From Dunkirk’s Evacuation to Britain’s Civilian Defense Efforts
About This Footage
Reel 1 of Battle of Britain (1943) sets the stage for Germany’s planned invasion of England following the fall of France. The film opens with striking footage of German troops marching through Paris under the Arc de Triomphe, followed by Hitler and his staff surveying the Eiffel Tower and gazing across the English Channel toward Britain. Maps trace the Nazi conquests of Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, and France, illustrating Hitler’s dominance in June 1940. Around a war map, Hitler and his generals prepare Operation Sea Lion (Unternehmen Seelöwe), the code name for the invasion of Britain, while German forces stockpile supplies for the three-phase attack. The reel also highlights the British evacuation at Dunkirk, showing the loss of vast quantities of military equipment. In response, the people of Britain mobilize on the home front: women launch barrage balloons, man anti-aircraft guns, operate railroads, ferry aircraft, carry dispatches, feed troops, and work tirelessly in war factories. This opening reel captures the peril Britain faced in 1940 and the resilience of its citizens as they braced for invasion.
Part of this Complete Film
Battle of Britain (1943) – RAF vs Luftwaffe in WWII Air Campaign