My late great Uncle was captured at Dunkirk, spent 5 years in the prisoner of war camps, came back with half a stomach. Smoked like a chimney, could drink anybody under the table, and died at the age of 80. God rest his soul.
My father in law was bagged at Dunkirk and spent 4 1/2 years in a POW camp. I asked him if he ever tried to escape and he replied " no, I just tried to stay alive...We were starving to death". His teeth began to fall out after a year.
Top Gun used actual aircraft, no CGI (it was the 1980s, CGI wasn't up to much), and limited blue screens (you think the actual actors were flying the planes in this 😂.
Has to be the BEST movie of it's type ever made! Made by people who actually understood what it was really like in 1940, because they were there. I went to see this in 1969 and have watched it innumerable times since, never gets boring :)
my grandfather William Bartlett was evacuated from Bray dunes Dunkirk. He was an artificer in the RAF he lied about his age. He was in his 40's and died his hair to join up. He was in WW1 originally Grenadier guards. God bless you Bill wherever you are
My grandmothers brother was a young Sapper Officer still in training at Woolwich when Dunkirk began. He was shipped over with the fleet to assist with loading plans. He built a series of breakwaters using abandoned trucks, to help the little ships cross the surf and load more efficiently. Four years later in Normandy he was responsible for building the floating causeways from the Mulberrys back over the French beaches. He ended the war at 25 doing a Brigadiers job as a local Lt-Col, acting Major, temporary Captain, on the Lieutenants list but he had never received his commission because of the Dunkirk rush. He used to joke that his substantive rank in 1945 was Eagle Scout.
Davidsewellclarke my uncle was an ‘arse end charlie’ or rather w/op rear gunner in a Blenheim. Their life expectancy was six weeks. He spent the entire war squeezed in that turret and shot down several ‘jerries’ which he felt uncomfortable about. He smoked 80 Capstan Full Stregnth a day and drank at least 8 pints of bitter every night. After the war he emigrated to the U.S. made amillion within ten years. He partied and partied hearty but always was faithful to his wife. He was 5ft 4 and had size 4 feet. I met him at my father’s funeral and he was one of the funniest people ive ever met. He died three years ago, three years short of his 100th birthday. They made them tough in those days. All four of my father’s brothers flew in the RAF and every one of them came home.
It is important to recall the German Navy or Kriegsmarine was in no condition to launch Operation Sea Lion due to heavy losses of destroyers and supply ships in the Norway campaign. A British industrialist named Beaverbrook figured out how to mass produce the Hurricane fighter turning out adequate numbers each month. The British RAF Fighter command did have a potential problem with adequate replacements of fighter pilots. So RAF General Dowding's biggest problem was to keep adequate numbers of pilots in the air. This problem was partially solved by getting pilots from other allied nations and thoughout the Commonwealth. The excellent British radar stations and the British Observer Corps relayed messages to an information processing center, plotting Luftwaffe bomber groups, and scrambling sector squadrons through group command towards the incoming Luftwaffe air units. This excellent early warning system gave the British RAF an enormous advantage being able to minimize their warplanes getting caught on the ground. The British fighter pilots were relieved of the need for constant air patrols. Radar stations, if knocked out, had temporary back up radar units to plug holes in the Chain Home radar system until repairs were made on it. The Battle of Britain quickly became a battle of attrition with the daily arithmetic slightly in favor of the RAF. The German Luftwaffe may have had a small window of winning the battle with sustained attacks on RAF fighter airfields but this changed with London becoming the primary target. In retrospect, the short range of the Me-109 fighter plance proved the major downfall of the Luftwaffe with only about 20 minutes of flying time over England. The Germans never remedied this problem of fuel lights coming on warning the fighter pillots to return home over Great Britan. German engineers never came up with a long range fighter plane or drop tanks or anything else to extend the Me-109's short range during the the entire air campaign. The other critical factor was the fact that the Luftwaffe was a tactical air force lacking strategic resources like a heavy four engine bomber or long range fighter planes. The vaunted Stuka dive bomber was the Luftwaffe's most successful plane in combat so far in tactical support of the Wehrmacht armored units. But the Stuka was almost useless in the Battle of Britain. So when looking at the the structure or the Luftwaffe as an organization it is little wonder they were unsuccessful in the Battle of Britain. Once the British could fight the battle on their terms using their early warning system of radar and the observor corps, the German Luftwaffe never was able to counter this British air defense system. The Battle of Britain was a struggle for the RAF but it wasn't as close as movies or documentries make it out to be. A good student of history has to remember the extremely tight constraints the tactical Luftwaffe had to work under during the Battle of Britain. The Luftwaffe's pathway to a clear cut victory proved an impossibility against Dowding's integrated air defense system. The ability of the Luftwaffe to win air superiority over Britain was extremely narrow. The Luftwaffe was unable to win a strategic air campaign with a tactical air force.
Agree with all the points you have made. With the RN virtually intact the Germans would never have established the sea control to launch and maintain an amphibious assault. Also the RAF would have been able to disperse west and north throughout the UK providing defence in depth.
copferthat: Beqverbrook was born in Canada but moved to Britain around 1910. He was involved in the newspaper business and held numerous high level positions in British government including minister for aircraft production during the Battle of Britain. Lots of successful Canadian business people lived in London for long periods of their lives making them for all intents "British." en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Aitken,_1st_Baron_Beaverbrook
Rex fromMN Perhaps the way to look at is was way back then it was Britain and the Commonwealth that faced Germany. Canadians, South Africans, Australians, New Zealanders and others all made important contributions to the Battle at all levels.
THis is a very good re-arraneged tribute to the men of ww2 an d fighter command a Collarse of all in the Movie put together to make it feel personal to people who may have been in service then.
The Germans never ever stood any real chance of invading Britain. Think about what it took to "invade" Europe on D-Day. It took the most powerful navy there is at that time, the British Navy, along with the industrial might and numbers of the Americans against a very weak Kriegsmarine and no Luftwaffe to speak of. In the reverse situation with Germany trying to invade Britain, a weaker navy, by far not enough transport ships, with the British Navy picking off any ship that tries to traverse the channel Germany wouldn't have been able to land enough troops at all, let alone the logistical transports.
