The Battle of Britain
In 1940, the world witnessed one of the most significant sustained bombing campaigns over the skies of the United Kingdom. After the conquering most of Europe, including France, Germany wanted to invade Great Britain. To destroy Great Britain’s Royal Air Force, Germany launched a massive bombing attack on London on September 15, 1940. While Nazi Germany’s air forces, the Luftwaffe was closing in on victory, Great Britain’s Royal Air Force took to the sky and shot down some German planes.
The large dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is wreathed in smoke from buildings burning after a German air raid in World War II.
The successful defense of Great Britain against Germany’s unremitting and destructive air raids made it one of the great strategic turning points of World War II. The battle of Great Britain ended up with the decisive victory of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command that saved the country from a ground invasion by German forces.