Название: The Battle of Britain: A New AppraisalАвтор: Colin Noble
Издательство: Amazon.com Services LLC
Год: 2021
Язык: английский
Формат: pdf, epub
Размер: 10.2 MB
This appraisal argues that the Battle of Britain was not just a turning point in the Second World War but the pre-eminent turning point.
I became interested in the historical significance of the Battle of Britain and its place in the battles of the Second World War after reading P.M.H. Bell’s excellent book, “Twelve Turning Points of the Second World War” in which he includes the Battle of Britain as one of the turning points. In the context of the many battles fought in the Second World War, there are sound arguments to re-appraise the significance of this Battle and elevate it to not just being one of twelve significant turning points but to being the pre-eminent turning point of the Second World War.
Although it was, in essence, a defensive victory, Winston Churchill’s famous speech to the House of Commons on the 20 August 1940 included these very specific, emotive and often quoted words about the battle:“…. never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few….”
Had the Luftwaffe prevailed in the Battle of Britain at this very early stage of the war, the course of the Second World War would undoubtedly have been quite different. The big unknown of course is how different.
I was four when the Battle was fought. Later, reading stories of the heroics of pilots in their Spitfires and Hurricanes tempted me towards a career in the air force. Throughout my service in the 50’s and 60’s, we commemorated the 15th September each year as Battle of Britain Day. I was on a parade ground or in a guard of honour or was part of a fly past. Today, such commemorations are long past.
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