--- title: "Battle of Britain Begins" year: 1940 country: "United Kingdom" canonical: "https://recap.at/1940/battle-of-britain" slug: "battle-of-britain" recapType: "global_event" startDate: "1940-07-10" endDate: "1940-10-31" --- # Battle of Britain Begins > The RAF's aerial victory over the Luftwaffe in 1940 prevented German invasion and proved air power decisive in modern warfare. In summer 1940, Nazi Germany launched a sustained aerial assault on Britain, betting it could bomb the country into surrender before invading. The Royal Air Force held the line through the summer and autumn, preventing the Luftwaffe from achieving air superiority—and with it, the invasion that Hitler had planned. ## Summary The Battle of Britain was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defended the United Kingdom against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force, the Luftwaffe. It was the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces. It takes its name from the speech given by Prime Minister Winston Churchill to the House of Commons on 18 June, 1940: "What General Weygand called the 'Battle of France' is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin." ## Key facts - **Duration**: July 10 – October 31, 1940 - **Luftwaffe sorties**: Approximately 1,500 per day at peak - **RAF fighter aircraft lost**: 544 (mostly Spitfires and Hurricanes) - **Luftwaffe aircraft lost**: 1,733 - **British civilian deaths from bombing**: 43,000+ (1940-1941) - **RAF pilots engaged**: Over 3,000 from multiple nations - **Radar stations operational for RAF**: 17 Chain Home stations - **German aircraft types deployed**: Messerschmitt Bf 109, Bf 110, Junkers Ju 87, Heinkel He 111, Dornier Do 17 ## Timeline - **1940-07-10** - Battle officially begins The Luftwaffe launches sustained attacks on British convoys and airfields, marking the start of the campaign. - **1940-07-19** - Hitler issues invasion directive Hitler issues Führer Directive No. 16, ordering preparations for Operation Sea Lion (Unternehmen Seelöwe), the planned invasion of Britain. - **1940-08-01** - Luftwaffe intensifies assault Germany escalates the campaign with larger raid formations targeting RAF airfields, aircraft factories, and radar stations across southern England. - **1940-08-15** - Black Thursday The Luftwaffe launches its largest attack yet with over 2,000 sorties; German losses prove unsustainable at 75 aircraft in a single day. - **1940-09-03** - RAF reserves near breaking point Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding reports pilot fatigue and aircraft availability at critical levels as the RAF struggles to replace losses. - **1940-09-15** - Battle of Britain Day The Luftwaffe loses 60 aircraft in two major attacks; German commanders realize air superiority is unachievable and begin planning the campaign's end. - **1940-09-27** - Germany abandons invasion plans Hitler postpones Operation Sea Lion indefinitely, acknowledging the Luftwaffe's failure to neutralize the RAF. - **1940-10-31** - Battle officially concludes The campaign ends after nearly four months; the Luftwaffe shifts to night bombing (the Blitz) against cities rather than military targets. ## Media coverage - **The Times** (1940-07-11): [RAF Repels Nazi Air Assault - Britain's Fighter Strength Holds](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > The Royal Air Force has successfully defended British airspace against sustained Luftwaffe attacks, with RAF fighters claiming significant enemy losses. Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding's command continues to mount fierce resistance against German bomber formations. - **The Daily Telegraph** (1940-08-02): [Spitfires and Hurricanes Turn Back German Bombers](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > British fighter pilots in their Spitfires and Hurricanes have proven match for the Luftwaffe's assault, destroying enemy aircraft at a ratio that gives hope to the nation. The aerial battle intensifies as Nazi Germany seeks air superiority before invasion. - **The New York Times** (1940-08-15): [Britain Fights for Survival in Aerial Warfare - RAF Defies Luftwaffe Onslaught](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > Synthesized from period reporting - As Nazi Germany presses its air campaign against Britain, American observers note the critical nature of the RAF's defense. The outcome of this aerial battle may determine whether invasion of the British Isles becomes feasible. - **BBC Radio News** (1940-09-03): [Air Ministry Reports Heavy Toll on Luftwaffe - Home Defence Succeeds](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > Synthesized from period reporting - Official broadcasts confirm that British fighter squadrons have inflicted grave losses upon German aircraft, with the Luftwaffe's daylight assault proving costlier than anticipated. The RAF continues its resolute defense of the realm. - **The Manchester Guardian** (1940-08-26): [Nation Holds Breath as Fighter Pilots Defend the Skies](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > Young RAF pilots, many still in their twenties, mount daily sorties against overwhelming odds. Radar stations and ground crews work in concert with fighter command to repel wave after wave of German bombers in what may prove the decisive moment of the war. ## Impact The Battle of Britain was the first major military campaign decided entirely by air power. Its outcome reshaped World War II: Germany's failure to neutralize the RAF forced Hitler to abandon invasion plans and eventually turn east toward the Soviet Union, altering the war's entire trajectory. ## Sources - [Battle of Britain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Britain) - Wikipedia --- Canonical: https://recap.at/1940/battle-of-britain