1. The BATTLE OF BRITAIN and OPERATION “SEALION”
By: Mara Balfour (A), Natalie Triche (B), Maddie Butz (B), Micki Price (A)

2. THESIS:
The German offensive Battle of Britain led to the cancellation of Operation Sealion, exposing the German weaknesses which made the Western front of the war remain open, ultimately causing Hitler’s plans for the invasion of the East to be compromised.

3. Overview
Operation Sealion was the name of Germany’s plan to invade England in the fall of Undefeated and powerful, Hitler believed Hermann Goring when he said the Luftwaffe could defeat the Royal Air Force, allowing soldiers on the ground to invade. The famous aerial Battle of Britain defied that belief while changing warfare, causing death and destruction.
("Operation Sealion.")

4. Map

5. TIMELINE JULY 16Th, 1940 JULY 20TH, 1940 AUGUST 12TH, 1940
SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1940
OCTOBER 31ST, 1940
End of the Battle of Britain.
First attacks on the Royal Air Force airfields, dismantled RAF air lead.
Hitler delivers idea for Operation Sealion.
Beginning of the Battle of Britain.
Cancellation of Operation “Sealion” announced.
Eagle Day- The four day bombing of RAF airfields.

6. Planes
(Trueman)

7. Planes: Supermarine Spitfire
Designed by Reginald Mitchell, this British plane was one of the two the most advanced of its time. They shot down 529 enemy aircrafts, only losing 230 of their own.
(Jtalarico)

8. Planes: Hawker Hurricane
The most numerous plane of the Royal Air Force, the Hawker was old fashioned and not as advanced as the Spitfire. However, it was more easily repaired and sturdy against the other light planes in the sky.
(Jtalarico)

9. Planes: Messerschmitt Bf 109
The German plane, Messerschmitt Bf 109, was the fastest, most effective fighter craft of WWII. Compared to the Spitfire, it was able to dive better and carry more weaponry.
(Jtalarico)

10. Radar
The British radar allowed the RAF to be able to track German planes
Allowed England to prepare for attack and meet Luftwaffe planes in the air

11. TIMELINE SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1940 JULY 16Th, 1940 JULY 20TH, 1940
AUGUST 12TH, 1940
AUGUST 13TH, 1940
OCTOBER 31ST, 1940
End of the Battle of Britain.
First attacks on the Royal Air Force airfields, dismantled RAF air lead.
Hitler delivers idea for Operation Sealion.
Beginning of the Battle of Britain.
Cancellation of Operation “Sealion” announced.
Eagle Day- The four day bombing of RAF airfields.

12. PHASE ONE German attack were focused on port cities and smaller towns
Main goal was to take out aircraft production facilities
Attacks were scattered and infrequent
Gave the Luftwaffe the ability to
assess their resources and tactics
(“Introduction”)

13. TIMELINE SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1940 JULY 16Th, 1940 JULY 20TH, 1940
AUGUST 12TH, 1940
AUGUST 13TH, 1940
OCTOBER 31ST, 1940
End of the Battle of Britain.
First attacks on the Royal Air Force airfields, dismantled RAF air lead.
Hitler delivers idea for Operation Sealion.
Beginning of the Battle of Britain.
Cancellation of Operation “Sealion” announced.
Eagle Day- The four day bombing of RAF airfields.

14. PHASE TWO Aimed to eliminate all aircraft factories day and night
Didn’t halt attacks on cities / ports, but focussed less on them
Attacks on ports and cities were “collateral damage”
(“Introduction”)

15. TIMELINE SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1940 JULY 16Th, 1940 JULY 20TH, 1940
AUGUST 12TH, 1940
AUGUST 13TH, 1940
OCTOBER 31ST, 1940
End of the Battle of Britain.
First attacks on the Royal Air Force airfields, dismantled RAF air lead.
Hitler delivers idea for Operation Sealion.
Beginning of the Battle of Britain.
Cancellation of Operation “Sealion” announced.
Eagle Day- The four day bombing of RAF airfields.

