The Battle of Britain Five Months That Changed History, May—October 1940 by James Holland (z-lib.org).epub

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Force had meant that he could work in the family sports goodsmanufacturing business in Huddersfield by week and fly at the weekendwith lots of like-minded friends. Although being in the air force had, withthe onset of war, become a full-time occupation, David was enjoyinghimself enormously, despite having to leave his young wife at home. AtFTS he had made even more friends, was finding flying as rewarding andexhilarating as ever, and now, at the beginning of May, had finally beengiven the chance of a lifetime: to fly the already fabled Spitfire. The war –and the prospect of one day fighting for his life in a bitter aerial conflict –was barely given a thought.
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Page 4: The author and publisher have provi
Page 8 and 9: ContentsList of Maps and FiguresNot
Page 10 and 11: 47 Exhaustion48 Last FlightPostscri
Page 20: RAF FIGHTER COMMAND ORDER OF BATTLE
Page 25 and 26: Note on the TextSo as not to cause
Page 27: Truly, the Battle of Britain is an
Page 31 and 32: anticipation of the beginning of ho
Page 33: lower so that at last he could see
Page 37 and 38: French windows looking out on to a
Page 39 and 40: Hitler might have been sure of its
Page 41 and 42: Despite this, despite the hindrance
Page 43 and 44: Securities and Exchange Committee.
Page 45 and 46: the Labour leader, nor Arthur Green
Page 47 and 48: he believed, if Churchill was PM wh
Page 49 and 50: le Mérite, or, as it was more wide
Page 51: Now, on the evening of 9 May, the b
Page 54 and 55: newsreels around the world relaying
Page 56 and 57: Although both Feldmarschall Wilhelm
Page 58 and 59: settlement that the army Chief had
Page 60 and 61: helped by a particularly vicious wi
Page 62 and 63: the elite, crack units the rest of
Page 64 and 65: General’s three panzer divisions
Page 66: meet the northern thrust. This part
Page 69 and 70: chateau that served as General HQ,
Page 71 and 72: and along the Northwest Frontier, f
Page 73 and 74: Nonetheless, it wasn’t all bad, a
Page 75 and 76: by layers of obstacles, was named a
Page 77 and 78: Indeed, the Germans were providing
Page 79 and 80: the Netherlands had been invaded an
Page 82 and 83: 5The First Clash in the AirADOLF HI
Page 84 and 85:
and his ideals, he became his new f
Page 86 and 87:
regime, Göring was always able to
Page 88 and 89:
However, because of its greater sha
Page 90 and 91:
At the mess, no-one was quite sure
Page 92 and 93:
full weight of the Luftwaffe was re
Page 94 and 95:
young man, Julius had no particular
Page 96 and 97:
once more. The rest of the pilots,
Page 98 and 99:
all types of aircraft. The commande
Page 101 and 102:
6Breakthrough‘MORNING REPORTS SHO
Page 103 and 104:
‘Hardly had the first boats been
Page 105 and 106:
Reinhardt’s divisions became incr
Page 107 and 108:
He was determined to cross at Sedan
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command car and hurried to Gaulier
Page 111 and 112:
Initially, he panicked, and althoug
Page 113 and 114:
slopes of Hill 301. But Balck had b
Page 116 and 117:
7Inside the Third ReichIT WAS TRUE
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gathered as usually happens when bi
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September there had been a particul
Page 122 and 123:
no longer for sale. Germans - even
Page 124 and 125:
particularly tough PR task trying t
Page 126:
German people which was imposed upo
Page 129 and 130:
charge of defence policy. His right
Page 131 and 132:
who had in turn been talking to a m
Page 133 and 134:
were earmarked for Norway and four
Page 135 and 136:
through, for example - as the forme
Page 137 and 138:
Type 300 and reckoned would have a
Page 139 and 140:
much larger armaments manufacturer,
Page 141:
enemies who would later come back a
Page 144 and 145:
It was no good blubbing, however. A
Page 146 and 147:
Oberleutnant Siegfried Bethke was o
