The Battle of Britain.
The Battle of Britain As the great battle for the English Channel drew nearer, the British were alone in their fight against Nazism. The French had already been forced to surrender to the Germans, however the British refused to surrender to the Nazi's after been given the chance. This meant that Hitler and his men had no choice but to begin his invasion of Britain. Most had foreseen that Britain would be the next victim of Blitzkrieg attacks and that the actual Battle would take place in the Air. Even if Britain had lost most of its equipment at Dunkirk, Hitler knew that if they tried to embark across the sea from France they would be annihilated. This meant that Luftwaffe Commander-in-Chief Hermann Göring would have to gain the vital air superiority before the Germans could continue their path of destruction. Hitler's 'Luftwaffe' was a mighty force, which had secured their victory in various other countries prior to the Battle of Britain. Luftwaffe was used to act as both scouts and weapons against anyone that may have posed a threat to the German Blitzkrieg. Germanys air force had always been one of the best in the World, and Britain losing most of its war material at Dunkirk helped nothing. However the RAF had about 850 fighters including the best Plane in the world, 'the Spitfire'. Sir Hugh Dowding encouraged the development of Britain's radar system and believed
The popular myth of the Battle of Britain quickly emerged during the early part of the War. However, not all later interpretations fully follow it. Why?
The Battle of Britain The popular myth of the Battle of Britain quickly emerged during the early part of the War. However, not all later interpretations fully follow it. Why? Introduction It was obvious that after France surrendered to Hitler on 17th June, Britain would be the next victim of the Blitzkrieg, but the Dunkirk evacuation, which was seen by the British public as a victory, enabled the Allies to prepare themselves for war. It is said that Hitler did not have big intentions on invading Britain. He really planned to invade Russia. This was shown when Hitler simply offered Britain a negotiated surrender in July 1940, Britain rejected it straight away, this meant that Hitler had to invade, he codenamed his plan Operation 'Sealion' The English Channel was the only obstacle for the Germans. Hitler realised he had to gain air superiority. Therefore it was up to the R.A.F. to defend Britain from the German invasion. The German fighters started the battle by making intense attacks on the British shipping in the English Channel to clear the Channel of ships and to draw out and to destroy as many British fighters as possible before the full frontal attack on Britain itself. This intense bombing went on for weeks. As well as ships, the Luftwaffe destroyed almost 260 British fighters. The Luftwaffe felt that the time had come for a really massive strike to finish off the
The Crimean War.
The Crimean War. 'At no time had the allied position in the Crimea been so clearly defined, or seemed so precarious, as when the Russian artillery with infantry support opened a ferocious and determined attack upon the Turkish redoubts, no more than two or three miles from the town of Balaclava.'1 This statement sums up the British position on the 25th October 1854. The allies had been marching towards the naval town of Sevastopol, on the Crimean peninsular, a place strategically important to both the allies and their Russian opponents. However their position on a valley so close to the Russian fortresses, left them open to the surprise attack they finally suffered, as well as leaving the allies in a communications hole, without proper supplies or any real 'next step plans'. In short the allies were sitting ducks.2 They had bombarded the Russians since the 17th October with relentless daytime attacks on strategic sights, and in an attempt to drive the allies away the Russian forces settled on a surprise attack.3 Although the Russians 'won' the battle in terms of casualties, the allied position was actually strengthened by the capture of Russian artillery pieces, the nature of the attack, had made the allies less inclined to 'sleep on the job', and their movement towards Sevestapol increased. So although the contemporaries at the time saw that the battle was a defeat, with the
Why did Britain win the Battle of Britain?
Richard Tandy November 2003 C/W1 Why did Britain win the Battle of Britain? After taking France in addition to his list of captured countries on mainland Europe, Adolf Hitler set his sights on Britain. After the success of Blitzkrieg, the evacuation of Dunkirk and the surrender of France, Britain was by herself. However, before Hitler could contemplate undertaking an invasion he was advised by his generals that Germany had to destroy the Fighter Command of the Royal Air Force in order to gain superiority in the air. This would in turn enable him to gain control of the English Channel in order to transfer the 160,000 German troops on the 2000 invasion barges, which had been assembled in German, French and Belgian harbors, over the channel to Britain unscaved. Between august and September in the summer of 1940, under the codename of operation sealion the planes of the German Luftwaffe attacked British airfields, ports and radar stations in an attempt to gain air superiority, while Britain was defended tenaciously by the Royal Air Force. This period of time became known as the Battle of Britain and remains one of the most famous battles of world war two, if Britain had lost, Germany would have invaded. After taking the captured European countries with no serious problems, Hitler expected that
Why did Britain win the battle of Britain?
Why did Britain win the battle of Britain? Following the British evacuation from Dunkirk and the French surrender in June 1940, the Germans were uncertain what to do next. Hitler believed the war was over and that the British, defeated on the continent, would come to terms soon. However, he was to be frustrated by British intransigence. Though there was a strand of public and political sentiment that favoured a negotiated peace with Germany, Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, refused to countenance an armistice with the Nazis. His skillful use of rhetoric hardened public opinion against a peaceful resolution and prepared the British for a long war. In a speech to the House of Commons on 18 June 1940 he stated: "What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin." Britain's rejection of German terms was emphatic. In an effort to finish the war in the West, Hitler ordered preparation of an invasion plan on 16 July. He hoped to frighten Britain into peace before the invasion was launched and used the invasion preparations as a means to apply pressure. The plan was prepared by the OKW (Armed Forces High Command). The operation, code-named Seelöwe (Sealion), was planned for mid-September 1940 and called for landings on Britain's south coast, backed by an airborne assault. All preparations were to be made by
This essay will consist of a number of Interpretations some agreeing with the popular myth that the Battle of Britain was won "by the few" and the second part of the essay will be why Interpretations written after the battle do not follow the myth.
