England in massive bombing raids

London Blitz – German bombing of London

Blitz – an abbreviation of Blitzkrieg (used by the British Press)

Operation Sea Lion – the German code name for the conquering of the United Kingdom
Luftwaffe - The German Airforce
Wermacht - The German Infantry
Spitfires - A common type of British fighter aircraft
Hurricanes - A type of British fighter aircraft
Messerschmitt - A type of German Aircraft
RAF - Royal Air Force (British)
Convoy - Groups of ships protected by warships

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Who authored/created it?

Unknown, part of Imperial War Museums collection

When was it created?

2nd October 1940

What historical events were occurring when it was created?

The Battle of Britain was nearing its end, and German planes were doing their last bombings of English cities before ending British operations on 31st October.

The Tripartite Act, the agreement between the Axis Powers (Japan, Germany and Italy) that an enemy of an ally is an enemy of the Axis, had also just been signed.

The Japanese successfully invade French Indo-china (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia

Why was it created?  Who was the intended audience?

It was obviously taken by a British person, possibly for a newspaper but most likely for historical purposes.

What point of view/position does the author/creator represent?

The author represents the point of view of a journalist/historian.

How does the point of view/position shape the source?

It doesn’t really, the photo was meant for keeping records and that’s

What evidence does it contribute to your understanding of WWII?

I didn’t quite realise before that the British actually captured German planes as I thought that they just shot them down. I also know a bit more about what they look like.

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Who authored/created it?

A ‘Press Agency’ photographer
When was it created?

3rd October 1940

What historical events were occurring when it was created?

The Battle of Britain was nearing its end, and German planes were doing their last bombings of English cities before ending British operations on 31st October.

The Tripartite Act, the agreement between the Axis Powers (Japan, Germany and Italy) that an enemy of an ally is an enemy of the Axis, had also just been signed.

The Japanese successfully invade French Indo-china (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia)

Why was it created?  Who was the intended audience?

It was created for journalistic purposes. The audience was the English people.
What point of view/position does the author/creator represent?

The author represents the view of the British civilian.

How does the point of view/position shape the source?

It is an aerial shot, so it gives the viewer a good look at the incredible destruction of the City of London by the German bombers.
What evidence does it contribute to your understanding of WWII?

It makes me realise just how devastating planes were in warfare in WWII and how badly London was bombed in WWII.

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British

"As the chief British defense strategist, Churchill refused to countenance an armistice with the Nazis. A master of rhetoric, the prime minister hardened British public opinion against a peaceful resolution with Germany, having foreseen Nazi aggression as imminent and unavoidable."
- They Knew that the Germans were a strong enemy and would turn their eyes towards the UK. -They thought that the Battle of Britain was significant.
- They made use of their Radars to detect enemy aircraft.

German
"It’s all exaggerated, Churchill succeeded in creating this myth that so few did so much for so many. When you look at how we fought against the Americans later, the Battle of Britain was very little in comparison."
- They hought they were unstoppable and would easily defeat Britain. The Germans thought that the Battle of Britain was insignificant.
“German military intelligence... ...sources said radar stations were unimportant and should not be targets. It also misreported strength, weapons, and losses."
"We can almost never surprise them." - German Fighter Pilot

American
“Hope for American isolationism ended with the Battle of Britain. By the end of 1940, most Americans had come to realize that war was inevitable”
- The Americans were reluctant to join the war due to damage since WW1
- Sold weapons and supplies to the allies especially Britain.

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If the Germans won the Battle of Britain, Britain would have almost certainly been invaded soon after

Was a turning point in the war as until then Germany hadn’t faced any real opposition and were invading/had invaded most of western Europe

Meant Hitler turned to the East and attack Russia

Many advancements in plane technology were made as a result of the battle

Battle involved the first use of radars in warfare

General consensus is that the British victory of the Battle of Britain stopped Germany from invading Britain

“The Battle of Britain became one of the significant turning points of World War II,” 2nd Lieut. Kenneth MacDonald of the Army Reserve NS Highlanders said. “The battle ended as the German air force failed to gain air superiority over the Allied Forces. The Allied Forces were out-numbered, and outgunned. The loses were enormous. The battle saved the country from invasion and a possible occupation by Nazi Germany.”

However, Germans argue that the Battle of Britain was just a “bluff” and that the real battle was the one against Russia.

Michael White (The Guardian) points out that “critics of the western powers often point out Soviet Russia took the brunt of Hitler’s ambitious plans (and had 20 million war dead to prove it)...” but he also says that “It all helped weaken the nearly successful German attack on Russia in June 1941 and kept Berlin exactly where it never wanted to be: in a two-front war.”

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The Battle of Britain: Page 7 - Aftermath. (2012). In New Zealand History. Retrieved from https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/battle-of-britain/aftermath

Battle of Britain Timeline. (2011). In Bentley Priory Museum. Retrieved from http://bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk/bentley-priory-and-the-battle-of-britain/battle-of-britain-timeline-10-july-1940-31-october-1940/

Battle of Britain. (1996). In history.com. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-britain

Battle of Britain: A German Perspective. (2012). In Military History Monthly. Retreived fromhttps://www.military-history.org/articles/the-battle-of-britain-a-german-perspective.htm

Battle of Britain. (2010) In Australian War Memorial. Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/index.php/articles/encyclopedia/battle_of_britain

White, M. (2015). Battle of Britain was won as much by German German ineptitude as British heroism. In The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/31/battle-of-britain-won-german-ineptitude-british-heroism