You are right. I don't think the Germans had the resources to invade Britain. It took the combined Naval might of the UK and the USA just to land some troops at Normandy. Not to mention the RAF and the USAAF providing air cover. I think Hitler was trying to beat the UK down to the point where they would negotiate.
I believe you are mistaken. At the height of WWII, the only thing that stop Germany from attacking the British isle were the Germans. They “let” the British army walk out of Dunkirk.
@@mikemanners1069 70% of the ships at D-Day were British plus the Brits and Canadians took most of the German armor and all the Tigers the Americans not so much.
Both Dowding and his most important subordinate Keith Park, the tough as nails Kiwi who made the crucial hour by hour decisions covering the vital airspace above London and the South-East counties.
My grandfather's brother fought in 315 "Deblinian" Squadron. When he returned to Poland was arrested as an "imperialist spy". And he was released from prison only after Stalin's death in 1954.
He was given fully UK citizenship and residency rights as a member of the Polish armed forces serving in the UK, as detailed in the UK 1947 Polish Resettlement act. Many, like your great uncle, understandably wished to reurn to Poland, but from all accounts I've read (including your own) they were treated as "the enemy" on their return. Respects to your great uncle's service.
Watched it yesterday on DVD, such a classic movie with a bunch of excellent actors, Curd Jürgens, Christopher Plummer, Michael Caine and many others, today sadly they couldn't make such a movie again. Just compare the old and the new Midway!
The Germans made the mistake of not attacking straight away after France fell !! They paused and allowed the RAF to regroup, re -arm and reorganise !!!
My mother stayed in London throughout the war, but could never go down into the underground she would take the dogs for a walk during an air raid. Mind you she and her parents ran a pub islington.
Good points there Rex..although my understanding was the ME 109 was only good for about 10-12 mins over England..however I do recall seeing them with a single drop tank, to be fair it could've been later, thing is too when enemy aircraft went down the war was over for them..even in the channel the boys picked them up to spend their days in prison, I'll guarantee with a whole lot better conditions than they afforded our boys..
Drop tanks came with E7 model at the beginning of 1941. At the time of the BoB, there were only E1, E3 and E4 models. Indeed with 10 to 15 minutes combat flight time over London if they did not want to suffer from "Kanalkrankheit" on the way back.
Quote from my Grandmother born in the 1880s. “Those young foreign gentleman came over here, without an invitation and made such a noise, it’s a wonder the government ever allowed it”!
As an American, how the British faced overwhelming odds in the early stages of WW2 was admirable -- and arguably vital to the continued existence of freedom in the Western world. If Britain had fell, the NAZIs would have controlled Atlantic and the Japanese Empire would have bracketed the United States from the Pacific. That is how desperate that war was. Now it seems that the British still have some resolve to survive as does pockets of the United States, but the Continent seems to be lost. Most there do not seem to believe that their nations, people, cultures, freedoms are worth fighting for. So, with the notable exception of Eastern Europe, they invite those who mean to wipe out their entire way of life into their homelands. The war for the continued existence of Western Civilization is just as desperate today, but the multiculturalists are hell-bent upon surrendering before a shot is fired.
Far more disturbing is how so many Americans embrace fascist ideological policies such as statist collectivism, central planning, social engineering, censorship, propaganda, indoctrination, demagoguery, violence against political opponents, etc. You know, Hard Left Democrats.
I re-read my comment and did not find any mention of PoTUS. That is the Association Fallacy. "This is what ____ would say, so you needn't bother considering it." It is intellectually dishonest, but when afflicted with TDS, the unreasoning hatred spews forth uncontrollably.
A quote from Sir Max Hastings from page 12 of his book "Chastise" reads:- ... """By September 1944 the RAF was dropping more bombs on Germany every night than the Luftwaffe dropped on Great Britain during the whole of 1940 / 41"""... What the Americans dropped during the day was the icing on the cake in my eyes.............. (Operation Chastise was the Mission of 19 Lancaster bombers which destroyed the great dams of western Germany)
Typical British comment, " Home and tea you deserve it ". Bring back the good old days, when British people had values , and had respect nowadays we are classed as second class citizens . I recently found out that my Late Grandfather on my Late Fathers side was awarded the George Cross Medal with Clasp. I have his old service Records given to me by his daughter my Late Aunty . The Original letter is dated 4 th of November 1941 , of which is in my hands now. The letter comes from the War Office, Hobart House , Grosvenor Place , London S.W.1. I have Photographs of said Military medals , my brother has his Medals . P.S. my late Grandfather was one of the Royal Engineers that uncovered the Sphynx's he was posted there from 05 12 1925 until 15 5 1929 . I have his complete service Records.
@Howard Pearcey Dear Sir , I wrote that comment regarding second class Citezens because that's how feel regarding that I work in an Old English House now a Hotel. The Majority of the workers are Hungarians, in actual fact 11 out of 17 employees, 1 Spanish Chambermaid 1 Polish Chambermaid 1Polish Assitant manager and 3 Brits . 1 BRIT is the Manageress . I know that the Foriegn workers are treated better than us 2 1 in the kitchen and myself in the Restaurant, but know I'll guess I'll be called a racist by you and a few others . Yours Sincerely David Sewell Clarke.
winston churchill should have been a tennis-player he played both sides of the court so well....numerous times throughout the 30s he said germany must be crushed and destroyed and that if they didnt start the war he would. he also promised he would get the Americans to come over and fight the war for the british...so much so many English citizens called it '"Winstons War."
Yeah and blocking supplies to the starving population of Indian Bengalis , roughly killing 4 million of them without firing a single shot to just stock up on the so called 'reserves'. He was indeed a great man and a leader
@@thevillaaston7811 "significant efforts".??? Haha You should probably be a stand up comedian . Forced conscription into the army, Starvation due to food shortage and sub human treatment to Indians ravaged the Indian countryside claiming the lives of many innocent Indians. Indians suffered the most deaths in most the world wars where as both the great wars were largely European centric conflicts . What did India get in return??just a shitload of miseries. You should probably stick to your 'Posh' history books which still glorifies the Empire and that pighead Churchill
I heard that the Germans actually had some drop tanks, I don't know how many, but the ones they had got left out in the rain and the material they were made of was damaged by that and they couldn't be used. The thing is, the Germans didn't really have enough time between the Fall of France and the Battle of Britain to properly prepare for an invasion. They could have tried it but it may well have been a disaster. .
