Any dispute about interpreting the BofB?

[tcolvin]

Thanks for the corrections.

Ruy's point is that even if Hitler had “won” the BofB, he would still have baulked at the risks of invasion. And that is surely correct. It's why Dizzy Allen in "Who Won the Battle of Britain?” said it was the RN that won it.


Hitler showed little interest in the BofB. He was certain that reality would force Britain to see sense and do a deal with him. Britain was bankrupt and lacked the resources to continue the war into 1941. For example, Britain deliberately ordered more aircraft than it could pay cash for on the calculation that US manufacturers would pressure FDR to cough up the money.


Hitler was correct in his analysis that Britain could not continue the war, but wrong in his conclusion. He failed to understand Churchill would give up everything, including British independence, in preference to dealing with him. And it was more than that. Churchill, the 'Yankee Marlborough', actually welcomed Britain's becoming a US dependent satellite, calling himself FDR's lieutenant, because Churchill dreamed it would lead to his pet project of the union of the English-speaking peoples. This is part of the myth of 1940 that remains unquestioned to this day, that Britain survived 1940 through US assistance (David Cameron actually said that).



When Kutscha thinks, “there is a sickness in British society these days”, then surely dependence on the USA could be its biggest cause. (The recent BBC2 programme, “The Special Relationship?” showed just where it gets Britain).


Nick says, “I know you love doing this "why everyone was wrong" thing”. That's not my motivation. The story of the Few brings tears to most eyes on September 20 because our fathers stood alone and beat off the aggressor, but it's worth remembering the consequence of meeting the cost of standing alone. It was the last thing Britain did as an independent nation. 20/20 hindsight shows there were other options that could have given Britain victory while maintaining its independence, just as today Britain has other options but never seems to consider them.


Tony