‘Their Finest Hour’Britain and its Quest to Save the Empire and Europe
...med under the leadership of Winston Churchill. He raised morale and cited the duty Britons had to defend themselves and all of Europe from Germany. The appeasement approach to Germany was finished, as an era of stubborn resistance began. This resistance at first was more vocal than active, as the German Wehrmacht (armed forces) pushed through an unprepared France with relative ease. Although the official fall of France did not occur until June 22, 1940, the end of any significant force in continental Europe was at Dunkirk on June 4th. As the port city was under-siege, the British Expeditionary Force that was sent to France and elements of the French army escaped with every conceivable water transport to Britain by way of the English Channel. Although a substantial force was saved (almost 300,000) France was lost and only one Western country stood in front of Hitler. As Britain’s only ally, France, fell quickly to the German onslaught, Hitler thought it would sue for peace. His calculations were wrong, and Great Britain fought on against an enemy viewed worse than the devil. Once again, in Churchill’s defiant tone “the Battle of France is over. I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin,” peace was not an option. As the enemy rested comfortably on the other side of the English Channel and decided on their next course of action, Britons prepared for invasion. A Home Intelligence report found fluctuating opinions on the war. On May 28, the report indicated that the people believed “we shall pull through in the end.” When France fell, so did the confidence. Britain was left alone and the people were frightened, but felt Germany was coming no matter what. As the weeks grew closer to the eventually air battles, British resolve stiffened not based on confidence, but on its collective will not to surrender. “The predominant instinct was to accept, hesitantly perhaps, fearfully assured, that invasion might happen and that the British people should obstruct it.” Britons had entrusted Churchill and their military to defend their country from an attack they were positive would come. They grudgingly accepted this coming battle over Britain more on fear than any inspiration or moral rhetoric Churchill is known for. With the fall of Dunkirk and France, Hitler believed that Britain would sue for peace. However, he miscalculated the resolve of the British people who were willing to fight on. With his quick victories over Poland, Belgium, and France, Hitler thought that his armed forces would frighten the British into submission. In fact, Hitler was so confident, he vacationed to the old WWI trenches he had fought in before the official fall of France. With the dismantling of all continental European foes, he expected another peace movement in Britain that would resemble the 1930s policies towards Germany. Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda, stated: “A compromise government (in Britain) will be formed. We are very close to the end of the war.” The British government would collapse under the strains imposed by war, and look for an end to the war. Thus, an invasion would not be needed, as he believed Britain would submit peacefully. In fact, as early as May 20, 1940, Hitler had remarked that he would accept a British withdraw and peace if it asked. He declared that he had no intention of invading Britain, but would annihilate it if war continued. War would ravage and destroy their homes, but he was prepared to spare them. Hitler appealed to the anxieties and fears of the British commons to end the war, as he proclaimed victory in France and Europe before it was official. This expectation was not unrealistic. Just two short years ago, Britain had sought everything in its power to appease Hitler. It had allowed him to rearm Germany, to establish an oppressive regime, and to proclaim his desire to conquer and create a German dynasty. It was Britain that had organized the cession of parts of Czechoslovakia. It had stood by and watched the addition of Austria to Germany and its eventual takeover of Czechoslovakia. The only miscalculation Hitler made was in its strong reaction over his invasion of Poland. Yet, he was certain that Britain would accept an end to hostilities after seeing the destructive powers Germany possessed. This proposal was rejected instantly. The decision had been made weeks before by Churchill and the British people. Britons were still convinced that Germany would invade if given the opportunity. And even if they had accepted Hitler’s proposal, it would have been on his terms. Germany’s aim was to become a world power, destroying her enemies and conquering “living space” that would allow its industry to grow, to produce the food required to feed itself, and the complete dominance of the Aryan race. Hitler’s required “living space” was in Eastern Europe, not in England. But at the same time, he would not allow Britain to rival Germany. Thus, the concessions he would ask would ruin the British Empire. The sentiment in Britain was that their honor must be defended, and the only conceivable solution was war. Britain was in the most valuable defensive position as an island. A German invasion would require a landing force crossing the English Channel and sufficient enough to fight on the shore. Thus, water and air superiority were required before any such invasion could occur. German leaders planned to implement “Operation Sea Lion,” targeting air fields in Britain and gaining air supremacy so that it could then launch its invasion force. The Battle of Britain would feature the first air war in history involving the Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffe. The summer of 1940 was a period of preparation. Britain, facing an almost unstoppable foe, entrusted her defense to the RAF. Hitler listened to plans from his military involving a blockade, the destruction of the RAF and the people’s will through air power, and an eventual invasion. Both Germany and Britain understood that air superiority was the key to victory, and he Battle of Britain would mark the beginning for one and the end for the other. Even though Germany had built its military to an outrageous degree and technically outnumbered the Allies at the start of the war, the British were not so overmatched. In the 1930s, Briton’s were afraid of monstrous air raids capable of annihilating cities. This fear of war had influenced their pacifistic and appeasing approaches with Germany in the late 1930s, but also convinced it to develop an air defense system. Under Chamberlain, Britain had established a successful radar system and outposts determined