Impact
"The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
-Winston Churchill, Speech to The House of Commons on August 20, 1940
On Britain
Almost every night hundreds of English men, women and children were killed or injured. Thousands of citizens were made homeless by the Germans. Yet this did not discourage the British people. They continued to resist, their morale never failing. After the end of the blitz, more than 43,000 civilians had been killed, and another 51,000 seriously injured. They lost around 1,100 airplanes. The British people, however, knew this was a turning point in the fight against Nazi domination and that they would eventually overcome Hitler.
On Germany
Hitler didn't expect this failure. The Luftwaffe lost around 1,800 aircraft. The number was overwhelming compared to that of the British. After the battle, the Luftwaffe never recovered its losses. Worst of all, Adolf Hitler was stopped. He would never look so invincible again. This would mark the first loss against the "mighty" Nazi army. Soon the Nazis were forced back on the Eastern front also as the Soviet Union slowly began to regain ground. Slowly, the Axis Powers were pushed back on all sides.
Phone Interview with Professor Peter Mansoor, Ohio State University.
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"And so that was the major affect of The Battle of Britain.
It kept Britain in the war. And it really kept hope alive for an eventual victory against Nazi Germany." |
Phone Interview with Professor Erik Jensen, Miami University.
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"I think The Battle of Britain was important in terms of the
overall history of the war for a couple of reasons. First of all both symbolically and physchologically I think it had tremendous significance, it showed that there were countries that were willing to resist Hitler. It was this inspiring story and inspiring victory for all of the people living in Europe under German occupation." |