Battle of Britain: Kanalkampf

[Herr-Berbunch]

72 years ago today, the beginning of the Battle of Britain, starting with Kanalkampf.



Shame the weather isn't as good in 2012!

[Oberon]

Actually, the weather was surprisingly inclement during July 1940, with showers around the South-east and the Channel on the 10th and continuous rain elsewhere.

Some good links:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/campaign_diaries.cfm

http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/0021.html

http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/document-22.html

Some video:





And an old Lolwaffles campaign:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=171365

[BossMark]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Actually, the weather was surprisingly inclement during July 1940, with showers around the South-east and the Channel on the 10th and continuous rain elsewhere.

Know matter what the year its always pissing down in this bloody country

What General Weygand has called the Battle of France is over: the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be freed and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say: This was their finest hour '.

Winston Churchill's most famous speech in my opinion (even though he was a bloody Tory)

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by BossMark

Winston Churchill's most famous speech in my opinion (even though he was a wonderful Tory)

Fixed.

I think Hitler, at this point, still wanted peace with Britain - wasn't going to happen though.

[Catfish]

^errrright, maybe there would have been no world war without England's "Total Germany"

Hitler and even Doenitz were surprised - after England's declaration of war H. then quickly wanted to force England into submission, so there would be an armistice soon. Contrary to public storytelling a german invasion of England was never really planned (and impossible, b.t.w.) - same as with the US.
Also contrary to public opinion Hitler's plans did not aim at world domination. Even he was not that crazy. He wanted to invade Russia, or at least conquer large parts of it.

Regarding Churchill's speech about a fight for christianity, well, we saw what the Vatican did in WW2.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Fixed.

I think Hitler, at this point, still wanted peace with Britain - wasn't going to happen though.

I think, in a different world, we could very well have wound up working with Hitler against the Soviets, it was really a toss up at the time as to which we perceived as the greater threat, and given that a) it was a Tory government in power since '35 and the various communist uprisings and protests throughout Europe in the years after the October Revolution, it was generally thought that the Soviet Union was the greater enemy, and was right up until Germany started eating various neighbours. Then we wound up working with the Soviets against the Germans.
Strange how history makes strange bedfellows.

Anyway, that's dragging this thread off topic somewhat.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Anyway, that's dragging this thread off topic somewhat.

It is in GT for a reason.

The Vatican, pah, you mean the escape route.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Oberon

I am astonished how calm but eloquent the guy reports while you can clearly hear the fighting going on in the background. Very impressive!
Sounds nearly like he's commenting a mixture between Olympic diving and football.

[MH]

It is time someone invested in a good movie about Battle of Britain..or miniseries.
hopefully before hollywood gets to it.

[Sailor Steve]

Umm...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064072/
One of the best airplane movies of all time.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0157239/
They changed too many things from the book for my taste, but still a good show.

[MH]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Umm...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064072/
One of the best airplane movies of all time.

I have red a lot on the subject...some memories and history books.
The movie i have seen also...twice? i think as kid.. but still something more up to date would be great.

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0157239/
They changed too many things from the book for my taste, but still a good show.

This one i will have to check out..cant remember watching it

[Oberon]

There's also First Light:





I haven't watched it all myself, but I've read the book which is very good.

[Sailor Steve]

Oh! I almost forgot:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244479/

[Jimbuna]

The Military Channel had a good programme on BoB last night and it really struck home the realisation of just how close to defeat we came.

[nikimcbee]

Do any of you Brits (or Germans) have any family that participated in BoB? Were they impacted by the bombing?