Since the Battle of Britain officially ended on October 31st, 1940, a review of The Battle of Britain by James Holland in the Ladybird Expert Series (Penguin Random House) remains timely in the aftermath of the commemoration of the 84^th anniversary of that pivotal episode of World War II on September 15^th – just a few days ago.

I might have written it before, but the greatest merit of James Holland’s book in this collection is to offer the reader the most important aspects of the battles he writes about. The Battle of Britain certainly makes no exception to that rule.

Right from the beginning, Adolf Hitler is aware that he needs to knock Britain out of the war, if he is to be successful in his ambitions. The prospects of appeasement decreased as Winston Churchill grew stronger in his role as Prime Minister. After the successful British evacuation at Dunkirk, the feldgrau horde needs to take London by force. But “it would be suicidal to attempt a Channel crossing without command of the skies and sea lanes secure.”

Despite being superior by a ratio of 3 to 1, German pilots were disadvantaged by several factors that would prove fateful. “The Luftwaffe had been designed to support ground operations; it was not intended to operate on its own as an attacking force”. Furthermore, German intelligence totally overlooked the air defence system and the chain of radar stations to detect approaching enemies put in place by visionary Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding. Thanks to military manpower and resources transported under the protection of the mighty Royal Navy, the British empire also offered strategic depth to the War Cabinet in London. A welcome respite not offered to its nemesis.

The Luftwaffe’s goal was also curtailed by the lack of attention given to operations by their leaders. While Hitler leisurely enjoyed a summertime trip to the annual Wagner Festival in Bayreuth, Air Marshal Hermann Göring was excited to pick and choose art treasure from war plundering in conquered countries. The last notable disadvantage suffered by German pilots was the fact that, contrary to their British adversaries, whose nation was staunchly behind them, they certainly could not expect “being patted on the back by a grateful native population” in the occupied territories where they took off from. Throughout history, morale always played a determining role in war.

The stage was set for a confrontation that was destined to some of the most gallant pages of World War II history.

About a week after the start of the Battle of Britain, on June 18, Winston Churchill had declared in a speech that “Hitler knows he will have to break us in this island or lose the war.” British, Commonwealth and Allied pilots prevailed in the skies of the Albion and the demise of the Nazi dictator five years later would fulfill Churchill’s prophecy.

_________

James Holland, The Battle of Britain, London, Michael Joseph (Penguin Random House), 2017, 56 pages.