The Royal Navy did not win the ‘Battle of Britain’: But we need a holistic view of Britain’s defences in 1940
Oct 2006, Vol. 151, No. 5
By Christina Goulter, Andrew Gordon and Gary Sheffield
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The defeat of the Luftwaffe by the Royal Air Force’s Fighter Command was a critical factor in preventing the German armed forces from attempting an invasion. However, there is a necessity of adopting a holistic view of Britain’s defences in 1940. This must include consideration of the role of the RAF’s Bomber and Coastal Commands, the Royal Navy, and land forces, as well as Fighter Command. This is a rather different, and certainly more subtle argument from the self-evidently ridiculous notion that a fleet ‘won’ an air battle.
Dr. Christina Goulter is Senior Lecturer in Defence Studies, King’s College London, and Air Warfare Historian on the Higher Command and Staff Course, Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC), Defence Academy of the UK. Dr Andrew Gordon is Reader in Defence Studies, King’s College London, and Maritime Warfare Historian on the Higher Command and Staff Course, JSCSC. Professor Gary Sheffield holds the Chair of War Studies at the University of Birmingham.He was formerly Professor of Modern History at King’s College London, and Land Warfare Historian on the Higher Command and Staff Course, JSCSC.
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By Christina Goulter, Andrew Gordon and Gary Sheffield
Read the debate
The defeat of the Luftwaffe by the Royal Air Force’s Fighter Command was a critical factor in preventing the German armed forces from attempting an invasion. However, there is a necessity of adopting a holistic view of Britain’s defences in 1940. This must include consideration of the role of the RAF’s Bomber and Coastal Commands, the Royal Navy, and land forces, as well as Fighter Command. This is a rather different, and certainly more subtle argument from the self-evidently ridiculous notion that a fleet ‘won’ an air battle.
Dr. Christina Goulter is Senior Lecturer in Defence Studies, King’s College London, and Air Warfare Historian on the Higher Command and Staff Course, Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC), Defence Academy of the UK. Dr Andrew Gordon is Reader in Defence Studies, King’s College London, and Maritime Warfare Historian on the Higher Command and Staff Course, JSCSC. Professor Gary Sheffield holds the Chair of War Studies at the University of Birmingham.He was formerly Professor of Modern History at King’s College London, and Land Warfare Historian on the Higher Command and Staff Course, JSCSC.
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