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The Hardest Day〔Bungay 2000, p. 231.〕 was the name of a Second World War air battle fought during the Battle of Britain on 18 August 1940 between the German ''Luftwaffe'' and British Royal Air Force (RAF). By June 1940, the Allies had been defeated in Western Europe and Scandinavia. Rather than come to terms with Germany, Britain rejected all overtures for a negotiated peace, resulting in Adolf Hitler issuing the German armed forces (''Wehrmacht'') Directive No. 16 ordering the invasion of the United Kingdom.〔Trevor-Roper 2004, pp. 74–79.〕 The invasion of the United Kingdom was codenamed Operation Sea Lion (''Unternehmen Seelöwe''). However, before this could be carried out, air supremacy or air superiority was required. The ''Luftwaffe'' had to destroy the RAF in order to prevent it from attacking the invasion fleet or providing protection to the Royal Navy's Home Fleet that would attempt to intercept a landing by sea. Hitler ordered the ''Luftwaffe's'' commander-in-chief, ''Reichsmarschall'' Hermann Göring and the ''Oberkommando der Luftwaffe'' (High Command of the Air Force) to prepare for this task. The primary target was RAF Fighter Command. In July 1940, the Luftwaffe began military operations to destroy the RAF. Throughout July and early August, the Germans targeted convoys in the English Channel and occasionally RAF airfields. On 13 August, a major German effort, known as ''Adlertag'' (Eagle Day), was made against RAF airfields, but failed. The failure did not deter the Germans from persisting with air raids against the RAF or its infrastructure. On 18 August 1940, the Luftwaffe made an all-out effort to severely damage Fighter Command. The air battles that took place on this day were amongst the largest aerial engagements in history at that time. Both sides suffered very heavy losses. The British outperformed the Luftwaffe in the air, achieving a favourable ratio of 2:1.〔 However, a number of RAF aircraft, including around six to eight fighters, were caught and destroyed on the ground, equalling the total losses of both sides. Further large aerial battles took place, with heavy casualties being suffered, but both sides lost more aircraft combined on this day than at any other point during the campaign, including Battle of Britain Day, generally considered the climax of the campaign. For this reason, the air battles of the 18 August 1940 became known as "The Hardest Day". ==Background== The ''Luftwaffe'' was detailed to destroy Fighter Command before the planned invasion of Britain could take place. The ''OKL'' hoped that the destruction of the British fighter force would force the British to come to terms by air power alone and the very risky Operation Sea Lion would not be needed. The enormous numerical superiority of British naval forces over their German opponents made a crossing of the Channel very dangerous, even with air superiority. Furthermore, the aircraft losses of the spring campaign had weakened the ''Luftwaffe'' before the Battle of Britain, and it could not begin its campaign against Fighter Command immediately. It was forced to wait until it had reached acceptable levels before a main assault against the RAF could be made in August 1940.〔Murray 1983, p. 44.〕 Until the ''Luftwaffe'' was ready to begin operations over the mainland, the first phase of the German air offensive targeted British shipping in the Channel. The raids rarely involved attacks against RAF airfields inland, but encouraged RAF units to engage in battle by attacking British Channel convoys. These operations lasted from 10 July to 8 August 1940.〔James 2000, p. 17.〕 The attacks against shipping were not very successful, and only 24,500 GRT was sunk. Mine laying from aircraft had proved more profitable, sinking 38,000 tons.〔James 2000, p. 43.〕 The impact on Fighter Command was minimal. It had lost 74 fighter pilots killed or missing and 48 wounded in July, but British strength rose to 1,429 by 3 August, leaving it only short of 124 pilots.〔James 2000, p. 45.〕 Still, the attacks 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 in Britain.〔Hooton 2010, p. 77.〕 The first major raid inland and against RAF airfields came on 12 August, and the Luftwaffe quickly escalated its offensive.〔James 2000, pp. 63–64, 70.〕 The Germans did not achieve a degree of success commensurate with their exertions on this date. Nevertheless, in the belief they were having considerable effect on Fighter Command, they prepared to launch their all-out assault on the RAF the following day.〔James 2000, p. 71.〕 By 13 August, German air strength had reached acceptable levels. After bringing its serviceable rates up, the ''Luftwaffe'' carried out heavy attacks under the codename ''Adlertag'' (or Eagle Day), with 71 per cent of its bomber force, 85 per cent of its Bf 109 fighter units, and 83 per cent of its Bf 110 heavy fighter/fighter-bomber units operational.〔Murray 1983, p. 51.〕 The day went badly for the Germans, who failed to impair Fighter Command and its bases or command and control system. This was due in large part to poor intelligence, which failed to identify Fighter Command airfields and distinguish them from those of Bomber and Coastal Commands.〔Holland 2007, pp. 453, 454.〕 Still, the Germans pursued their strategy against Fighter Command on 15 August, suffering 76 losses.〔Ray 2009, p. 73.〕 Undeterred, they prepared to make another large-scale attack on RAF bases on 18 August. The month of August witnessed an escalation in air combat, as the Germans made a concentrated effort against Fighter Command.〔Holland 2007, p. 478.