Thích Quảng Đức, on Nov 30 2006, 10:40 PM, said:
Hello teachers and pupils! This looks like a marvelous site for history help, and I am a keen history enthusiast doing a GCSE in Modern World History (Edexcel). I am hoping for an A* at GCSE and I'm going to continue History at A-level.
Welcome to the forum - it's good that you are so enthusiastic ... that's half the key to success!
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Although I need no real help with the coursework as we have a fantastic teacher who will help us all, I thought this looks like a good place to get a bit of a head start on the first question.
We are always happy to help, but you must always listen to your own teacher's advice first and foremost.
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We're doing Assignment One: Objective One - 1. Why were the major cities of Britain bombed by the Germans in 1940-1? (15)
Firstly: A) Is this all correct?
We've talked in class about how the Germans wanted to invade Britain in the gap before they hoped to invade Russia.
Is this strictly true? As far as I have always understood it, Hitler did indeed ultimately intend to invade Russia, but I don't know whether he ever 'wanted' to invade Britain. He regarded the British as near-equals racially, and he simply got sucked into war with them when Britain (to his surprise) refused to capitulate after Dunkirk. It was not that he saw a chance 'in the gap' to add one more country to his list. Indeed, he considered alternatives such as a blockade, and said that invasion was a 'last resort'. He stated categorically that he did NOT want the British Empire to collapse, and on 19 July he offered peace. Moreover, neither the Germany Navy nor the German Army had any great enthusiasm for an invasion, and 'Operation Sealion' was half-heartedly planned from the start.
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They had 'Operation Sealion' in order to destroy the RAF so they could control the skies and therefore would be able to ensure that ships going from Germany to Britain would be relatively secure with air support.
This is not strictly true. You are correct to say that the German strategy called for, first, the destruction of the British RAF, then a landing in southern Britain. However, I think you will find that 'Operation Sealion' was only the 'landing-in-southern-Britain' part of it. The plan to control the skies by the Luftwaffe destroying the RAF was called 'Operation Eagle'.
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Operation Sealion failed as the RAF beat the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain (or Battle of the Skies?), the Blitz was their 'Plan B', as Op. Sealion had failed. They just decided to mass-bomb Britain instead.
All very 'iffy'. The RAF did repulse the Luftwaffe, but they can hardly be said to have 'defeated them'. In fact, by the end of August the Luftwaffe was definitely getting the upper hand. Just as they were about to win, however, Hitler made a mistake. This is how I describe it on the webpage
http://www.johndclare.net/wwii6.htm:
Just as Fighter Command was about to collapse, however, a miracle happened. On 24 August, by accident, some Luftwaffe bombers had dropped their bombs on London. The next few nights, the RAF replied by bombing Berlin. Hitler was angry. On 2 September he ordered his bombers to attack London. On 7 September the Nazi bombing raid was so huge that a false alarm went round the south-east of England: code-word ‘Cromwell’ – invasion imminent. Church bells rang and the Home Guard mobilised. It was not known at the time but one section of coast identified by the Nazis as a landing ground was defended by a Home Guard platoon with just one machine-gun! Hitler’s decision to stop attacking the RAF gave it time to recover. On 15 September, the Luftwaffe came by day in huge numbers. It expected to sweep the RAF from the skies. But the RAF fought them off. At one point every British plane was in the sky – soon, some would have to come in to refuel and there were no reserves to protect them. But the Luftwaffe, too, was at the limit and – just in time – it turned back.
After this point, however, you ARE correct - Hitler tried to 'blitz' the British into surrender.
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I also gather that Britain were terrified of being bombed, which is why they were tolerant of Germany up to this point (to a degree) as they wanted to avoid being bombed.
Again, be careful of sweeping generalisations. The Chamberlain government WERE indeed frightened of being bombed - indeed they limited their attacks on Germany to bombing with PAMPHLETS, because they did not want to damage property and annoy Hitler! They also asembled a million coffins, ready for the deaths they expected. But remember that in May 1940 Chamberlain had been replaced by Churchill, who said that the British public were 'proud to be under the fire of the enemy' (27 April 1941).
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Is this relevant to the question?
Yes, though if I were you I would want to investigate WHY Hitler decided to bomb Britain - was it all just to psychologically cow them, or did it have other aims (e.g. destroy production/ naval bases etc.???)
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C) Could someone please give me a few bullet points of other relevant information regarding the question? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your time.
These three sites would be good for starters:
http://www.spartacus.../2WWsealoin.htm - good, simple introduction, as is
http://www.historyle...ion_sealion.htm.
http://en.wikipedia....eration_Sealion - very detailed and full of facts.
http://www.flin.demo...thist/seal1.htm - an interesting site that argues that Sealion wasn't a good plan and didn;t have much chance of success.
And try to read William L Shirer,
Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Chapter 22.
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