Page 148 and 149:
mass of the French armour fought a
Page 150 and 151:
was not equipped to deal with the u
Page 152 and 153:
offensive. Clearly, if this hinge c
Page 154:
became like a rabbit trapped in hea
Page 157 and 158:
England as well. By 11 May, the Hom
Page 159 and 160:
1,500 acres between Tonbridge and E
Page 161 and 162:
Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee en
Page 163 and 164:
armaments that he envisaged would b
Page 165 and 166:
as a leading interventionist. There
Page 168 and 169:
11Learning the LessonsOBERLEUTNANT
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through ninety degrees, the fighter
Page 172 and 173:
In 1940, the best pilots also neede
Page 174 and 175:
Günther recognized them immediatel
Page 176 and 177:
Feldmarschall Hermann Göring had l
Page 178 and 179:
had known each other for some time;
Page 180 and 181:
crashed his aircraft and was killed
Page 182 and 183:
support of the ground forces, rathe
Page 185 and 186:
12What to Do for the BestCERTAINLY
Page 187 and 188:
Farben Werke at Dormagen hit only a
Page 189 and 190:
done what the CO had asked of them
Page 191 and 192:
pilot, who not only taught him a gr
Page 193 and 194:
Luftwaffe at that time. He was sudd
Page 195 and 196:
Thus, in an abrupt change of heart,
Page 198 and 199:
13New AppointmentsMAJOR-GENERAL HEN
Page 200 and 201:
river with barely a shot fired. Hal
Page 202 and 203:
bolstering the position in France,
Page 204 and 205:
widespread break in morale. As Jose
Page 206 and 207:
accept the job, which was officiall
Page 209 and 210:
14DecisionsTHE MIRACLE HAD HAPPENED
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Despite their assurances, however,
Page 213 and 214:
being surrounded before it could fa
Page 215 and 216:
England. Beforehand, the Führer ha
Page 217 and 218:
such distances, they had given them
Page 219 and 220:
As at the Meuse, getting safely acr
Page 221 and 222:
were the Allied troops there going
Page 223:
battalions from 50th Division had b
Page 226 and 227:
camouflaged enemy trucks. Then spot
Page 228 and 229:
one of the Messerschmitts, Tony clo
Page 230 and 231:
his parents on 15 May, ‘however,
Page 232 and 233:
Even so, neither the news emerging
Page 234 and 235:
Plan and turning the blame on to Go
Page 237 and 238:
16CrisisTHE AMERICAN JOURNALIST Wil
Page 239 and 240:
corridor in which the BEF and Frenc
Page 241 and 242:
General Jodl, OKW Chief of Staff, t
Page 243 and 244:
circumstances - after all, where co
Page 245 and 246:
them they were about to throw in th
Page 247 and 248:
By now, the argument between Church
Page 250 and 251:
17Black MondayMEANWHILE, IN BERLIN
Page 252 and 253:
badly hit that it was felt, for the
Page 254 and 255:
aircraft since the campaign had beg
Page 256 and 257:
formed up and was at around 12,000
Page 258 and 259:
fell from 9,000 feet. Afterwards, h
Page 260 and 261:
What Chamberlain was saying, Church
Page 262:
that day. The threat remained, howe
Page 265 and 266:
followed a lead, they arrived to di
Page 267 and 268:
Blanchard still felt the situation
Page 269 and 270:
Back in Britain, there was, as plan
Page 271 and 272:
yards out into the sea. The western
Page 273 and 274:
countermanded. ‘And we dashed off
Page 275:
needed to prepare themselves for th
Page 278 and 279:
more abandoned vehicles.’ These w
Page 281 and 282:
By mid-morning the trucks were load
Page 283 and 284:
recovered and applied to join the R
Page 285 and 286:
few engagements, to discover a sudd
Page 287 and 288:
Andrew. ‘There was continuous bom
Page 289:
The last line of defence south of D
Page 292 and 293:
mainly conversational) loose ends l
Page 294 and 295:
The King was right: the evacuation
Page 296:
over. A gable of the building was h
Page 299 and 300:
Commanding, Lieutenant-Colonel Alle
Page 302 and 303:
Stan managed to find himself alloca
Page 305 and 306:
21Dunkirk: The EndLORD GORT WAS NOW
Page 307 and 308:
other planes, but swirling spectral
Page 309 and 310:
and noticed the enemy fighters were
Page 311 and 312:
that moment that the Blenheims arri
