Battle of Britain (August 1940)

Hugh Dowding

RAF: Commander in Chief of Fighter Command, 

18^th August 1940

The 12^th of August 1940 was the eve of Aldertag, or Eagle Day. Prior to the 12^th, there had been reports from the RAF listening service that a combination of raids on the radar stations, was to be carried out by the German Luftwaffe. Also, these attacks were to be on a larger scale than before. I presume that this is because they have sensed the importance of these stations to our defense. I am much more confident in the RAF, as there have been 3 additional squadrons with 6 others under training, including 3 ‘foreign’ squadrons, two Polish and one Czech. Our rate of aircraft production is also significantly higher than Germany’s.

Despite this, we suffered heavy losses and damages to the radar stations. Thankfully, we managed to repair most of the damage and get the radar stations up and running in a few hours, and have caught the Germans by surprise. We shot down 31 German aircraft, but 22 RAF fighter planes were destroyed and 11 pilots killed. The poor weather conditions these past days have led to the delay of full-scale attacks by the Luftwaffe. All they have managed to do so far has barely scratched the surface. They are playing games with us and I believe that something is building up. 11 Group Commander Park agrees with me on this, and he has assured me that we shall regain full operational strength in 12 hours. Park and I aim to engage the enemy as soon as possible. I hope that this proves to the Germans that British resilience and capabilities should not be underestimated.

On the 15^th, the first bombs landed on London. Our 111 Squadron Hurricanes did not manage to stop the German Bf110s before they attacked. I pray that what happened during the French campaign does not repeat itself, and to do so, ill-chosen forays over Britain with fighters flying en masse must be avoided at all costs.

The Fighter Command, especially No 11 Group is currently under a lot of strain due to heavy attacks that have been launched. I am certain that maintaining squadrons in the North will be crucial in countering any German attack there. Thankfully, only temporary and minor damage has been done to the Chain Home Link radar stations and so our operations have not been hampered. Our heavy reliance on the radar system has brought us tremendous worry over possible destruction of the stations by German Luftwaffe.

Churchill has showed much interest in the air war and visited the Fighter Command Headquarters on the 15^th. It seems that my efforts thus far have been generally received, partly due to the success of the Dowding System. I hope that support of the Air Force continues and that discontent over my leadership will be quelled.

Battle of Britain (July 1940)

German Luftwaffe Junker Ju-87 Pilot

11^th July 1940

The attack on Britain has begun! The only country in all of Europe that is still resisting the Führer, will not survive for long. To Britain’s north and west is open sea and though it is still under the control of the Royal Navy, German submarines have successfully infiltrated the waters have already sunk many warships and merchantmen. To Britain’s Northeast, East and South are the newly occupied German territories of Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and France.

I have flown in the first raids on Britain and the Junker Ju-87’s ability to attack in a near-vertical dive will terrorize Britain, just as it had in Rotterdam and Warsaw. The British possess no bomber of this caliber.

Furthermore, our pilots we much more experienced and we have no difficulty in attracting a steady stream of well-trained pilots. Göring has ensured this by intentionally arranging excellent salaries, uniforms and conditions for the Luftwaffe.

We are now awaiting the Führer’s command for the Luftwaffe to launch its major offensive. The coordination of the army, navy and Luftwaffe, must be underway. The Supreme Commander will orchestrate this so that the British will find themselves paralysed, unable to defend themselves against the combined prowess of German might.

The tactics that we are employing have been honed through years of experience and training and its unlikely that the RAF will be able to merely replicate them. The loose Schwarmen that is being used has destroyed RAF squadrons. It comprises of 2 pairs of pilots, with each pair comprising of a leader and his wingman. The wingmen are responsible for guarding the tail, while the leaders are better marksmen and more experienced pilots. Also, the ingenuity of the formation, that each aircraft is at a slightly different altitude, helps to reduce the risk of collision. The British will come to realize that German might and experience are not to be trifled with.

Battle of Britain (July 1940)

Hugh Dowding

RAF: Commander in Chief of Fighter Command

11^th July 1940

The Air Ministry is hounding me to retire and has proposed five different dates for my retirement. Instead of letting me concentrate on bringing my squadrons to battle readiness, the Chief of Air Staff prefers to focus on the specific date of my retirement. They claim that I have been too blunt and disrespectful. But why should I have to sugarcoat my critique to those lower in rank than me?

Sir Cyril Newall, Chief of Air Staff, reasons that he has no other choice, as he needs to provide a path of promotion for others. The correspondence over this issue has dragged on for far too long, and proves the Air Ministry’s determination in appointing a new leader for Fighter Command.

My reluctance to retire at this crucial point is because there does not seem to be anyone who shares my determination to retain the current level and even increase the Defense Forces of Britain. I do not wish to have to continue diverting my attention from the defense of Britain, as this will compromise both my future and Britain’s.

Shipping has been disrupted due to attacks on British coastal convoys and air battles over the Channels. The Germans, led by Oberst Fink, have been presumably ordered to try to cut off our supplies. However, I am now in a dilemma. On one hand, if the RAF were to send fighters up to protect the shipping, then they would be involved in a battle of attrition and be worn out before the Germans launch Adlerangriff. Conversely, if RAF does not send any fighters up, then numerous British ships will be sunk. On 8^th July, the Fighter Command had a total of 58 squadrons, but 8 are still non-operational. My main priority is to ensure that Fighter Command is not destroyed or paralysed as this would grant German planes unobstructed access. Also, the majority of the German Air Force, more than 1000 bombers and 400 fighters, are a direct threat to the No 11 Group, comprising of 12 Hurricanes, 6 Spitfires and 4 Blenheims squadrons; and 553 fighter pilots. If I were to engage squadrons from other groups, the security of other areas will be compromised. At this point, it is almost impossible to determine German objectives.

