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Introduction
The Battle of Britain was the
aerial conflict between British and German air forces in the
skies over the United Kingdom in the summer and autumn of
1940. It was one of the most important moments in Britain's
twentieth century history and a decisive turning point of
the Second World War. Royal Air Force
Fighter Command defeated the
Luftwaffe's attempt to gain air supremacy over southern
England and saved Britain from German invasion and conquest.
The defensive victory won in 1940 dashed German hopes of a swift end to the war
in western Europe and ensured that Britain remained a free and independent state
able to carry on the war. Victory was eventually won in partnership with more
powerful allies, America and the Soviet Union, but, without the retention of the
island base, in close proximity to the European mainland, it would have been
impossible to launch the liberation of Europe and achieve the eventual defeat of
Nazi Germany.
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