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The Battle of Britain Day〔〔Bungay 2000, pp. 318, 334: "15 September was the day when some, not all, of the people that mattered realised what had been going on, and acted accordingly. This began a slow process of enlightenment. It is for that reason it had become known as the Battle of Britain Day".〕〔Mason 1969, p. 386.〕〔Price 1990, p. 128.〕〔Terraine 1985, p. 210.〕 is the name given to the large-scale aerial battle that took place on 15 September 1940, during the Battle of Britain (German: ''Luftschlacht um England'' or ''Luftschlacht um Großbritannien''). In June 1940, Nazi Germany had conquered most of Western Europe and Scandinavia. At that time, the only major power standing in the way of a German-dominated Europe was the British Empire and the Commonwealth. After having several peace offers rejected by the British, Adolf Hitler ordered the ''Luftwaffe'' to destroy the Royal Air Force (RAF) in order to gain air superiority or air supremacy as a prelude to launching Operation Sea Lion, an amphibious assault by the ''Wehrmacht'' (German armed forces) onto the British mainland. In July 1940, the ''Luftwaffe'' started by closing the English Channel to merchant shipping. In August, Operation ''Adlerangriff'' (Eagle Attack) was launched against RAF airfields in southern England. By the first week of September, the ''Luftwaffe'' had not gained the results desired by Hitler. Frustrated, the Germans turned towards the strategic bombing of cities, an offensive which was aimed at British military and civil industries, but also civilian morale. The attacks began on 7 September 1940, but were to reach their daylight climax on 15 September.〔Murray 1983, p. 54.〕 On Sunday, 15 September 1940, the ''Luftwaffe'' launched its largest and most concentrated attack against London in the hope of drawing out the RAF into a battle of annihilation. Around 1,500 aircraft took part in the air battles which lasted until dusk.〔 The action was the climax of the Battle of Britain.〔Murray 1983, p. 52.〕 RAF Fighter Command defeated the German raids. The ''Luftwaffe'' formations were dispersed by a large cloud base and failed to inflict severe damage on the city of London. In the aftermath of the raid, Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. Having been defeated in daylight, the ''Luftwaffe'' turned its attention to The Blitz night campaign which lasted until May 1941.〔 The 15th of September, also known as Battle of Britain Day, is now an annual commemoration of the battle in the United Kingdom. In Canada, the commemoration takes place on the third Sunday of September. ==Background== The Battle of Britain began on 10 July 1940, when the first ''Luftwaffe'' bomber fleets began attacking convoys and Royal Navy forces in English ports and Channel. The results were positive and the Germans succeeded in forcing the British to abandon the channel convoy route and to redirect shipping to ports in north-eastern Britain. With this achieved the ''Luftwaffe'' began the second phase of its air offensive, attacking RAF airfields and supporting structures on the British mainland. The codename of the offensive was ''Unternehmen Adlerangriff'' ("Operation Eagle Attack"). On 12 August, it flew its first missions in this regard. On 13 August, the ''Luftwaffe'' carried out its largest attack to date on the mainland. Christened ''Adlertag'' ("Eagle Day"), the attack was a failure.〔Bungay 2000, p. 211.〕 Nevertheless, the raids continued, at great cost to both sides. The impact of the German offensive on RAF airfields and Fighter Command is disputed. Some historians believe that the attacks were not having much effect and that the Germans were losing the attrition battle,〔Bungay 2000, pp. 368–369.〕〔Price 1990, p. 7.〕 while others believe the RAF was faltering.〔Wood and Dempster 2003, pp. 212–213.〕 Either way, Hitler was dissatisfied with the progress being made. Prompted by an RAF raid on Berlin in late August 1940, he ordered the ''Luftwaffe'' to concentrate its attacks upon London. It was thought the move would draw RAF Fighter Command up into a large, decisive battle.〔Hooton 1997, p. 25.〕 Initially, the change in strategy caught the British off-guard. The first daylight attack of this type occurred on 7 September and caused extensive damage and civilian casualties. Some of shipping was damaged in the Thames Estuary and 1,600 civilians were killed or injured.〔Hooton 1997, p. 26.〕 Still, Hitler was critical of the ''Luftwaffe'' and its failure to destroy Fighter Command quickly. He dismissed over-optimistic reports from the ''Oberkommando der Luftwaffe'' (OKL or High Command of the Air Force), particularly the Chief of the ''Luftwaffe'' general staff Hans Jeschonnek, who asserted the RAF was on its last legs. Confident the RAF was nearly defeated, Jeschonnek requested terror bombing to be enacted as a final blow. Hitler refused, and only allowed attacks on industry, communications and public utility targets.〔Hooton 1997, p. 27.〕 Over the next few days, bad weather prevented more large attacks. On 9 and 11 September, only smaller raids were carried out. It gave Hugh Dowding AOC (Air Officer Commanding) Fighter Command, the chance to prepare and reinforce his forces.〔 The British, possibly through the use of Ultra intelligence, recognised the German change in strategy and duly prepared for further attacks on the capital. ULTRA's contribution to the preparations for 15 September is also disputed. The intelligence from ULTRA at this stage in the war tended to be fragmented. With the Germans launching attacks whenever there was clear weather, it would not have been difficult for RAF Fighter Command to have predicted an attack on 15 September, which was to be a clear day.〔Price 1990, pp. 136–138.