WW1 Paved the Way for the Battle of Britain.

[winny]

Originally Posted by baronWastelan

And yet, the RAF still only avoided defeat in BoB owing to faulty German strategy.

Surley you mean the Germans avoided winning because they f'd it up..
On all levels.
(It's usually what happens when the lunatics take over the assylum)

I'm forever gratefull to German WWII 'intelligence'

Could we please stick to topic instead of country bashing of any sort?

[MB_Avro_UK]

Back on topic....

British WW1 squadrons operated from such airfields as Biggin Hill and Manston.

I own an original Log Book from a Home Defence pilot. He flew with 50 Squadron 'C' Flight. On 22nd August 1917 he wrote in his Log Book that whilst on patrol with his Be12 Flight, they attacked a formation of Gotha bombers. He fired over 70 rounds. He also flew many anti-Zeppelin night patrols.

Interestingly, Winston Churchill was responsible for the defences at an early stage.

There's a recently discovered Royal Flying Corps airfield in Essex on the approach to London. This was home to 37 Squadron whose role was the defence of London. They aided in the destruction of a Zeppelin.

The airfield is known as Stow Maries and I've been there several times.

http://www.stowmaries.com/


Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

[ATAG_Dutch]

Originally Posted by baronWastelan

And yet, the RAF still only avoided defeat in BoB owing to faulty German strategy.

Poppycock, balderdash and not to say perfect twaddle old bean.

'In the 1966 world cup final, England still only avoided defeat owing to faulty German strategy'

'still only avoided defeat' - you mean 'won' yes?

Here we go again. 'The Luftwaffe were great, the Brits were crap and didn't really win, the Germans just had more important things on the agenda and decided to retire from the game'.

German Strategy is only one factor amongst many.

The Luftwaffe got their arses kicked in goodstyle.

Game over.

Originally Posted by baronWastelan

And yet, the RAF still only avoided defeat in BoB owing to faulty German strategy.

lol The RAF had around 800 pilots that went up to meet every raid with out fail why? because they knew that the rest of the war hinged on that battle, if hitler had gained control of the British Isles it would have been a different outcome in the war of this im sure.
The RAF won because of sheer tenacity and bloody-mindedness of its pilots and pilots of the occupied countries that flew for the RAF, and the radar system that been set up was second to non and designed make the full use of its mimimal resources.
Failure in german strategy was just an example of Goerings pompus ignorance about his advensaries and his understanding of supply issues effecting the Luft at that time.

[baronWastelan]

I'm surprised to see people on here discussing 'Battle of Britain' as though it was part of a campaign to put Britain under Nazi control. I've not seen any evidence that Hitler had any real desire or plan to land Wehrmacht units in England. In fact Hitler's only concern about the British in 1940 after June was to keep them at bay just long enough to conclude the campaign in Russia which he expected to finish in the autumn of 1941.

[bongodriver]

Originally Posted by baronWastelan

I'm surprised to see people on here discussing 'Battle of Britain' as though it was part of a campaign to put Britain under Nazi control. I've not seen any evidence that Hitler had any real desire or plan to land Wehrmacht units in England. In fact Hitler's only concern about the British in 1940 after June was to keep them at bay just long enough to conclude the campaign in Russia which he expected to finish in the autumn of 1941.

I thought it was called 'operation sea lion'

I have to disagree. While I do believe that conquest of the two Western countries (France and UK) was not something on the agenda in the first place as Hitler's interest lay entirely in the East, I think the attempt to occupy Britain was serious. Occupying it was the only way to put at least the heart nation of the Empire out of action and free enough ressources for the East. Otherwise the arial campaign would have made no sense as serious attrition took place. And you don't go on an all out campaign if it is just for teasing when you actually want it only for the real thing.

[winny]

Originally Posted by baronWastelan

I'm surprised to see people on here discussing 'Battle of Britain' as though it was part of a campaign to put Britain under Nazi control. I've not seen any evidence that Hitler had any real desire or plan to land Wehrmacht units in England. In fact Hitler's only concern about the British in 1940 after June was to keep them at bay just long enough to conclude the campaign in Russia which he expected to finish in the autumn of 1941.

How do you conclude something you haven't started yet?

I think Hitler thought they might as well 'have a go' at Britain, I agree that He didn't show any real interest in the UK. He had no involvement in the planning of Sealion, which was very unusual because he was involved in the planning of every other major offensive.

His main target was always the Russians.

However it's easy to say in hindsight, are you saying that if the RAF had been 'defeated in 4 days' that Hitler would not have continued the offensive?

It's pretty obvious that he never really wanted to go to war with Britain (at least not in 1939).Paradoxically, he knew the longer Britain held out the more the possibility of the US getting involved increased. And he was well ware of what that would mean.

He just bit off more than he could chew. It's a recurring theme from 1941 onwards.

[MB_Avro_UK]

At the risk of derailing my own thread....

The OKW produced Invasion Plan Manuals for England. Few exist today, but here are scans of such a manual I owned. It comprised about 490 pages.

It detailed every possible landing area for a German invasion on the south coast (SudKuste) of England with troop deployments.

It is dated 15th August 1940 and this example was distributed to an Artillery Regiment.

Of all the many locations detailed in this manual, I have chosen Dover as an example.

This manual alone doesn't prove Hitler's intentions but it is interesting.





























Best Regards,
MB_Avro