The Battle of Britain Was The First Defeat For The German Luftwaffe.

[Sammi79]

Originally Posted by Sternjaeger II

I understand the need for a sense of "battle" and "united we stand", but there's no logic nor nobility in a modern war like WW2, that's why I think the whole concept of the Battle of Britain is a bit bogus, and the clashes over the channel resulted into a draw.

A megalomaniac fascist dictator attempts to conquer the entirety of Europe, the logical and noble response is to oppose him. The reason WWII is remembered so vividly through many shades of tinted glasses is that for the allies at least, it was and still is seen as 'a just war' distasteful as the phrase may be, it was also necessary. It is also the only conflict of modern times that can be seen this way, WWI certainly cannot, and the post WWII conflicts are all terribly muddied in terms of right and wrong.

The Battle of Britain ended on september 17th 1940 when the Nazi leadership realised the Luftwaffe had been completely unsuccessful in achieving their objectives and indefinitely postponed (cancelled) operation sea lion. At this point the Luftwaffe were at roughly 50% numbers of men and machines they had been at the start of the summer, whereas the RAF had increased in number by roughly 40%. The losses were comparable but were higher for the Luftwaffe as you'd expect for the attacking force, but considering their greater numbers and superior machines (at the start of the year) not to mention battle experienced pilots and crews is a significant failure. By denying air superiority by means of staying alive and attriting the Luftwaffe until their previously greater force was now a similar size, the RAF set in stone that no land invasion of Britain could ever be mounted, as the RN would send whatever tried to cross to the bottom of the channel.

The plans then changed to night bombing of civilian centers (which no air force in the world at that time could possibly completely prevent with the limits of technology) which is not a continuation of the previous battle IMO but a new battle, with different objectives (to try and turn British public opinion against its leaders) which were also never achieved, in fact the Blitz (see this battle had a name as well) doubly failed as it had the opposite effect to that which was intended.