The Battle of Britain in Blanks Quiz

Answer:

The Battle of Britain was Germany's attempt to force the United Kingdom into submission, shortly after the beginning of the war in September 1939. At the point when the bombing that made up the Battle of Britain began, the Axis powers had already invaded and taken control of France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and many other countries. In the eyes of many, the United Kingdom was the last holdout against the Nazis, since the United States had not yet entered the war.

The Battle of Britain was the world's first major battle fought in the air. While most of the Germans' bombing took place over London, particularly the poorer areas in the East End, other major areas of England were also threatened. Germany's Messerschmidt planes fought against Great Britain's Spitfire and Hurricane planes. At the same time, Axis blockading ensured that shipping into England was perilous. The outlook was bleak for the United Kingdom.

A large factor in keeping up the morale of Londoners was King George VI's presence there at Buckingham Palace, and although Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were sent to live at Windsor Castle, this was still not in a safe area. Queen Elizabeth remained with her husband at Buckingham Palace, which was hit by several bombs, one only about 80 yards from the King. When this happened, however, the Queen said that "I am glad we have been bombed. It makes me feel we can look the East End in the face." The King's dedication to the morale of his people saw him refuse to wear anything but his military uniform in public throughout the whole war.

By the end of the Battle, however, the Royal Air Force had increased in strength by about 40 percent since the beginning of the Battle, while the Luftwaffe's numbers had decreased by 25 to 30 percent. It was a clear victory for the Allied forces.