〕 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 Hardest DayBungay 2000, p. 231. was the name of a Second World War air battle fought during the Battle of Britain on 18 August 1940 between the German ''Luftwaffe'' and British Royal Air Force (RAF).By June 1940, the Allies had been defeated in Western Europe and Scandinavia. Rather than come to terms with Germany, Britain rejected all overtures for a negotiated peace, resulting in Adolf Hitler issuing the German armed forces (''Wehrmacht'') Directive No. 16 ordering the invasion of the United Kingdom.Trevor-Roper 2004, pp. 74–79.The invasion of the United Kingdom was codenamed Operation Sea Lion (''Unternehmen Seelöwe''). However, before this could be carried out, air supremacy or air superiority was required. The ''Luftwaffe'' had to destroy the RAF in order to prevent it from attacking the invasion fleet or providing protection to the Royal Navy's Home Fleet that would attempt to intercept a landing by sea. Hitler ordered the ''Luftwaffe's'' commander-in-chief, ''Reichsmarschall'' Hermann Göring and the ''Oberkommando der Luftwaffe'' (High Command of the Air Force) to prepare for this task.The primary target was RAF Fighter Command. In July 1940, the Luftwaffe began military operations to destroy the RAF. Throughout July and early August, the Germans targeted convoys in the English Channel and occasionally RAF airfields. On 13 August, a major German effort, known as ''Adlertag'' (Eagle Day), was made against RAF airfields, but failed. The failure did not deter the Germans from persisting with air raids against the RAF or its infrastructure.On 18 August 1940, the Luftwaffe made an all-out effort to severely damage Fighter Command. The air battles that took place on this day were amongst the largest aerial engagements in history at that time. Both sides suffered very heavy losses. The British outperformed the Luftwaffe in the air, achieving a favourable ratio of 2:1. However, a number of RAF aircraft, including around six to eight fighters, were caught and destroyed on the ground, equalling the total losses of both sides. Further large aerial battles took place, with heavy casualties being suffered, but both sides lost more aircraft combined on this day than at any other point during the campaign, including Battle of Britain Day, generally considered the climax of the campaign. For this reason, the air battles of the 18 August 1940 became known as "The Hardest Day".==Background==The ''Luftwaffe'' was detailed to destroy Fighter Command before the planned invasion of Britain could take place. The ''OKL'' hoped that the destruction of the British fighter force would force the British to come to terms by air power alone and the very risky Operation Sea Lion would not be needed. The enormous numerical superiority of British naval forces over their German opponents made a crossing of the Channel very dangerous, even with air superiority. Furthermore, the aircraft losses of the spring campaign had weakened the ''Luftwaffe'' before the Battle of Britain, and it could not begin its campaign against Fighter Command immediately. It was forced to wait until it had reached acceptable levels before a main assault against the RAF could be made in August 1940.Murray 1983, p. 44.Until the ''Luftwaffe'' was ready to begin operations over the mainland, the first phase of the German air offensive targeted British shipping in the Channel. The raids rarely involved attacks against RAF airfields inland, but encouraged RAF units to engage in battle by attacking British Channel convoys. These operations lasted from 10 July to 8 August 1940.James 2000, p. 17. The attacks against shipping were not very successful, and only 24,500 GRT was sunk. Mine laying from aircraft had proved more profitable, sinking 38,000 tons.James 2000, p. 43. The impact on Fighter Command was minimal. It had lost 74 fighter pilots killed or missing and 48 wounded in July, but British strength rose to 1,429 by 3 August, leaving it only short of 124 pilots.James 2000, p. 45. Still, the attacks 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 in Britain.Hooton 2010, p. 77.The first major raid inland and against RAF airfields came on 12 August, and the Luftwaffe quickly escalated its offensive.James 2000, pp. 63–64, 70. The Germans did not achieve a degree of success commensurate with their exertions on this date. Nevertheless, in the belief they were having considerable effect on Fighter Command, they prepared to launch their all-out assault on the RAF the following day.James 2000, p. 71. By 13 August, German air strength had reached acceptable levels. After bringing its serviceable rates up, the ''Luftwaffe'' carried out heavy attacks under the codename ''Adlertag'' (or Eagle Day), with 71 per cent of its bomber force, 85 per cent of its Bf 109 fighter units, and 83 per cent of its Bf 110 heavy fighter/fighter-bomber units operational.Murray 1983, p. 51. The day went badly for the Germans, who failed to impair Fighter Command and its bases or command and control system. This was due in large part to poor intelligence, which failed to identify Fighter Command airfields and distinguish them from those of Bomber and Coastal Commands.Holland 2007, pp. 453, 454. Still, the Germans pursued their strategy against Fighter Command on 15 August, suffering 76 losses.Ray 2009, p. 73. Undeterred, they prepared to make another large-scale attack on RAF bases on 18 August. The month of August witnessed an escalation in air combat, as the Germans made a concentrated effort against Fighter Command.Holland 2007, p. 478.」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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