Britain, Battle of

The Battle of Britain is the name given to the Second World War air campaign waged by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940.

The objective of the campaign is to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF), especially Fighter Command.

The name derives from a famous speech delivered by Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the House of Commons: "…the Battle of France is over.

I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin."

The Battle of Britain is the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces, and is also the largest and most sustained aerial bombing campaign to that date.

From July 1940, coastal shipping convoys and shipping centers, such as Portsmouth, are the main targets; one month later, the Luftwaffe shifts its attacks to RAF airfields and infrastructure.

As the battle progresses, the Luftwaffe also targets aircraft factories and ground infrastructure.

Eventually the Luftwaffe resorts to attacking areas of political significance and using terror bombing strategy.

The failure of Germany to achieve its objectives of destroying Britain's air defenses, or forcing Britain to negotiate an armistice or an outright surrender, is considered its first major defeat and a crucial turning point in the Second World War.

By preventing Germany from gaining air superiority, the battle ends the threat that Hitler would launch Operation Sea Lion, a proposed amphibious and airborne invasion of Britain.

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