16. PHASE THREE Large scale attacks from the Luftwaffe
Focussed on corrupting the British defensive front
Tried to find a hole, or flaw, in Britain’s front as quickly and efficiently as possible
(“Introduction”)

17. TIMELINE SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1940 JULY 16Th, 1940 JULY 20TH, 1940
AUGUST 12TH, 1940
AUGUST 13TH, 1940
OCTOBER 31ST, 1940
End of the Battle of Britain.
First attacks on the Royal Air Force airfields, dismantled RAF air lead.
Hitler delivers idea for Operation Sealion.
Beginning of the Battle of Britain.
Cancellation of Operation “Sealion” announced.
Eagle Day- The four day bombing of RAF airfields.

18. PHASE FOUR Day and night attacks against the capital city of London
Germany had aims of destroying as much as the city as possible as quickly as possible
London held the most culture
and value to Britain, made it a
prime target
(“Introduction”)

19. TIMELINE SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1940 JULY 16Th, 1940 JULY 20TH, 1940
AUGUST 12TH, 1940
AUGUST 13TH, 1940
OCTOBER 31ST, 1940
End of the Battle of Britain.
First attacks on the Royal Air Force airfields, dismantled RAF air lead.
Hitler delivers idea for Operation Sealion.
Beginning of the Battle of Britain.
Cancellation of Operation “Sealion” announced.
Eagle Day- The four day bombing of RAF airfields.

20. PHASE FIVE Germany executed its larger attacks at nighttime
Smaller attacks in the morning, all aimed at London
Beginning of the “Blitz” on the capital city
Major bombing raids on the main cities
(“Introduction”)

21. New Kind of War
Before WWII and specifically, the Battle of Britain, there were many formalities in war. The Germans realized around phase three that they were going to be unsuccesful in invading England. Once Germany accepted the loss in this battle, their goal was to annihilate England. Mass bombing of towns and factories ensued. Neighborhoods, city centers and highly populated areas were bombed day and night. Germany threw out all respect and formality, changing warfare.
(Trueman)

22. An image of downtown London during WWII.
(Trueman)

23. Prime Minister Winston Churchill
The Battle of Britain is named after his speech on June 18th to the House of Commons
Speech to Britain encouraging them to prepare to take on the Nazis
Predicted the German attack and encouraged the Britains to get ready
Previously known for being irrational when making war decision until his inspirational response to the Nazi threat
(BBC)

24. Air Marshall Hugh Dowding
Was very aware of the Nazi’s growing Luftwaffe.
He saw how the Nazis destroyed Guernica and was not going to let Britain’s fate be the same.
He initiated the production of The Supermarine Spitfire, an
aircraft used by the Royal Air Force during WWII.
Served as a father figure for his pilots. Referred to
them as “dear fighter boys”.
(“Battle of Britain”)

25. Hermann Goring
Senior politician in the Nazi Party. Very close with Hitler
Became President of the Reichstag in 1932
During WWI he proved to be an excellent fighter ace and won many awards for his heroic acts during WWI making him popular throughout Germany.
His Luftwaffe weakened Poland
Conquered by Britain due to failed prevention of Allied bombings
(Operation Sealion)

26. Casualties Britain & Ally Losses German & Axis Losses
544 aircrew killed
422 aircrew injured
1,547 aircrafts destroyed
German & Axis Losses
2,698 aircrew killed
967 captured
638 MIA, found later by British Authorities
1,887 aircrafts ruined
(Stone)

27. IMPACT
Going into the Battle of Britain, Germany had established and won over most of Europe with main countries Russia and England left to defeat. This was a big turning point in WWII, when Germany was defeated, impacting Germany as they were now not thought of as invincible.
(BBC - History - World Wars: )

28. Outcome
Britain gave Germany their first loss of World War Two, not without losing planes, lives, or infrastructure
Germany changed their focus to Russia and made plans to invade

29. Works Cited
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2017. <
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historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning Site, 21 Apr Aug 2016.
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ar-two-in-western-europe/operation-sealion/>.
Stone, Norman. World War Two: A Short History. London: Penguin, Print.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Battle of Britain." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 18 June Web.
05 Apr
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