What if Battle of Britain had been LOST?

What would have happened if the RAF had lost the Battle of Britain? Fought during the summer and early autumn of 1940, it was one of the most crucial stages of the Second World War. But what if the RAF had been defeated? Would a German invasion have soon

The Battle of Britain was one of the most significant and dramatic events of the Second World War. Fought in the skies over Kent and southern England between the German Luftwaffe, which sought to secure air supremacy over the British Isles, as a necessary precursor to invasion, and the Royal Air Force.

The RAF was ultimately victorious and forced the Luftwaffe to change tactics, moving away from the targeting of airfields and aircraft factories and instead beginning the heavy bombardment of major cities, known as the Blitz.

Many see this as a key turning point in the war.

The Battle of Britain marked the first serious defeat Germany had suffered in the field and it ensured Britain would live on to take the fight to the Nazis in due course.

But what would have happened had the battle not resulted in a British victory?

Had the Luftwaffe achieved air supremacy over Britain, it would have allowed serious preparations for an invasion of the UK to proceed.

This would have been launched from sites throughout northern France and Belgium, with key beachheads established at four locations along the southern coast of England: between Folkestone and New Romney, between Rye and Hastings, between Bexhill and Eastbourne, and between Beachy Head and Brighton. German paratroopers would have landed north of Hythe to seize the aerodrome at Lympne and bridge crossings over the Royal Military Canal.

This would have been followed by vicious fighting throughout Kent and Sussex as German forces sought to capture the key ports of Folkestone and Newhaven, so that more troops and supplies could be brought ashore in support of the invasion.

Had they been able to seize these vital entry points, an increasingly large German force would have then made its way towards London while the British Army, supported by the Home Guard, fought to prevent them from doing so.

This would have been made all the more terrifying with the Luftwaffe having full command of the air and being able to attack ground targets at will. Key urban centres, such as Canterbury and Maidstone, would likely have suffered heavy bombardment and shelling, followed by intense street fighting.

Picture: Press Association Pictured after the war, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. It was rumoured Edward VIII may have been asked by Hitler to become King again