Why did battle of Britain began?

Answer 1

People got very very mad!

the battle of Britain began because Hitler mad plan to invade Britain.

OR

After Germany marched into Poland to go attack France, Britain sent reinforcements to Poland and declared war on Germany for at the time they had a peace agreement with Poland. After that Germany defeated the British troops and wiped out France, Germany retaliated to Britains actions and Hitler began the Battle of Britain.

(He would of attacked Britain anyway though, he was going for world domination)

Answer 2

After Hitler's early victories to conquering, they now had mainland Europe and now Britain was next. But before they could invade, they had to get air superiority. So they sent a fleet of fighters/bombers to intercept the RAF. This battle was called the Battle of Britain.

Answer 3

The Battle of Britain began with the decision of Hitler to set a goal to invade England. The bombing attacks were preparations for the planned invasion.

The bombing attacks began by attacking the radar towers that were scattered along the south-east coast of England. The purpose was to knock out Britians radar that would warn of the approaching German bombers. The Luftwaffe also attacked the Royal Air Force fighter bases that were in the south-east part of England.

Answer 4

The Battle of Britain was fought in the skies over England from 10th July and 31st October 1940. The term battle of Britain was coined by Winston Churchill in a speech to Parliament in June of 1940.

By June 1940, Britain was the last unconquered territory in Western Europe with the surrender of France, with the Nazi's massed on the French coast waiting to invade (code named Operation Sea Lion). The Nazi's used the Luftwaffe (airforce) to launch the invasion with day and night bombing raids on key English airfields and later on the cities and industrial centres of the country. The hope was, the Luftwaffe could smash morale, radar installations and air power before sailing their troops across the channel. Air superiority was a must or the RAF could bomb the invading troops out of the water. This was the start of the Battle of Britain - literally a battle for control of the British skies as a prelude to a land invasion.

By June of 1940 the RAF had rebuilt it's fighter force back up to about 640 fighter planes (Hurricanes and Spitfires). Many aircraft had been destroyed as the Nazi's pushed across Europe between 1939 and 1940. The Lufwaffe had 2600 bombers at it's disposal and on July 10 1940, they began their assault on Britain. The resulting batte over the skies were called the Battle of Britain.

The small number of fighter pilots that defended England came from all over the Commonwealth - New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Newfoundland and more, plus pilots from countries overrun, like Poland, Czechoslavakia, France, Netherlands etc. Day and night the pilots flew against the German bombers and fighters, many to the point of total exhausion.

Although a relatively short battle, lasting only a few months, and involved only air and not traditional land forces, this battle was pivotal to the war. It effectively haulted the Nazi's westward expansion. The bombing did not stop during the war and Britain went on to suffer horrible damages because of the bombing raids. But, because the German invasion never happened, the Allied forces were able to use Britain as a springboard for invasion of the mainland. As well, England was the main base for air raids on Germany and it's industrial heartland.

If you want a detailed description of the battle go to the Royal Airforce's web site http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/background.html

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a speech that imortalised the sacrifices of the small number of fighter pilots that saved England:

"The gratitude of every home in our island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. "

20 August 1940