Page 313 and 314:
French, a long dark column of weary
Page 315 and 316:
tank that began firing towards them
Page 317:
evacuation. No-one was quite sure h
Page 321 and 322:
fighting over France had only been
Page 323 and 324:
of Europe and many old and famous S
Page 325 and 326:
Despite these arguments and the opp
Page 327 and 328:
both he and the rest of the French
Page 329:
effort it was not until late aftern
Page 332 and 333:
calm, but the haze meant visibility
Page 334 and 335:
survive. To achieve that, he had be
Page 336 and 337:
muttered, ‘won’t have to go as
Page 338 and 339:
The second part of Case Red, the at
Page 340 and 341:
will go on fighting,’ he jotted,
Page 342:
Churchill at this hour of need, ‘
Page 345 and 346:
quickly,’ wrote Christa Schroeder
Page 347 and 348:
peace treaty without having to go t
Page 349 and 350:
granted a strip of land between the
Page 351 and 352:
years. The army, too, was to expand
Page 353 and 354:
earliest available opportunity. Ano
Page 355:
autobahns. ‘Führer has again emp
Page 358 and 359:
bath and slept better than she imag
Page 360 and 361:
and defiance - the spirit - that Da
Page 362 and 363:
he was told he was going back. Asid
Page 364 and 365:
Britain’s history he had a duty t
Page 366 and 367:
and German troops they now had no a
Page 369 and 370:
26Getting ReadyAS ONE OF THE PRIME
Page 371 and 372:
Finally, there was category 6, appl
Page 373 and 374:
of his plans over which he had worr
Page 375 and 376:
fields. Billy Drake was also back i
Page 377 and 378:
Ministry authorized the establishme
Page 379:
crackling sound. What they were hea
Page 382 and 383:
Trouble at Sea: Part 1‘TOMORROW A
Page 384 and 385:
In this he was correct, but already
Page 386 and 387:
Scharnhorst, and the giant battlesh
Page 388 and 389:
Hitler scrapped the Z Plan and orde
Page 390 and 391:
Although he had demonstrated his pr
Page 392:
but in fact the majority of the shi
Page 395 and 396:
The assault on the west had been a
Page 397 and 398:
was to let Britain stew, and then m
Page 399 and 400:
although many never claimed their h
Page 401 and 402:
GPO also created a separate network
Page 403 and 404:
With all the different links in the
Page 406 and 407:
29
Page 408 and 409:
remarked to the Second Officer, ‘
Page 410 and 411:
seaman had taken over from him so h
Page 412 and 413:
While Foylebank had been heroically
Page 414 and 415:
there suddenly silhouetted against
Page 416:
However, from the British perspecti
Page 419 and 420:
frequently scanning his instrument
Page 421 and 422:
conversation here.’ He had just r
Page 423 and 424:
‘well-developed defence forces of
Page 425 and 426:
now re-designated I/JG 52 - was inv
Page 427 and 428:
It was not until 12 June that RV go
Page 429:
him to ask him some points of detai
Page 433 and 434:
fighter range. This was a somewhat
Page 435 and 436:
warnings, these two flew steadily o
Page 437 and 438:
three had signalled his position, b
Page 439 and 440:
numerical superiority. Even so, onl
Page 441 and 442:
Yet although it was principally 10
Page 443 and 444:
aircraft was struggling out over th
Page 446 and 447:
32Peace OfferingsAFTER HITLER’S T
Page 448 and 449:
crossing’. Separate raids on the
Page 450 and 451:
Blue), on which he had drawn on his
Page 452 and 453:
and the Luftwaffe General Staff, it
Page 454 and 455:
war.’ Despite the usual euphoric
Page 457 and 458:
33The BesiegedCECIL BEATON HAD LEFT
Page 459 and 460:
Nicolson, ‘that our anti-rumour c
Page 461 and 462:
and the army. It looked good to him
Page 463 and 464:
Churchill, however, was the army’
Page 465 and 466:
on the point of collapse. That was
Page 467:
and his ministers realized. Britain
Page 470 and 471:
standing up, another sitting, and t
Page 472 and 473:
Staffel commander, Herbert Fermer,
Page 474 and 475:
take his theoretical work seriously
Page 476 and 477:
Meanwhile, both 54 and 64 Squadrons
Page 478 and 479:
was accepted that Dover should no l
Page 480:
although largely because Fighter Co
Page 483 and 484:
resources. In any case, it was the