The Germans were rushed in every way, and things kept not going right for them by just a little bit. They didn't want to fight the war for a few more years(Hitler's plan originally was to invade the USSR in 1945 or 1946). Plus, they had to put up with Hitler being in charge - everyone knows about D-day, that his minions were afraid to wake him up, and reinforcements were delayed...his tendency to micromanage may be the thing that lost the war. At least Stalin eventually saw that he should leave war to the generals - and after he did the Soviets mostly won. The Battle of Britain was a great victory for England - though I don't think that the Germans could have pulled it off. The successful D-day invasion was the first time since 1066 that somebody made a successful cross channel invasion. Napoleon wanted to; Hitler never had the ships.
@@DavidSmith-ss1cg Yeah. The Germans weren't ready in 1939 but Hitler had gotten away with so much he just assumed he'd get away with that but the British and the French had finally had enough. That was what he didn't see coming. Yes - Stalin was really frightened by what happened at the beginning of the war - when he had put his fingers into it having his troops all so close to the borders. Because of that - he adjusted. Hitler never got over the fact that he'd been "right" all those times when others said he was wrong. When things started going seriously bad - he simply got tired of being told things he didn't want to hear and threw tantrums - thus everyone being afraid to wake him up. Hitler didn't kill people as summarily as Stalin but Stalin knew how to use his Generals - then got rid of them after the war. Of course there was no "after the war" for Hitler. .
@@BobSmith-dk8nw -I have to beg your pardon, I only meant to mention Hitler in passing, as he was the Allies Secret Weapon! I meant that the Germans didn't have certain technical or organizational details ironed out, and they couldn't make use of them. The MP-44, the ME -262, the misuse of new technology - for instance, missile tech to build long-range weapons like the V-1 and V-2 could have been used for shorter range missiles, but these were never considered. Can you imagine how the late - 1944 Ardennes offensive would have turned out with short-range V-1s? In the Battle of Britain, Hitler stopped attacking aircraft factories and bases to attack civilians in cities just as the RAF was almost unable to effectively fight - another couple of weeks and the Luftwaffe would've had air superiority, and the invasion inevitable. When I was younger, WW2 was only 20 years in the past, and fresh in many people's minds. As I can recall, most remembered how close a call we had, how close we came to a disaster. That's why this movie is so good - the war, especially this campaign, is so dramatic that hardly any special effects are necessary! There's those great planes, though...
@Robert Cawley Of course - but - they could have been running on them until then. So every minute they were using the drop tanks - was an extra minute they'd have on internal fuel. .
@@DavidSmith-ss1cg Only just saw your reply ... There is a lot of drama about things that didn't really exist. The Germans were never close to beating the British in the air. Ever. When the 8th Air Force was destroying the Luftwaffe - the bombers hitting their cities were the bait to get them up - where out fighters could kill them. THAT was what the Germans were thinking when they bombed London. That was a mistake - but - it wasn't just a desire to punish London - there was some tactical thinking behind it. They just never had the horses for the race they were running. So - all that bit about this fluke event that turned the tide - is overly dramatizing things. They were never close to getting air superiority. V-1's were way to inaccurate to ever have any tactical usage. Their guidance system just kept them pointed in one direction until their fuel ran out ... You're not going to hit anything other than a city that way. Same thing with the V-2's being to inaccurate to hit anything smaller than a city. Now they did have some radio controlled guided missiles and used them to sink an Italian Battleship when Italy changed sides - but - then they tried to use them over Anzio - the Americans figured out how to jam them - and that was the end of that. They also had some early radar guided AA Missiles but that never amounted to much either. As for their jets - the problem was - jet engines. They couldn't build enough of them and the ones they did build wore out to quickly. They were essentially going to war with prototypes that should have still been in development but they were desperate. So - they never had enough jets to make any difference. It wasn't because Hitler interfered - it was because jet engines were new and making them was hard. The thing is - they spent a lot of time and resources on a lot of projects that were complete failures and never amounted to anything at all. We just don't hear about them. The allies were the same but they had the resources to put into all their failed projects - and the Germans didn't. .
It was probably all they could get. The Heinkels were using Merlin engines as well. They were all training aircraft on loan from the Spanish Air Force.
I read 1 Israeli who was among the many Allied Fighters in the Battle of Britain. Wonder what that must feel like, to be the only one of your kind in a united army for a particular battle.
@Cloby oh, right. Well still, I like movies where they at least show a reasonably accurate list of historical records. Battle of Britain the movie is still one of my favourites.
@@andym9571 Difficult one that is, correctly the credit should have said "Palestinian" but I can see how that would be problematical when the film was made and to the present also.
By "revisionist" I assume you mean the "confirmed" kill score of 58.5 and not the "claimed" kill score of 126? ALL fighter command squadrons had their kill tallies reduced post war, it wasn't done solely to Polish squadrons, even so 303 still came out on top. And in the spirit of wishing to see the acclaim spread to the rightful nations, 303's highest scorer was Josef František (DFM & Bar) who was a Czechoslovakian pilot who notched up 17 of those 58.5 kills.
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 LOL. keep going. I know Wiki is not the most accurate of sources, but I would assume such an obvious correction would have been made. Apparently not. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._303_Squadron_RAF
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 Your very pro-British view point so popular nowadays is based on a couple of books by historians, who claim THEY could not verify the actual number of kills. It doesn't matter, that OTHER were able to verify it - you just go for that minority opinions written by people younger than me, who use a certain set of documents and ignore the other set and arrive at a ridiculous conclusion. Because Poles were reporting ridiculous number of kills, British command went out of their way to verify Polish kills, including sending observers in the air. So, of all RAF squadrons, the "Polish kills" were verified above and beyond methods used for British pilots. The idea that the number of kills is inflated THREE TIMES is preposterous.