to spot incoming fighters and bombers. Preparations were in line to update the Hurricane, a fighter plane, and to introduce the new Spitfire. By June, the RAF commanded 768 fighters (520 operational). By August, with production increases and United States relief, there were 1,032 aircraft (715 operational) plus 424 in storage compared with German’s 1,011 aircraft (805 operational). It had also incorporated the Bomber Command as a deterrent to any future air attacks. The Bomber Command would be used to strike back at Germany in the battle and to pose a plausible offensive campaign, even if the nation was under a full fledged attack. When fall arrived, the Luftwaffe began its bombing campaign, intending to destroy airfields and outposts in an effort to gain air superiority. Civilians were not off limits either, as air raids of cities occurred nightly in an effort to break the will of the British people. But instead of destroying morale, the bombings united Britain by portraying an evil monster and confirmed suspicions that Germany was bent on its destruction. People accepted the air raids as a pain they must endure until Britain could turn the tide in its favor. An American reporter commented on the unbreakable morale of the British people: “For the first time I understood what the maxim meant: ‘England never knows when she is beaten’ … I was more than impressed. I was flabbergasted. I not only understood why Britain never had been beaten; I understood why Britain never had been beaten.” The British supported the war as the only solution in protecting themselves and their lives; and their willingness to endure such pains would allow them to succeed. The people supported Churchill and his policies, giving an 88% approval rate in July of 1940 and that figure never dropped below 78% during the war. With Churchill held in such high status, the British people were prepared for another generation filled with war. This time, they would bear the front of an attack, with the Luftwaffe bombing London and other cities. Yet even during the 58 consecutive bombing nights starting on September 7th, Churchill’s attitude of enduring such hardships and persevering were held by the public. “There was a defiant sentiment that ‘London can take it.’” Every Briton was a part of the war effort, just as important as the men in uniform, and it was their duty to continue their job through the chaos. The attacks on Britain did not shake morale as Germany thought it would, but rather united a people in the war effort. By October, it was clear that the Luftwaffe was unsuccessful in gaining air superiority or in breaking the will of the population to fight. Through the determinism of Britons and the RAF, Britain had fought the Germans to a standstill. Hitler had miscalculated the resolve of the British leadership, the resolve of the people, and his own Luftwaffe against the RAF. The inability to win quickly upset Hitler, as he knew a prolonged war would only decrease German chances for complete victory. He had failed to force Briton to sue for peace, and then had failed to break her. He understood that Britain was only buying itself time to retool and to convince America to intervene. His only hope was to turn his attention eastward and quickly defeat the Soviet Union. With the defeat of the Soviet Union, Britain would lose a possible ally and America. Not only would he gain his intended “living space” in East Europe and the death of competitor in the region, a quick victory over the Soviet Union would end the possibility of a two-front war that had caused Germany’s defeat in WWI. Learning from history, Hitler knew that he could not win a war while fighting from both sides. Britain was rebuilding and posed little threat to Germany at the moment, while America was not yet involved military. Thus, with a quick defeat of the Soviet Union, he could turn his attention back to Britain and apply more pressure. With no allies, Britain would have no choice but to submit or be defeated. But Hitler miscalculated again. His forces marched deep into Russia, and failed to defeat Stalin. As the months passed, Russia drove the Germans back and then Hitler’s worse fears were realized, the entrance of the United States into the war. Germany now had to fight an alliance of three and the eventual two-front war that would lead to its defeat. The course of world history would have been different if Britain had fallen to Germany or Hitler’s plans of defeating the Soviet Union quickly were realized. A German Empire in Europe would have been established, and cause the end of the British Empire and possible democracy itself. So, is the Battle of Britain the ‘finest hour’ of the British people? Britain had surprised the world with its commitment to fight. By waging war against the monstrous tyrant of Hitler in its eyes, Britain was determined to make its own destiny. That is to say, that its determination involved the defense of not only its home, its people, and values, but its ability to continue in its independence. It was chancing its destruction with its status as a world power and its resolve to re-institute a normal Europe involving the many countries overrun by Germany. Although Briton’s were confident in their leadership, no one could predict its success in the Battle of Britain and the myth that surrounds it. Instead, the population was confident only because they had to be. They were frightened of a German invasion and fought desperately. The Battle of Britain was not necessary a military victory, as neither side won. British strategy was to fight the Luftwaffe and keep them from gaining air superiority over England. When it proved to difficult, Germany withdrew their plans and Britain had won a moral victory. This moral victory culminated in the complete confidence of the people in winning the war. By November, after the Luftwaffe bombing campaign, 80% of Britons believed they would win the war. The Battle of Britain raised the morale of a people who were suffering from fear, but felt a duty to accept it with bravery. “The air battles were necessary to rouse the self-belief and staying power of a people demoralized by the sudden collapse of democratic Europe in the summer of 1940.” Up until that time, the German Wehrmacht was unmatched by no army. With its swift defeat of nine countries in Europe, Britain seemed doomed. But Britons faced the adversity with such fear and resolution, that defeat would be unbearable and that victory must be achieved. However, the Battle of Britain was more than just a moral victory, it was a strategic victory. Britain was fighting for its survival, and a defeat of Germany was not needed. All that was required was enough r...