Page 485 and 486:
‘Getting bombs onto the target wa
Page 487 and 488:
on which William Shirer was one of
Page 489 and 490:
was another bang of flak. Darting b
Page 491 and 492:
other hand, he had to consider the
Page 495 and 496:
36The Wall of EnglandTHE NEWLY PROM
Page 497 and 498:
All this Raeder repeated at the Fü
Page 499 and 500:
at different heights, and many floa
Page 501 and 502:
cutters, which would then sever the
Page 503 and 504:
been held there over the ensuing da
Page 505 and 506:
August Dowding had fifty-eight squa
Page 507 and 508:
Now, at a little before 11 a.m., Fr
Page 510 and 511:
37AdlertagWHEN ULRICH STEINHILPER t
Page 512 and 513:
Around 8 a.m., Walter was leading h
Page 514 and 515:
destroy than had originally been ex
Page 516 and 517:
The unexpected cloud had not preven
Page 518 and 519:
about this,’ he noted, ‘though
Page 520:
Back at Dinard, the grim truth was
Page 523 and 524:
intrigues was not to his taste. One
Page 525 and 526:
told him on reading the terms about
Page 527 and 528:
noted Jan, ‘when all of us had al
Page 529 and 530:
Although Luftwaffe claims remained
Page 531 and 532:
officer, said, ‘Ah, Herr Oberst,
Page 533 and 534:
and threes, the pilots heard the co
Page 535 and 536:
crossing the sky, sometimes an airc
Page 537 and 538:
Walter and his men were now in deep
Page 540 and 541:
39The Hardest DayON 14 AUGUST, Gene
Page 542 and 543:
great deal very quickly and it was
Page 544 and 545:
raiders had attempted to hit Odiham
Page 546 and 547:
‘There they are!’ exclaimed Moy
Page 548 and 549:
Stumbling backwards he was struck b
Page 550 and 551:
gushed through the gap and suddenly
Page 553 and 554:
40Bombs on BerlinHILDA MÜLLER MIGH
Page 555 and 556:
Udet had become fixated with the id
Page 557 and 558:
had been a major disaster. As of no
Page 559 and 560:
disposal to the defeat of the enemy
Page 561 and 562:
at the limits of their range, strug
Page 564 and 565:
41Tactics and TechnicalitiesWHILE T
Page 566 and 567:
in his chest, but as he had pushed
Page 568 and 569:
109 could out-dive the British figh
Page 570 and 571:
although its roots were much narrow
Page 572 and 573:
worry about bullet convergence - a
Page 574 and 575:
his staff viewed the Zerstörers me
Page 576:
but it was certainly a proportion.
Page 579 and 580:
200, or Condor, as it was known - w
Page 581 and 582:
land - gliding distance from the co
Page 583 and 584:
Helmut Wick. The next day, during a
Page 585 and 586:
formations, some simply to patrol t
Page 587 and 588:
August were beginning to be keenly
Page 589 and 590:
posted to Mordyck and he and the tw
Page 592 and 593:
43Black SaturdayON 28 AUGUST, Colon
Page 594 and 595:
regardless of the detrimental effec
Page 596 and 597:
prospects looked grim, but welcomed
Page 598 and 599:
The day before, Reichsmarschall Her
Page 600 and 601:
surge towards him. Now he was firin
Page 602 and 603:
before they began dropping their bo
Page 604 and 605:
down. Totally spent. Since breakfas
Page 606:
Raymond Lee had gone out to dinner
Page 609 and 610:
aircraft line. ‘We made up a barr
Page 611 and 612:
told they just ‘volunteered’ to
Page 613 and 614:
‘We touch down,’ he wrote, ‘t
Page 615 and 616:
items including a spare parachute,
Page 617 and 618:
wartime is something that cannot be
Page 619 and 620:
foot when the telephone went.’ Be
Page 621:
there was the loss of your colleagu
Page 624 and 625:
he noted, ‘that, until the sirens
Page 626 and 627:
‘That’s where you are wrong,’
Page 628 and 629:
aircraft. Every night they were the
Page 630 and 631:
however, poor weather once again pr
Page 632 and 633:
Park had sensed something was up; t
Page 634 and 635:
Hurricane, even with the aileron no
Page 636 and 637:
with an odd weaving walk. Jan thoug
Page 638:
turning - or ‘windmilling’ - be
Page 641 and 642:
intercept service we know that thei
Page 643 and 644:
and see more clearly. Furthermore,
Page 645 and 646:
At 3.16 a.m. on the morning of 21 S
Page 647 and 648:
particularly successful trip to att
Page 649 and 650:
The prospects do not look good for