@@bessarion1771 My "pro-British view point" is based on Fighter Command pilots being 80% British born. Radar and the "real time" air defence system of which it was the backbone was a 100% British creation, the fighters that were used were of British design & build. You on the other hand have a "pro Polish viewpoint". The Poles were playing in the "premier league" now... no longer having to fly to their deaths carrying out standing patrols in Polish designed and built PZL P7 & 11s. Only the creme of the Polish pilots survived the conquest of their homelands, if they HADN'T performed at their peak with all their previous combat experience when provided with world beating technology it would have been a sad reflection on them. I freely acknowledge the Polish (and other's) contribution, I'm just sick of others trying to make the idiotic claim that "they" won the battle of Britain.
One of my 3 favorite movies of all time. The others being The Blue Max 1966 and TORA! TORA! TORA! 1969. Beautiful aerial photography. Main reason Germany lost was lack of a Japanese carrier force. A 4 engine heavy bomber and a Mitsubishi A6M2 long range fighter. The incompetents in Hitler,s inner circle were truely strategic clowns.
Hitler made the same mistake Marshal Ney made at Waterloo, his most mobile forces (cavalry for Ney, Luftwaffe for Hitler) were attacking unsupported. Hitler blitzed through Europe using air power combined with mechanized troops and artillery, but the Channel prevented that. Britain just could not be flanked or outgunned at sea
I and most of the current British people had no part in the the war. The world owes us nothing. They owe plenty to the previous generations but that does not give me privileges.
World owes you nothing For one Canada was never attacked nor had no reason to join the war in Sept, 1939 after the attack on Poland We were not govern by the Empire Nor were the people "Drafted" into joining We never asked for help. Or questioned why we needed to send over ships with Canadian goods lie Ammo/Guns, Food / First aid, Metals / Fuel by the thousands of tons each week. And 133,000 trained pilots overall And remember They had to ship both way with your sick, Injured Young and old at risk of being sunk by U-boats As Canadian And British planes of Coastal Command Every squadron the RAF have there was a Canadian Even the Polish 303 sq had a Canadian wing commander Are women Flew fighters and bombers to the coastline for shipping They worked 12-14hr shifts washing lathed Cannon shells in factories and not allowed outside the company fence at risk of being shot by posted officers for a coffee and sandwich across the street If you need a lesson of Canadian and Commonwealth countries that gave there all to keep the peace you can look back into WW1 American's flying French planes Canadians over taking Passchendaele When no other country that tried could take from the Germans Or Juno Beach June 6 1944 The Canadian's under heavy fire and heavy losses. Faced the SS troops And Panther and Tiger tanks in bunkers (some of the best i might add) And with that still managed to push forward But captured their objectives Before any of the Aillied forces ....Without Canadians No Americans period ...They Did not swim to England and the goods they sent..It was a Canadian hand that loaded it on and off the ship..It was a Canadian ass that sat on the cargo because there was no room Had it not been for "The few" being made of other countries and giving you the goods to make Hurri's and spits And the Americans to fuel them And Canadian .303 rounds to shoot something bloody down. it would of been "The None"
The way Germany handled the Soviets in the early part of Barbarossa.They would have easily overrun England.Some say approximately 3/4 of a million losses for the Germans to take Britain.
if it wasn't for the designer R. J. Michael that designed the Spitfire we would be under German rules by now just a shame he died before he could see the great work he made
Even though there were far more hurricanes defending our skies? It’s a shame the hurricane is so unloved and under appreciated, it was the back bone of our Air Force
There was a third fighter sitting in the wings ready to be manufactured if necessary, the Miles M20. It was a wooden aircraft with a fixed undercariage and a performance between the Spitfire and the Hurricane. As it turned out, it wasn't needed and so was never produced.
@@steriskyline4470 60/40 in favour of the Hurricane IIRC, the Hurricane was a very stable gun platform and better for the greater number of pilots, the Spitfire was more of a handful and needed a well above average pilot to make the best use of it.
Развлечения
My late great Uncle was captured at Dunkirk, spent 5 years in the prisoner of war camps, came back with half a stomach. Smoked like a chimney, could drink anybody under the table, and died at the age of 80. God rest his soul.
bless him
Hi David what was your uncles names where is he buried I am v interested. Thanks. Btw I live in Leeds.
My grand father too.
Amen.
My father in law was bagged at Dunkirk and spent 4 1/2 years in a POW camp. I asked him if he ever tried to escape and he replied " no, I just tried to stay alive...We were starving to death". His teeth began to fall out after a year.
This is the best simulated aerial combat you will ever see on film. No CGI, no blue screens. Just actual aircraft. Screw Top Gun.
Top Gun used actual aircraft, no CGI (it was the 1980s, CGI wasn't up to much), and limited blue screens (you think the actual actors were flying the planes in this 😂.
Has to be the BEST movie of it's type ever made! Made by people who actually understood what it was really like in 1940, because they were there. I went to see this in 1969 and have watched it innumerable times since, never gets boring :)
my grandfather William Bartlett was evacuated from Bray dunes Dunkirk. He was an artificer in the RAF he lied about his age. He was in his 40's and died his hair to join up. He was in WW1 originally Grenadier guards. God bless you Bill wherever you are
Brave man.....
My grandmothers brother was a young Sapper Officer still in training at Woolwich when Dunkirk began. He was shipped over with the fleet to assist with loading plans. He built a series of breakwaters using abandoned trucks, to help the little ships cross the surf and load more efficiently. Four years later in Normandy he was responsible for building the floating causeways from the Mulberrys back over the French beaches.
He ended the war at 25 doing a Brigadiers job as a local Lt-Col, acting Major, temporary Captain, on the Lieutenants list but he had never received his commission because of the Dunkirk rush. He used to joke that his substantive rank in 1945 was Eagle Scout.
Davidsewellclarke my uncle was an ‘arse end charlie’ or rather w/op rear gunner in a Blenheim. Their life expectancy was six weeks. He spent the entire war squeezed in that turret and shot down several ‘jerries’ which he felt uncomfortable about. He smoked 80 Capstan Full Stregnth a day and drank at least 8 pints of bitter every night. After the war he emigrated to the U.S. made amillion within ten years. He partied and partied hearty but always was faithful to his wife. He was 5ft 4 and had size 4 feet. I met him at my father’s funeral and he was one of the funniest people ive ever met. He died three years ago, three years short of his 100th birthday. They made them tough in those days. All four of my father’s brothers flew in the RAF and every one of them came home.