Battle of Britain Introduction This essay will consist of a number of Interpretations some agreeing with the popular myth that the Battle of Britain was won "by the few" and the second part of the essay will be why Interpretations written after the battle do not follow the myth. In July 1940 Hitler offered a negotiated surrender. Which consisted of Britain being allowed to keep their empire. The Germans considered this very generous considering after World War I, Britain, took all Germanys colonies off them. But the proud Winston Churchill turned the offer down and Britain prepared to be the next victims of blitzkrieg. The South coast of Britain was deserted, with road signs being taken out. Cars and oil barrels where placed in fields to prevent enemy planes landing. With the U.S.A still not playing an active part in WWII, and all of Britain's Europeans allies crippled, Winston Churchill was left alone to fight the Nazi onslaught. It was clear that air superiority was going to be a key part in the Battle of Britain. If the Nazis managed to gain the air superiority over the English Channel that would be leave the nazi boat the freedom of the water and an Invasion of Britain would inevitable. But if the R.A.F managed to keep control, of the skies, the Germanysnavy would become under heavy fire, and with a high risk of many ships being lost
Battle of Britain.
Battle of Britain Introduction Battle of Britain was the aerial conflict between British and German air forces in the skies over the U.K in which the RAF defeated against the German Luftwaffe in southern England in an attempt to eliminate Nazism. The battle was very important as this time as Germany tried to crush the British fighter power by targeting the air fields, if Germany had won this battle than Britain would have been wide open to German attacks with little resistance The battle took place from July to September of 1940. The myth of the battle was the importance of the pilots and these 'few' saved the world from Nazism, but was the pilots the sole reason for defeat? Could the importance of radar, spitfire, and great leadership from Dowding contribute to it? Whatever the reason, this battle certainly had a long-term significance and it re-shaped the outcome of the 2nd world war. What was the popular interpretation and why did it become so quickly established during the early part of the war? All of the early interpretations of the Battle emphasize greatly on the popular myth i.e. the battle saved civilization from Nazism and the brave few pilots who fought in them, and without those pilots the battle wouldn't have been won. From my knowledge I know that well over 500 soldiers died in this battle, this suggest that there is a core of truth in the myth of the
The Battle of Britain
The popular interpretation was established quickly during the early part of the war as a ploy by the British government to maintain morale through propaganda. However the popular myth was very famous among the public during the Battle of Britain. Interpretation 1 explains what the popular myth of the Battle of Britain was itself. The popular myth is about how the invasion was thwarted by Britain in its "finest hour." The battle therefore ensured that the "right side" was victorious. The victory can be however contributed to the "few" the RAF pilots who took part in the Battle of Britain. From my knowledge I know that there were 1500 pilots on the British side who came from all around the British Empire and from defeated countries. Their morale was pretty high as they realized what depended on them. They weren't very well trained as the training period was reduced to two weeks rather than the year-long training scheme that was essential to produce an effective pilot according to Sir Hugh Dowding the then Commander in Chief of Fighter command. It is true that these pilots did inflict more damage on the Germans than the Germans did to British planes, especially before the attack on airfields from 24th August to 6th September. The first 6 interpretations all originated during the wartime period itself and are similar in the fact they all use the popular myth to explain Britain's
English Short Story
English Short Story There is a class of events which by their very nature, and despite any intrinsic interest that they may possess, are foredoomed to oblivion. They are merged in the general story of those greater events of which they were a part, as the thunder of a billow breaking on a distant beach is unnoted in the continuous roar. To how many having knowledge of the battles of our Civil War does the name Pickett's Mill suggest acts of heroism and devotion performed in scenes of awful carnage to accomplish the impossible? Buried in the official reports of the victors there are indeed imperfect accounts of the engagement: the vanquished have not thought it expedient to relate it. It is ignored by General Sherman in his memoirs, yet Sherman ordered it. General Howard wrote an account of the campaign of which it was an incident, and dismissed it in a single sentence; yet General Howard planned it, and it was fought as an isolated and independent action under his eye. Whether it was so trifling an affair as to justify this inattention let the reader judge. The fight occurred on the 27th of May, 1864, while the armies of Generals Sherman and Johnston confronted each other near Dallas, Georgia, during the memorable "Atlanta campaign." For three weeks we had been pushing the Confederates southward, partly by maneuvering, partly by fighting, out of Dalton, out of Resaca,
The Lion Drops
Richard Demko The Lion Drops It was early morning on the plains and a wild pheasant flew up the hill almost brushing the tips of the long, golden grass in its flight. The African sun shone brightly and boldly in the distance. But this peace was as real as Kibuka the myth and war god sent to save the Bagandan people. But the people of Botswana need their very own Kibuka now, as war is knocking on the door of my beloved country and my home. I am no African, though I have lived here for 15 years of my 23-year life. I moved here from England. My father, older brother and I moved out here to gain the peace we desperately needed. For the lives we lived in England were chaotic and were filled with death. My mother was murdered along with my uncle, and everything my family went near turned into a tragedy. And it was happening again. We were trapped by our luck again and it seems there is absolutely nowhere we can hide from it. This is my story, the story of Sean Smith. The fear of the Zulu spears and their gung-ho fighting had reached the country as they were now at the border. These fearsome warriors had marched from Harare to the border of Botswana in the past week. The people of Botswana were preparing to defend their homeland; they were building large wooden stake fences. But I knew this wouldn't be enough to defend them and I think they knew to. But what were they to do. Their
