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View all events 1939–1941

July 10, 1940


Battle of Britain Begins

The Battle of Britain was an air battle between Germany and Britain for air control of the English Channel. It lasted from July 10 to October 31, 1940. 

Nazi Germany needed air and naval superiority before they could carry out their plan to invade Britain (codenamed Operation Sea Lion). In the Battle of Britain, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) tried to establish air dominance by defeating the British Royal Air Force (RAF). The battle included bombing attacks on the military, economic, and infrastructural centers of Britain. However, the Luftwaffe was unable to defeat the RAF, and Operation Sea Lion was never launched.

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