Great film! I love it when someone yells “break” to another pilot and he always looks behind him and gets blown out of the sky!
Loved the film...so many good actors in it...
It is important to recall the German Navy or Kriegsmarine was in no condition to launch Operation Sea Lion due to heavy losses of destroyers and supply ships in the Norway campaign. A British industrialist named Beaverbrook figured out how to mass produce the Hurricane fighter turning out adequate numbers each month. The British RAF Fighter command did have a potential problem with adequate replacements of fighter pilots. So RAF General Dowding's biggest problem was to keep adequate numbers of pilots in the air. This problem was partially solved by getting pilots from other allied nations and thoughout the Commonwealth. The excellent British radar stations and the British Observer Corps relayed messages to an information processing center, plotting Luftwaffe bomber groups, and scrambling sector squadrons through group command towards the incoming Luftwaffe air units. This excellent early warning system gave the British RAF an enormous advantage being able to minimize their warplanes getting caught on the ground. The British fighter pilots were relieved of the need for constant air patrols. Radar stations, if knocked out, had temporary back up radar units to plug holes in the Chain Home radar system until repairs were made on it.
The Battle of Britain quickly became a battle of attrition with the daily arithmetic slightly in favor of the RAF. The German Luftwaffe may have had a small window of winning the battle with sustained attacks on RAF fighter airfields but this changed with London becoming the primary target. In retrospect, the short range of the Me-109 fighter plance proved the major downfall of the Luftwaffe with only about 20 minutes of flying time over England. The Germans never remedied this problem of fuel lights coming on warning the fighter pillots to return home over Great Britan. German engineers never came up with a long range fighter plane or drop tanks or anything else to extend the Me-109's short range during the the entire air campaign.
The other critical factor was the fact that the Luftwaffe was a tactical air force lacking strategic resources like a heavy four engine bomber or long range fighter planes. The vaunted Stuka dive bomber was the Luftwaffe's most successful plane in combat so far in tactical support of the Wehrmacht armored units. But the Stuka was almost useless in the Battle of Britain. So when looking at the the structure or the Luftwaffe as an organization it is little wonder they were unsuccessful in the Battle of Britain. Once the British could fight the battle on their terms using their early warning system of radar and the observor corps, the German Luftwaffe never was able to counter this British air defense system. The Battle of Britain was a struggle for the RAF but it wasn't as close as movies or documentries make it out to be. A good student of history has to remember the extremely tight constraints the tactical Luftwaffe had to work under during the Battle of Britain. The Luftwaffe's pathway to a clear cut victory proved an impossibility against Dowding's integrated air defense system. The ability of the Luftwaffe to win air superiority over Britain was extremely narrow. The Luftwaffe was unable to win a strategic air campaign with a tactical air force.
Agree with all the points you have made. With the RN virtually intact the Germans would never have established the sea control to launch and maintain an amphibious assault. Also the RAF would have been able to disperse west and north throughout the UK providing defence in depth.
Beaverbrook was a Canadian.
copferthat: Beqverbrook was born in Canada but moved to Britain around 1910. He was involved in the newspaper business and held numerous high level positions in British government including minister for aircraft production during the Battle of Britain. Lots of successful Canadian business people lived in London for long periods of their lives making them for all intents "British." en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Aitken,_1st_Baron_Beaverbrook
Rex fromMN
Perhaps the way to look at is was way back then it was Britain and the Commonwealth that faced Germany. Canadians, South Africans, Australians, New Zealanders and others all made important contributions to the Battle at all levels.
good summary
THis is a very good re-arraneged tribute to the men of ww2 an d fighter command a Collarse of all in the Movie put together to make it feel personal to people who may have been in service then.
My Uncle Mick won the DFC for bringing back his bomber on one engine and saving the crew after a raid in Germany.
Good old uncle mick
The Germans never ever stood any real chance of invading Britain. Think about what it took to "invade" Europe on D-Day. It took the most powerful navy there is at that time, the British Navy, along with the industrial might and numbers of the Americans against a very weak Kriegsmarine and no Luftwaffe to speak of. In the reverse situation with Germany trying to invade Britain, a weaker navy, by far not enough transport ships, with the British Navy picking off any ship that tries to traverse the channel Germany wouldn't have been able to land enough troops at all, let alone the logistical transports.
You are right. I don't think the Germans had the resources to invade Britain. It took the combined Naval might of the UK and the USA just to land some troops at Normandy. Not to mention the RAF and the USAAF providing air cover. I think Hitler was trying to beat the UK down to the point where they would negotiate.
I believe you are mistaken. At the height of WWII, the only thing that stop Germany from attacking the British isle were the Germans. They “let” the British army walk out of Dunkirk.
@@mikemanners1069 70% of the ships at D-Day were British plus the Brits and Canadians took most of the German armor and all the Tigers the Americans not so much.
@@paulchandler9646 I think you are smoking too much crack....
@@mikemanners1069 hes right
Dowding is the great, unheralded hero of WWII. Dowdy and unfashionable, but unerringly right and there when you needed him.
Both Dowding and his most important subordinate Keith Park, the tough as nails Kiwi who made the crucial hour by hour decisions covering the vital airspace above London and the South-East counties.
And don't forget Keith Parks as well. Great men, both of them, and both very badly treated after the BoB
My grandfather's brother fought in 315 "Deblinian" Squadron. When he returned to Poland was arrested as an "imperialist spy". And he was released from prison only after Stalin's death in 1954.
He was given fully UK citizenship and residency rights as a member of the Polish armed forces serving in the UK, as detailed in the UK 1947 Polish Resettlement act. Many, like your great uncle, understandably wished to reurn to Poland, but from all accounts I've read (including your own) they were treated as "the enemy" on their return. Respects to your great uncle's service.
Watched it yesterday on DVD, such a classic movie with a bunch of excellent actors, Curd Jürgens, Christopher Plummer, Michael Caine and many others, today sadly they couldn't make such a movie again.
Just compare the old and the new Midway!
Or the old and new Dunkirk movies. The old one is so much better. I was lucky enough to find the Original. Its a great movie.
The soundtrack still gives me goosebumps!
The Germans made the mistake of not attacking straight away after France fell !! They paused and allowed the RAF to regroup, re -arm and reorganise !!!