Radar is not advantageous to us at this point in time, as the German fleet is able to fly out of range. The German fleet had been expected to arrive from the coast and as such, most of the Chain Home stations are facing the sea, rendering them useless once the planes have crossed the coastline. Furthermore, it requires only 5 minutes for planes to cross the channel but takes 15 minutes for a Spitfire to climb high enough to fight them.

Thankfully, there has been an endless stream of solo German aircraft today, and we were able to send lone aircraft up to meet them.

Hopkins (June 1940)

Harry Lloyd Hopkins

25th June, 1940

France has fallen into the hands of Germany. The people here in the United States are appalled... The American government has been adopting a largely isolationist stance through Germany's march of conquest. However, I doubt this will last for long. As much as the citizens of the United States do not want to get involved in this war, we cannot possibly just sit back and watch as potentially more Western countries get engulfed by the power-hungry Hitler. We do not need to be actively or directly involved in the war at this stage... especially because we do not want to upset our citizens. This does not mean that we will do nothing at all about the situation. Need be, there will be an implementation of new financial programs to help the affected countries in the Western Hemisphere pick themselves up to fight well in the war.

The fall of France has witnessed the sheer humiliation of the French. Germany's success in military strategy and tactic that enabled the swift progress through the low countries in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg is indeed remarkable, albeit stunningly threatening, especially due to the ideological threat that it holds against the West. France has undeniably performed poorly in its defense against Germany's invasion. From the outside, it looks to me like it was a huge problem in the leadership and commands given in the internal dynamics of French military coordination... this is quite apparent from Gamelin's dismissal in the French military. There was indeed plenty of indecisiveness in commands that led to what seemed to be confusion when Germany unexpectedly used Ardennes as a passage way to France.

The biggest fear that has been derived from the fall of France is that Britain now stands alone against Germany. The United States will have to intervene to some extent to help Britain should the situation get worse.

Winston Churchill (June 1940)

18th June 1940

Gamelin (May 1940)

General Maurice Gamelin

Supreme commander of French land forces

13th May 1940

Today I learnt about the German penetration in the Ardennes, I cannot deny that I am shocked as never did I anticipate such an invasion route. This is especially unfortunate as there was indeed parliamentary and staff concern over the poor defences over at the Ardennes. However, the damage has been done.

I had come up with the concept of the continuous front which would prevent a repeat of what happened in August-September 1914 when the Germans broke through to the outskirts of Paris. In addition, the Maginot line will be further constructed along the Franco-Swiss border. Four years ago, I had overseen preparations for French defence on Belgian soil.

Previously, I had anticipated for a war off French soil. This was particularly due to the bloodbath we had experienced on our soil during World War 1. I had a preference for war in the East... using Austrian territory for the war would have definitely spared our French people from the nightmare we had gone through in World War 1. That was then.

Two days ago, I had dispatched the best of my army through northern Belgium to Breda in Holland..whilst the Germans have come directly to French soil through the Ardennes. Not all of my best troops have been stationed there of course... I have maintained a significantly large force behind the Maginot line to fight a potential Italo-German invasion through Switzerland outflanking the line. All this has proved to be invalidated. 

There are several reasons for the failure in my planning.. a primary reason would have to be my absence from what was really going on. Another reason would be the division of decisions and actions made by me and General Alphonse Georges which may indeed have brought about much confusion.

What we face today is largely my mistake- but it does not mean that we should back down. Every soldier who might not be able to advance must let himself be killed on the spot rather than abandon the portion of national soil which has been confided to him. Today, we must conquer or die.

Daladier (May 1940)

Édouard Daladier

May 10, 1940

On January 29th I delivered my radio address to the people of France entitled – ‘Nazi’s Aim is Slavery’. I cannot emphasize any further how it is our duty to fight the Nazis. We will definitely not go down without a fight. I have been true to this stance from the very start… throughout the Munich negotiations in 1938, I was never agreeable with Chamberlain’s insistence of appeasement as a solution to preserve peace. If not for the post WW1 traumatic drain and the unenthusiastic attitudes of the French military and civilians towards fighting the Nazis instead of just giving in…I would have never allowed Chamberlain to have his way and would definitely have not signed the agreement. As much as I regretted signing the Munich Agreement the moment I signed it, I could not have possibly forgotten what France had went through in WW1. Indeed, most of the war was fought on our land and we had suffered immensely. I had to understand somehow that the French military and civilian were both weary and wary of yet another war.

My personal sentiments towards Hitler have been proven right after 2 years. He will stop at nothing. It is the duty of France to save liberty and human dignity from the madmen. Last year on the 6th of October, Hitler offered a France and Great Britain a peace proposal… I will not fall for it. I am fully aware of his true goal to dominate the world. His hunger for power is insatiable. I will not allow my failure to stop the Munich Agreement to stop me again. We will keep our arms up against aggression until peace is genuinely achieved once and for all. Although I am no longer the French Premier, I am confident of my strong base of support among the French. As Reynaud has decided to keep me in the cabinet as minister of war, I will do everything in my capacity to ensure that as France experiences war with Germany today, we will put in all we have- we must be forced to recover from our shock in WW1 so that we can save our nation today.

Today, France has been invaded by Germany. We must remain strong and fight until we achieve victory- and thereby, peace.