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N0KFQ > TODAY 29.12.15 16:20l 99 Lines 4921 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 80132_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Dec 29
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<JH4XSY<JE7YGF<N9PMO<N3XPD<N0KFQ
Sent: 151229/1515Z 80132@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.65
1940
Worst air raid on London
On the evening of December 29, 1940, London suffers its most
devastating air raid when Germans firebomb the city. Hundreds of
fires caused by the exploding bombs engulfed areas of London, but
firefighters showed a valiant indifference to the bombs falling
around them and saved much of the city from destruction. The next
day, a newspaper photo of St. Paul's Cathedral standing undamaged
amid the smoke and flames seemed to symbolize the capital's
unconquerable spirit during the Battle of Britain.
In May and June 1940, Holland, Belgium, Norway, and France fell
one by one to the German Wehrmacht, leaving Great Britain alone
in its resistance against Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's plans for
world domination. The British Expeditionary Force escaped the
continent with an impromptu evacuation from Dunkirk, but they
left behind the tanks and artillery needed to defend their
homeland against invasion. With British air and land forces
outnumbered by their German counterparts, and U.S. aid not yet
begun, it seemed certain that Britain would soon follow the fate
of France. However, Winston Churchill, the new British prime
minister, promised his nation and the world that Britain would
"never surrender," and the British people mobilized behind their
defiant leader.
On June 5, the Luftwaffe began attacks on English Channel ports
and convoys, and on June 30 Germany seized control of the
undefended Channel Islands. On July 10-the first day of the
Battle of Britain according to the RAF-the Luftwaffe intensified
its bombing of British ports. Six days later, Hitler ordered the
German army and navy to prepare for Operation Sea Lion. On July
19, the German leader made a speech in Berlin in which he offered
a conditional peace to the British government: Britain would keep
its empire and be spared from invasion if its leaders accepted
the German domination of the European continent. A simple radio
message from Lord Halifax swept the proposal away.
Germany needed to master the skies over Britain if it was to
transport safely its superior land forces across the 21-mile
English Channel. On August 8, the Luftwaffe intensified its raids
against the ports in an attempt to draw the British air fleet out
into the open. Simultaneously, the Germans began bombing
Britain's sophisticated radar defense system and RAF-fighter
airfields. During August, as many as 1,500 German aircraft
crossed the Channel daily, often blotting out the sun as they
flew against their British targets. Despite the odds against
them, the outnumbered RAF fliers successfully resisted the
massive German air invasion, relying on radar technology, more
maneuverable aircraft, and exceptional bravery. For every British
plane shot down, two Luftwaffe warplanes were destroyed.
At the end of August, the RAF launched a retaliatory air raid
against Berlin. Hitler was enraged and ordered the Luftwaffe to
shift its attacks from RAF installations to London and other
British cities. On September 7, the Blitz against London began,
and after a week of almost ceaseless attacks several areas of
London were in flames and the royal palace, churches, and
hospitals had all been hit. However, the concentration on London
allowed the RAF to recuperate elsewhere, and on September 15 the
RAF launched a vigorous counterattack, downing 56 German aircraft
in two dogfights that lasted less than an hour.
The costly raid convinced the German high command that the
Luftwaffe could not achieve air supremacy over Britain, and the
next day daylight attacks were replaced with nighttime sorties as
a concession of defeat. On September 19, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler
postponed indefinitely "Operation Sea Lion"-the amphibious
invasion of Britain. The Battle of Britain, however, continued.
In October, Hitler ordered a massive bombing campaign against
London and other cities to crush British morale and force an
armistice. Despite significant loss of life and tremendous
material damage to Britain's cities, the country's resolve
remained unbroken. The ability of Londoners to maintain their
composure had much to do with Britain's survival during this
trying period. As American journalist Edward R. Murrow reported,
"Not once have I heard a man, woman, or child suggest that
Britain should throw her hand." In May 1941, the air raids
essentially ceased as German forces massed near the border of the
USSR.
By denying the Germans a quick victory, depriving them of forces
to be used in their invasion of the USSR, and proving to America
that increased arms support for Britain was not in vain, the
outcome of the Battle of Britain greatly changed the course of
World War II. As Churchill said of the RAF fliers during the
Battle of Britain, "Never in the field of human conflict was so
much owed by so many to so few."
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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