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WW II -- 1940: Fall of France & Battle of Britain
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WW II -- 1940: Fall of France & Battle of Britain |
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"Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'" Winston Churchill to the House of Commons June 18, 1940 following the fall of France. (Click for access to audio excerpt of speech) |
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Lesson Objectives
• Begin to understand the implications of strategic air warfare in World War II. • Describe and analyze the German strategy in the Battle of Britain. • Describe the impact of new technology on the Battle of Britain. • Identify and analyze the factors that led to the British victory in the Battle of Britain. |
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Study Guides
• What were Germany's objectives and strategy in the Battle of Britain? • What new technology was used in the Battle of Britain? What impact did this technology have on the outcome of the battle? • What principles of war were significant in the Battle of Britain? • Describe the major phases of the Battle of Britain. Where was the turning point? • Why did Britain prevail in the Battle of Britain? |
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Assignment
Readings: Dunkirk (multimedia presentation) World WarTwo BBC Select "Launch the animation", then "Dunkirk" The Battle of Britain The Imperial War Museum READ all sections in the left naviagtion menu on the Homepages From the section Fighter Command, read the links on Radar, British Figher Aircraft, and Ground Defenses. Battle of Britain Wikipedia How the Luftwaffe Lost the Battle of Britain John T. Correll Air Force Magazine, August 2008 Supplemental Resources: Battle of Britain The Royal Air Force • NOTE especially the following sections: • Phases of the Battle (beginning with Phase I) • "Background" and all its subsections. • "Air Power" This provides information on the aircraft used by both sides. The Battle of Britain 1940 The Battle of Britain Historical Society * Additional operational detail on the Battle of Britain * NOTE especially the section on Aircraft used durig the Battle of Britain Spitfire Mk I vs. Me-109E Spitfire vs. Hurricane * For the technically oriented, these articles discuss relative performance of the major fighter aircraft of the period. "The Few" speech (text) • Audio Winston Churchill Speech, August 20, 1940 "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few." "The Chain Home Radar System" The Radar Pages "German Air Warfare Tactics in World War II" Arsenal of Dictatorship (cached) • READ the following sections: • Dive Bombing • Navigation & Bombing at Night: Knickebein (Crocked Leg) • Navigation & Bombing at Night: X-Gerät (X-Gadget) |
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