One of my 3 favorite films of all time.
My mother stayed in London throughout the war, but could never go down into the underground she would take the dogs for a walk during an air raid. Mind you she and her parents ran a pub islington.
Respect to the great RAF and the best pilots. UK won in thr air and won on land and won in the sea.
Very nice mash-up.
An amalgam of scenes from several different movies and shows. Nicely done!
sillyone52062 all scenes from Battle of Britain,one film.
Adrian Stent I disagree. A few scenes from A Piece of Cake are included.
sillyone52062 Sorry, all the scenes seemed to be from B0fB.
All the scenes are Battle of Britain, as is the music
Some Piece of Cake scenes are taken from this sir!
Good points there Rex..although my understanding was the ME 109 was only good for about 10-12 mins over England..however I do recall seeing them with a single drop tank, to be fair it could've been later, thing is too when enemy aircraft went down the war was over for them..even in the channel the boys picked them up to spend their days in prison, I'll guarantee with a whole lot better conditions than they afforded our boys..
drop tanks were later ..109s could only do 10 mins over LONDON , to still be able to fly back to base .
Drop tanks came with E7 model at the beginning of 1941. At the time of the BoB, there were only E1, E3 and E4 models. Indeed with 10 to 15 minutes combat flight time over London if they did not want to suffer from "Kanalkrankheit" on the way back.
Quote from my Grandmother born in the 1880s.
“Those young foreign gentleman came over here, without an invitation and made such a noise, it’s a wonder the government ever allowed it”!
Best War film ever
As an American, how the British faced overwhelming odds in the early stages of WW2 was admirable -- and arguably vital to the continued existence of freedom in the Western world. If Britain had fell, the NAZIs would have controlled Atlantic and the Japanese Empire would have bracketed the United States from the Pacific.
That is how desperate that war was.
Now it seems that the British still have some resolve to survive as does pockets of the United States, but the Continent seems to be lost. Most there do not seem to believe that their nations, people, cultures, freedoms are worth fighting for. So, with the notable exception of Eastern Europe, they invite those who mean to wipe out their entire way of life into their homelands.
The war for the continued existence of Western Civilization is just as desperate today, but the multiculturalists are hell-bent upon surrendering before a shot is fired.
Your summary is 100% accurate.
and now Americans fly Nazi flags in public. Seems Hitler won after all.
Wal Ford. Well said Wal, best wishes Anna Withers. 👍👍
Far more disturbing is how so many Americans embrace fascist ideological policies such as statist collectivism, central planning, social engineering, censorship, propaganda, indoctrination, demagoguery, violence against political opponents, etc. You know, Hard Left Democrats.
I re-read my comment and did not find any mention of PoTUS. That is the Association Fallacy. "This is what ____ would say, so you needn't bother considering it." It is intellectually dishonest, but when afflicted with TDS, the unreasoning hatred spews forth uncontrollably.
MONEY AND THE FEW WHO WERE VERY BRAVE AND FIGHT ON was the honourable flyers of SPITFIRES. BATTLE OF BRITAIN.
A quote from Sir Max Hastings from page 12 of his book "Chastise" reads:- ... """By September 1944 the RAF was dropping more bombs on Germany every night than the Luftwaffe dropped on Great Britain during the whole of 1940 / 41"""... What the Americans dropped during the day was the icing on the cake in my eyes.............. (Operation Chastise was the Mission of 19 Lancaster bombers which destroyed the great dams of western Germany)
movie of my childhood.
So few against so many, brave men saved their country. Remember!
July 10th 2020. The 80th anniversary
Typical British comment, " Home and tea you deserve it ". Bring back the good old days, when British people had values , and had respect nowadays we are classed as second class citizens . I recently found out that my Late Grandfather on my Late Fathers side was awarded the George Cross Medal with Clasp. I have his old service Records given to me by his daughter my Late Aunty . The Original letter is dated 4 th of November 1941 , of which is in my hands now. The letter comes from the War Office, Hobart House , Grosvenor Place , London S.W.1. I have Photographs of said Military medals , my brother has his Medals . P.S. my late Grandfather was one of the Royal Engineers that uncovered the Sphynx's he was posted there from 05 12 1925 until 15 5 1929 . I have his complete service Records.
@Howard Pearcey Dear Sir , I wrote that comment regarding second class Citezens because that's how feel regarding that I work in an Old English House now a Hotel. The Majority of the workers are Hungarians, in actual fact 11 out of 17 employees, 1 Spanish Chambermaid 1 Polish Chambermaid 1Polish Assitant manager and 3 Brits . 1 BRIT is the Manageress . I know that the Foriegn workers are treated better than us 2 1 in the kitchen and myself in the Restaurant, but know I'll guess I'll be called a racist by you and a few others . Yours Sincerely David Sewell Clarke.
winston churchill should have been a tennis-player he played both sides of the court so well....numerous times throughout the 30s he said germany must be crushed and destroyed and that if they didnt start the war he would. he also promised he would get the Americans to come over and fight the war for the british...so much so many English citizens called it '"Winstons War."
Yeah and blocking supplies to the starving population of Indian Bengalis , roughly killing 4 million of them without firing a single shot to just stock up on the so called 'reserves'. He was indeed a great man and a leader
'many english citizens called it '"Winstons War."'
Really? When was that?
@@ricksingha2575
Total rubbish. The record is clear. Churchill made signicant efforts to send help to India.
@@thevillaaston7811 "significant efforts".??? Haha
You should probably be a stand up comedian .
Forced conscription into the army, Starvation due to food shortage and sub human treatment to Indians ravaged the Indian countryside claiming the lives of many innocent Indians. Indians suffered the most deaths in most the world wars where as both the great wars were largely European centric conflicts . What did India get in return??just a shitload of miseries. You should probably stick to your 'Posh' history books which still glorifies the Empire and that pighead Churchill
@@thevillaaston7811 from early 1940 till August of 1945.
They don't make movies like this anymore...
I heard that the Germans actually had some drop tanks, I don't know how many, but the ones they had got left out in the rain and the material they were made of was damaged by that and they couldn't be used.
The thing is, the Germans didn't really have enough time between the Fall of France and the Battle of Britain to properly prepare for an invasion. They could have tried it but it may well have been a disaster.
