Causes | battleofbritain

World war II

The events preceding the Battle Of Britain were also the main events in Europe early in the war. The war began with Hitler's invasion of Poland. After that, it was expected by the Allies that France would come next. However, Hitler chose Denmark instead. After Denmark fell in one day Hitler attacked Norway which took twice as long as Denmark to conquer. With these two northern nations under his control Hitler had airbases from which he could attack British shipping and Britain itself. But before he turned on Britain German forces invaded France. The French had prepared the Maginot line from which they planned to fight Germany. the Maginot line was a long set of trenches and bunkers designed for a defensive war. the French expected trench warfare like they had seen in World War One. Germany, however, knew that a different route was available and prepared their blitzkrieg. The Nazis swung around and attacked through Belgium instead. French forces were defeated and Petain, an aged WWI veteran, came to power in France. France surrendered leaving Hitler in control of the top two thirds of it and plenty of bases from which he could launch the Luftwaffe at Britain. Knowing his country was best to face the German Reich Churchill told the British people "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, sweat, and tears."

Causes

Hitler's intrigue

Is to destroy the British Air Force (RAF). This would have three major effects. First, it would enable the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) to conduct raids on British merchant ships carrying supplies from the United States. Secondly, it would allow for an aerial attack on Britain's navy, which was defending its shores from a sea invasion. Once the British navy was out of the way Operation Sea Lion could begin. Operation Sea Lion was Hitler's plan for a naval invasion of Great Britain that would knock them out of the war.

Britain responded to Hitler

On 3 September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany in support of their ally Poland.

The 'Phoney War'
Now a period known as the 'Phoney War’ began, in which Western Europe remained relatively quiet. This was interrupted in April 1940 when Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. Denmark surrendered but Norway fought on, with British and French help, until June. It was a disastrous failure for the British and forced the Prime Minster, Neville Chamberlain, to resign. On 10 May he was replaced by Winston Churchill. On the same day, the Phoney War came to a very real end when Germany invaded Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and stormed into France on the 12th. The German blitzkrieg again proved difficult to resist.

June 18 1940, Winston Churchill, prime minister of Britain, gave his people hope by telling them that Britain would fight on no matter what. He is quoted as saying " the Battle Of France is over, the Battle Of Britain is about to begin."

Hitler wasn’t pleased about the Treaty of Versailles after the World War 1 and he wanted to reverse it. He wanted to improve Germany’s living conditions so he invaded other countries On July 10th, 1940 the Battle of Britain began. Hitler had to secure Western Europe so he could move further east. Hitler wanted preparations for a seaborne invasion of Britain called Operation Sea Lion. But first he had to send the Luftwaffe which was the German air force to destroy Britain’s Royal Air Force first in order to begin the seaborne invasion. For this to happen Germany needed control over the channel because the beaches would be a trap for the soldiers who made it across the channel and they would have no supplies to fight with. This was the first step in the invasion of England by the Nazis. The battle of Britain started right after Germany attacked France through Poland. Britain and France agreed to help Poland when Hitler attacked so Britain and France were forced to declare war. After France surrender on June 22nd, 1940 Hitler saw an opportunity to invade Great Britain. German leaders also thought it was necessary that the BAF stop sinking the ships that would carry German soldiers across the canal. Germany realized the RAF was powerful and they weren’t going to be able to open a way for the invasion of the British Isles.

Before battle of Britain