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Battle of Britain DayBungay 2000, pp. 318, 334: "15 September was the day when some, not all, of the people that mattered realised what had been going on, and acted accordingly. This began a slow process of enlightenment. It is for that reason it had become known as the Battle of Britain Day".Mason 1969, p. 386.Price 1990, p. 128.Terraine 1985, p. 210. is the name given to the large-scale aerial battle that took place on 15 September 1940, during the Battle of Britain (German: ''Luftschlacht um England'' or ''Luftschlacht um Großbritannien'').In June 1940, Nazi Germany had conquered most of Western Europe and Scandinavia. At that time, the only major power standing in the way of a German-dominated Europe was the British Empire and the Commonwealth. After having several peace offers rejected by the British, Adolf Hitler ordered the ''Luftwaffe'' to destroy the Royal Air Force (RAF) in order to gain air superiority or air supremacy as a prelude to launching Operation Sea Lion, an amphibious assault by the ''Wehrmacht'' (German armed forces) onto the British mainland.In July 1940, the ''Luftwaffe'' started by closing the English Channel to merchant shipping. In August, Operation ''Adlerangriff'' (Eagle Attack) was launched against RAF airfields in southern England. By the first week of September, the ''Luftwaffe'' had not gained the results desired by Hitler. Frustrated, the Germans turned towards the strategic bombing of cities, an offensive which was aimed at British military and civil industries, but also civilian morale. The attacks began on 7 September 1940, but were to reach their daylight climax on 15 September.Murray 1983, p. 54.On Sunday, 15 September 1940, the ''Luftwaffe'' launched its largest and most concentrated attack against London in the hope of drawing out the RAF into a battle of annihilation. Around 1,500 aircraft took part in the air battles which lasted until dusk. The action was the climax of the Battle of Britain.Murray 1983, p. 52.RAF Fighter Command defeated the German raids. The ''Luftwaffe'' formations were dispersed by a large cloud base and failed to inflict severe damage on the city of London. In the aftermath of the raid, Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. Having been defeated in daylight, the ''Luftwaffe'' turned its attention to The Blitz night campaign which lasted until May 1941.The 15th of September, also known as Battle of Britain Day, is now an annual commemoration of the battle in the United Kingdom. In Canada, the commemoration takes place on the third Sunday of September.==Background==The Battle of Britain began on 10 July 1940, when the first ''Luftwaffe'' bomber fleets began attacking convoys and Royal Navy forces in English ports and Channel. The results were positive and the Germans succeeded in forcing the British to abandon the channel convoy route and to redirect shipping to ports in north-eastern Britain. With this achieved the ''Luftwaffe'' began the second phase of its air offensive, attacking RAF airfields and supporting structures on the British mainland. The codename of the offensive was ''Unternehmen Adlerangriff'' ("Operation Eagle Attack"). On 12 August, it flew its first missions in this regard. On 13 August, the ''Luftwaffe'' carried out its largest attack to date on the mainland. Christened ''Adlertag'' ("Eagle Day"), the attack was a failure.Bungay 2000, p. 211. Nevertheless, the raids continued, at great cost to both sides. The impact of the German offensive on RAF airfields and Fighter Command is disputed. Some historians believe that the attacks were not having much effect and that the Germans were losing the attrition battle,Bungay 2000, pp. 368–369.Price 1990, p. 7. while others believe the RAF was faltering.Wood and Dempster 2003, pp. 212–213.Either way, Hitler was dissatisfied with the progress being made. Prompted by an RAF raid on Berlin in late August 1940, he ordered the ''Luftwaffe'' to concentrate its attacks upon London. It was thought the move would draw RAF Fighter Command up into a large, decisive battle.Hooton 1997, p. 25. Initially, the change in strategy caught the British off-guard. The first daylight attack of this type occurred on 7 September and caused extensive damage and civilian casualties. Some of shipping was damaged in the Thames Estuary and 1,600 civilians were killed or injured.Hooton 1997, p. 26. Still, Hitler was critical of the ''Luftwaffe'' and its failure to destroy Fighter Command quickly. He dismissed over-optimistic reports from the ''Oberkommando der Luftwaffe'' (OKL or High Command of the Air Force), particularly the Chief of the ''Luftwaffe'' general staff Hans Jeschonnek, who asserted the RAF was on its last legs. Confident the RAF was nearly defeated, Jeschonnek requested terror bombing to be enacted as a final blow. Hitler refused, and only allowed attacks on industry, communications and public utility targets.Hooton 1997, p. 27.Over the next few days, bad weather prevented more large attacks. On 9 and 11 September, only smaller raids were carried out. It gave Hugh Dowding AOC (Air Officer Commanding) Fighter Command, the chance to prepare and reinforce his forces. The British, possibly through the use of Ultra intelligence, recognised the German change in strategy and duly prepared for further attacks on the capital. ULTRA's contribution to the preparations for 15 September is also disputed. The intelligence from ULTRA at this stage in the war tended to be fragmented. With the Germans launching attacks whenever there was clear weather, it would not have been difficult for RAF Fighter Command to have predicted an attack on 15 September, which was to be a clear day.Price 1990, pp. 136–138.」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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