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The Germans were rushed in every way, and things kept not going right for them by just a little bit. They didn't want to fight the war for a few more years(Hitler's plan originally was to invade the USSR in 1945 or 1946). Plus, they had to put up with Hitler being in charge - everyone knows about D-day, that his minions were afraid to wake him up, and reinforcements were delayed...his tendency to micromanage may be the thing that lost the war. At least Stalin eventually saw that he should leave war to the generals - and after he did the Soviets mostly won. The Battle of Britain was a great victory for England - though I don't think that the Germans could have pulled it off. The successful D-day invasion was the first time since 1066 that somebody made a successful cross channel invasion. Napoleon wanted to; Hitler never had the ships.
@@DavidSmith-ss1cg
Yeah. The Germans weren't ready in 1939 but Hitler had gotten away with so much he just assumed he'd get away with that but the British and the French had finally had enough. That was what he didn't see coming.
Yes - Stalin was really frightened by what happened at the beginning of the war - when he had put his fingers into it having his troops all so close to the borders. Because of that - he adjusted. Hitler never got over the fact that he'd been "right" all those times when others said he was wrong. When things started going seriously bad - he simply got tired of being told things he didn't want to hear and threw tantrums - thus everyone being afraid to wake him up. Hitler didn't kill people as summarily as Stalin but Stalin knew how to use his Generals - then got rid of them after the war. Of course there was no "after the war" for Hitler.
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@@BobSmith-dk8nw -I have to beg your pardon, I only meant to mention Hitler in passing, as he was the Allies Secret Weapon! I meant that the Germans didn't have certain technical or organizational details ironed out, and they couldn't make use of them. The MP-44, the ME -262, the misuse of new technology - for instance, missile tech to build long-range weapons like the V-1 and V-2 could have been used for shorter range missiles, but these were never considered. Can you imagine how the late - 1944 Ardennes offensive would have turned out with short-range V-1s? In the Battle of Britain, Hitler stopped attacking aircraft factories and bases to attack civilians in cities just as the RAF was almost unable to effectively fight - another couple of weeks and the Luftwaffe would've had air superiority, and the invasion inevitable.
When I was younger, WW2 was only 20 years in the past, and fresh in many people's minds. As I can recall, most remembered how close a call we had, how close we came to a disaster. That's why this movie is so good - the war, especially this campaign, is so dramatic that hardly any special effects are necessary! There's those great planes, though...
@Robert Cawley Of course - but - they could have been running on them until then. So every minute they were using the drop tanks - was an extra minute they'd have on internal fuel.
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@@DavidSmith-ss1cg Only just saw your reply ...
There is a lot of drama about things that didn't really exist.
The Germans were never close to beating the British in the air. Ever. When the 8th Air Force was destroying the Luftwaffe - the bombers hitting their cities were the bait to get them up - where out fighters could kill them. THAT was what the Germans were thinking when they bombed London. That was a mistake - but - it wasn't just a desire to punish London - there was some tactical thinking behind it. They just never had the horses for the race they were running. So - all that bit about this fluke event that turned the tide - is overly dramatizing things. They were never close to getting air superiority.
V-1's were way to inaccurate to ever have any tactical usage. Their guidance system just kept them pointed in one direction until their fuel ran out ... You're not going to hit anything other than a city that way. Same thing with the V-2's being to inaccurate to hit anything smaller than a city. Now they did have some radio controlled guided missiles and used them to sink an Italian Battleship when Italy changed sides - but - then they tried to use them over Anzio - the Americans figured out how to jam them - and that was the end of that. They also had some early radar guided AA Missiles but that never amounted to much either.
As for their jets - the problem was - jet engines. They couldn't build enough of them and the ones they did build wore out to quickly. They were essentially going to war with prototypes that should have still been in development but they were desperate. So - they never had enough jets to make any difference. It wasn't because Hitler interfered - it was because jet engines were new and making them was hard.
The thing is - they spent a lot of time and resources on a lot of projects that were complete failures and never amounted to anything at all. We just don't hear about them. The allies were the same but they had the resources to put into all their failed projects - and the Germans didn't.
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were can I get to see the whole movie
Prime video
The input of the Polish pilots is so underestimated in this clip.
No one underestimates either Polish pilots, or the pilots from any other nation that fought in the Battle of Britain. NO ONE.
Never has so much been owed by so many to so few.
Winston Churchill
chipsthedog1 never heard that before
And that was just the bar tab!
That comment is two year ago so it is nine
Couldn't make this movie today unless Dowding was played by Idris Elba, with a subplot about some transgender ground crews.
Merlin powered 109s vs Merlin powered spits , no db engined 109s in 69
109s had benz engines iirc
@@mickb3859 not the HA-1112 used in the film. They were merlin powered.
So what?
@@thevillaaston7811 so nothing , just pointing out the difference to the less observant.
It was probably all they could get. The Heinkels were using Merlin engines as well. They were all training aircraft on loan from the Spanish Air Force.
I read 1 Israeli who was among the many Allied Fighters in the Battle of Britain.
Wonder what that must feel like, to be the only one of your kind in a united army for a particular battle.
@Cloby oh, right.
Well still, I like movies where they at least show a reasonably accurate list of historical records.
Battle of Britain the movie is still one of my favourites.
Thousands of British Jews fought in WW2!@@Vikingr4Jesus5919
@Cloby obviously Israel didn't exist official until 48
@@andym9571 Difficult one that is, correctly the credit should have said "Palestinian" but I can see how that would be problematical when the film was made and to the present also.
William Gruff. Israel, i would imaginne
You cut out the Polish 303 Squadron contribution (highest score of all RAF squadrons, despite revisionist attempts of late).
@J M smh
By "revisionist" I assume you mean the "confirmed" kill score of 58.5 and not the "claimed" kill score of 126? ALL fighter command squadrons had their kill tallies reduced post war, it wasn't done solely to Polish squadrons, even so 303 still came out on top. And in the spirit of wishing to see the acclaim spread to the rightful nations, 303's highest scorer was Josef František (DFM & Bar) who was a Czechoslovakian pilot who notched up 17 of those 58.5 kills.