Page 651 and 652:
It took them ten minutes of intense
Page 653:
erred with his navigation, crossing
Page 656 and 657:
various Americans to get more pictu
Page 658 and 659:
Kanalkrankheit - the combat fatigue
Page 660 and 661:
Peter Stahl was flying over London
Page 662 and 663:
This did not make his position impr
Page 664 and 665:
Leigh-Mallory had the support of Sh
Page 667 and 668:
48Last FlightON THE LAST SUNDAY in
Page 669 and 670:
A pattern had emerged in this lates
Page 671 and 672:
have to jump. Having sent a last me
Page 674 and 675:
PostscriptLATER ON THE AFTERNOON of
Page 676 and 677:
Douglas and with Leigh-Mallory brea
Page 678 and 679:
watching the giant raids over south
Page 680 and 681:
line, but there were many thousands
Page 682 and 683:
the Mediterranean and served in Nor
Page 684 and 685:
eventually returned to Germany and
Page 686:
others, has gained an iconic revere
Page 690 and 691:
AcknowledgementsThis book has been
Page 692 and 693:
steered me in the right direction o
Page 695 and 696:
SourcesPersonal testimoniesAuthor I
Page 697 and 698:
Maier, Klaus A., et al., Germany an
Page 699 and 700:
Bullitt, Orville H. (ed.), For the
Page 701 and 702:
Gilbert, Martin, Finest Hour: Winst
Page 703 and 704:
Lee, Asher, Goering: Air Leader (Du
Page 705 and 706:
Self, Robert, Neville Chamberlain (
Page 707 and 708:
—, Pilot’s Notes Spitfire IIA a
Page 709 and 710:
Caldwell, Donald, The JG 26 War Dia
Page 711 and 712:
Engel, Major Gerhard, At the Heart
Page 713 and 714:
Hooton, E.R., Eagle in Flames: The
Page 715 and 716:
Ministry of Information, British Co
Page 717 and 718:
Raymond, Squadron Leader R., and Sq
Page 719 and 720:
Tangye, Squadron Leader Nigel, Teac
Page 721 and 722:
Caddick-Adams, Peter, ‘Anglo-Fren
Page 724 and 725:
NotesAbbreviationsAFRHA Air Force R
Page 726 and 727:
ReferencesIntroduction‘The Battle
Page 728 and 729:
‘Held up by artillery fire…a jo
Page 730 and 731:
‘A paradox ball…’ The Times,
Page 732 and 733:
15. Fighter Command Enters the Fray
Page 734 and 735:
‘Von Luck you will…’ Luck, Pa
Page 736 and 737:
‘At my command…was in Paris’
Page 738 and 739:
28. Bringing It All Together‘Can
Page 740 and 741:
‘Still, whatever does come…’
Page 742 and 743:
‘Achtung, Achtung…’ TNA AIR 4
Page 744 and 745:
‘Up to date…’ Cited in James,
Page 746 and 747:
‘Hello, Gannic…chaps’ Bartley
Page 749:
GlossaryAbwehr Wehrmacht Counter-In
Page 752 and 753:
74 Squadron Spitfiresattack KG 2at
Page 754 and 755:
Abbeville, Panzer Corps Guderian re
Page 756 and 757:
Attlee, ClementAustralia, declares
Page 758 and 759:
on aircraft shortageon Dunkirk from
Page 760 and 761:
and invasion planson lost timeBray
Page 762 and 763:
German attacks onGerman consolidati
Page 764 and 765:
speeches broadcasts to nationeffect
Page 766 and 767:
and Stukaon Portland attackshoots d
Page 768 and 769:
and Beaverbrookand BEF fighter supp
Page 770 and 771:
Eden, Anthony, Minister for Warand
Page 772 and 773:
lossespilot lossespilots to avoid s
Page 774 and 775:
and Sedanconditioncommand issuescom
Page 776 and 777:
see also panzer divisionsGermanyeco
Page 778 and 779:
at Sedancrosses Meuseinsists on adv
Page 780 and 781:
on minelayingHigh Frequency Directi
Page 782 and 783:
strength after Dunkirk lossesIdenti
Page 784 and 785:
Udet andKanalkranheitKeitel, Feldma
Page 786 and 787:
LDV, John Wilson andLe Havre, IX Co
Page 788 and 789:
signal organizationstructuresee als
Page 790 and 791:
McIntosh, Plt OffMechelen incidentM
Page 792 and 793:
on Me 109ENelson, Horatio, on want
Page 794 and 795:
westward dash1st Panzer Divisionat
Page 796 and 797:
on LDVon Mussolinion parachutistswa
Page 798 and 799:
Raake, Majorradar, Admiralty coasta
Page 800 and 801:
Churchill seeks help fromdestroyers
Page 802 and 803:
‘Seetakt’ German radar systemSe
Page 804 and 805:
Steinhilper, Leutnant Ulrichand com
Page 806 and 807:
U-47and convoy HX72sinks HMS Royal
Page 808 and 809:
Wendel, ElseWerner Advance Detachme
Page 811 and 812:
The Battle of Britain.Copyright ©2
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