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 LOL. keep going. I know Wiki is not the most accurate of sources, but I would assume such an obvious correction would have been made. Apparently not. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._303_Squadron_RAF
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 Your very pro-British view point so popular nowadays is based on a couple of books by historians, who claim THEY could not verify the actual number of kills. It doesn't matter, that OTHER were able to verify it - you just go for that minority opinions written by people younger than me, who use a certain set of documents and ignore the other set and arrive at a ridiculous conclusion. Because Poles were reporting ridiculous number of kills, British command went out of their way to verify Polish kills, including sending observers in the air. So, of all RAF squadrons, the "Polish kills" were verified above and beyond methods used for British pilots. The idea that the number of kills is inflated THREE TIMES is preposterous.
@@bessarion1771 My "pro-British view point" is based on Fighter Command pilots being 80% British born. Radar and the "real time" air defence system of which it was the backbone was a 100% British creation, the fighters that were used were of British design & build. You on the other hand have a "pro Polish viewpoint".
The Poles were playing in the "premier league" now... no longer having to fly to their deaths carrying out standing patrols in Polish designed and built PZL P7 & 11s. Only the creme of the Polish pilots survived the conquest of their homelands, if they HADN'T performed at their peak with all their previous combat experience when provided with world beating technology it would have been a sad reflection on them.
I freely acknowledge the Polish (and other's) contribution, I'm just sick of others trying to make the idiotic claim that "they" won the battle of Britain.
One of my 3 favorite movies of all time. The others being The Blue Max 1966 and TORA! TORA! TORA! 1969. Beautiful aerial photography. Main reason Germany lost was lack of a Japanese carrier force. A 4 engine heavy bomber and a Mitsubishi A6M2 long range fighter. The incompetents in Hitler,s inner circle were truely strategic clowns.
Hitler made the same mistake Marshal Ney made at Waterloo, his most mobile forces (cavalry for Ney, Luftwaffe for Hitler) were attacking unsupported. Hitler blitzed through Europe using air power combined with mechanized troops and artillery, but the Channel prevented that. Britain just could not be flanked or outgunned at sea
Siwek Kazimierz Pilot 315 Mustang III Oficer RAF. Google. // Sabaton - Aces In Exile PL. You Tube.
Fun fact.. Lawrence Oliviers boyfriend was Danny Kaye! 😊
What kind of mess was that?
> "Niemcy - nie widze ich ?? > Z tylu za toba !!!!" - it was the Polish fighter pilots Polish little chit-chat over the British airwaves ~~~ :o))
For the few............
god bless the ramy
What's funny is that we defeated Germany the most feared country in the world at that time, Europe still hate us now?, the world o us a favour
+Ian Gibbons, more preposterous presumption. The Americans had a lot to do with the defeat of the Axis powers.
Jim Porter It was a joint enterprise !
I and most of the current British people had no part in the the war. The world owes us nothing. They owe plenty to the previous generations but that does not give me privileges.
World owes you nothing For one Canada was never attacked nor had no reason to join the war in Sept, 1939 after the attack on Poland We were not govern by the Empire Nor were the people "Drafted" into joining We never asked for help. Or questioned why we needed to send over ships with Canadian goods lie Ammo/Guns, Food / First aid, Metals / Fuel by the thousands of tons each week. And 133,000 trained pilots overall And remember They had to ship both way with your sick, Injured Young and old at risk of being sunk by U-boats As Canadian And British planes of Coastal Command Every squadron the RAF have there was a Canadian Even the Polish 303 sq had a Canadian wing commander Are women Flew fighters and bombers to the coastline for shipping They worked 12-14hr shifts washing lathed Cannon shells in factories and not allowed outside the company fence at risk of being shot by posted officers for a coffee and sandwich across the street
If you need a lesson of Canadian and Commonwealth countries that gave there all to keep the peace you can look back into WW1 American's flying French planes Canadians over taking Passchendaele When no other country that tried could take from the Germans
Or Juno Beach June 6 1944 The Canadian's under heavy fire and heavy losses. Faced the SS troops And Panther and Tiger tanks in bunkers (some of the best i might add) And with that still managed to push forward But captured their objectives Before any of the Aillied forces ....Without Canadians No Americans period ...They Did not swim to England and the goods they sent..It was a Canadian hand that loaded it on and off the ship..It was a Canadian ass that sat on the cargo because there was no room
Had it not been for "The few" being made of other countries and giving you the goods to make Hurri's and spits And the Americans to fuel them And Canadian .303 rounds to shoot something bloody down. it would of been "The None"
The way Germany handled the Soviets in the early part of Barbarossa.They would have easily overrun England.Some say approximately 3/4 of a million losses for the Germans to take Britain.
funny....i thought it was britain that was at war but it seems its only england that was fighting ?!??
Considering it was over the English channel, yes it was mainly English folk
@@tyler5198 with polish, afrikan,spanish and my god ...even scottish pilots !
@@andrewnicholson4811Of course, but it was still majority English
@@tyler5198 granted
Scotland was defended by another fighter group, plus the RAF was overwhelmingly English due to most of the bases being in the south and midlands
if it wasn't for the designer R. J. Michael that designed the Spitfire we would be under German rules by now just a shame he died before he could see the great work he made
Philip 167 : under German rule: look at Germany today compared to England.
Even though there were far more hurricanes defending our skies? It’s a shame the hurricane is so unloved and under appreciated, it was the back bone of our Air Force
There was a third fighter sitting in the wings ready to be manufactured if necessary, the Miles M20.
It was a wooden aircraft with a fixed undercariage and a performance between the Spitfire and the Hurricane.
As it turned out, it wasn't needed and so was never produced.
RJ Mitchell.....
@@steriskyline4470 60/40 in favour of the Hurricane IIRC, the Hurricane was a very stable gun platform and better for the greater number of pilots, the Spitfire was more of a handful and needed a well above average pilot to make the best use of it.
Copyright
💛✌️💪💛🌟😡
Ha I made this video 6 years ago and people are still watching it!! Good show!!
I like how you included the end totals.
@@mcqueenfanman same goes for me
Did the jerries captured any brit fighter in dunkirk ?
What happed to the brit guys the ground crew who were to set fire to the lame ducks ..pow ?
All you did was take clips from the battle of Britain movie very little skill required.
Wasn't Susannah York gorgeous ?