Unit 4 Lesson 4: the Battle of Britain: a Document Analysis
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Unit 4 Lesson 4: The Battle of Britain: A Document Analysis The Battle of Britain was a key turning point in the early part of the Second World War. If Britain failed to hold, Nazi Germany would have controlled all of Europe and there would be not have been a safe place for the Allied armies to launch their offensive on Western Europe in 1944. It is because of the importance of this key point in World War II that you will be conducting a document analysis to determine why the British were able to hold back the German aerial attack thus thwarting the planned invasion of Britain. The Question: At the end of the Battle of Britain, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in one of his famous speeches, declared that, “The gratitude of every home in our island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” The “few” was the name given to the Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots who fought against the German Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. Using the background information and the following thirteen documents explain whether you believe Churchill’s statement was an accurate analysis of the defeat of Germany during the Battle of Britain. Be sure to indicate where you found the evidence to support your thesis. (Documents 1, 2, 3 etc. – cite as D1, D2, D3, etc.) Try to use as many of the documents as possible. The Response: Write a 1500-word formal essay that answers the above question. Your 1500-word essay needs to use the following format: • Size 12 Times New Roman font • Double spaced • Have numbered pages • First sentence is indented • Be written in formal essay style which means no personal pronouns such as “I” or “me.” • Provided below is a mockup of how I would like you to format the first page of your essay. Imagine the text box is a full sheet of paper Sally Smith CHY 4U Mr. Booker September 19th, 2018 Title of Essay __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Please note that the 1500-word count is an approximation. When a word count is given it is often done to provide the student with a sense of how much detail and elaboration they need to provide. In short it prevents students from writing too much or too little. The general rule is that the writer can be under or be over the word count by 10%. I don’t count words and use this to give you a sense of how much explanation you need to provide. Referencing The in-text referencing method that you will be using for this essay is a method that is sometimes encountered on document based exams in university. In these types of exams, documents are included in the exam but instead of using a formal referencing style, like the Chicago-Turabian Style that was used in your first essay of this course, an exam specific method is provided. For this assignment the method of referencing that you are expected to use is as follows: • Each Background Document has been assigned a number. When you cite from these background sources of information you will format your citation as follows (B1). The B stands for Background Documents and the number is which of the Background Documents you are citing. • The other category of information provided is referred to as Documents. When you cite from these documents you will format your citation as follows: (D1). The D stands for Document and the number is which of the Documents you are citing. In both above examples, the citation will be placed at the end of the sentence where the information was being used. Example: August 1940 was the costliest point of the Battle of Britain as one thousand and eleven aircraft were destroyed. (D3) Evaluation (worth 15% of the culminating unit mark) Criteria Mark Format • title page (title/student name/course code/teacher/date submitted) • proper referencing has been used in the essay • typography (neatly typed, 12 pitch Times New Roman/dbl. Spaced/ page 10 numbers/no corrections) Organization • introduction (clearly states the body paragraph arguments/clearly states thesis) • logical development of thesis (all body paragraphs support thesis 10 throughout essay) • conclusion (summarizes paper/restates thesis/meets minimum-maximum essay length requirements) Analysis • factual/historical accuracy • selection and application of data (no bias/hearsay evidence) • depth of analysis (goes beyond simple description/no 20 generalizations/analysis supported with evidence) • develop proof of thesis/force of argument or interpretation (no indications of uncertainty – “probably”) Writing Skills • paragraphing (sentences arranged in logically organized paragraphs) • sentence structure (no evidence of disjointed, awkward, fragmentary sentences; compound sentences developed) 10 • spelling and grammar (no personal pronouns/proofread/error free/proper punctuation) • writing style (ideas flow smoothly sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph) Due Date: This assignment is due on Wednesday January 23, 2019 @ 11:59 p.m. EST. Please submit in the appropriate section of the Unit 4 Dropbox. Background Documents (B): Background Document # 1 Battle of Britain: Timeline of Events 1940 Battle of Britain Hitler decreed the Battle of Britain with the command "The German Air August 1st Force is to overcome the British Air Force with all means at its disposal, and as soon as possible." "Eagle Day". The Luftwaffe launched its offensive against Britain, with August 13th 1,485 sorties. The Germans lost 45 'planes and the RAF 13. A day of intense attacks. The Luftwaffe launched a total of 1,790 sorties August 15th and lose 75 'planes. The RAF lost 34. The Germans established an 'operational area' around Britain. In it, any August 17th ship was to be sunk without warning. August 25th The RAF launched its first raid on Berlin. September 7th Some 300 German bombers, escorted by 600 fighters, attack London. The RAF claimed to have shot down 183 German 'planes - a figure later September 15th found to be inflated. September 17th Hitler postponed "Operation Sealion" until further notice. October 12th "Operation Sealion" postponed until 1941. Background Document # 2 Excerpt from Winston Churchill’s Speech to the House of Commons – August 20, 1940 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynq9Aikz36Q Background Document # 3 World War II in Colour: Britain at Bay (from 00:00 to 21:00) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdS10UfMNuA Background Document # 4 “The Battle of Britain” from The Second World War (John Keegan)(PDF) Documents (D): Document Document Description # 1 Fuhrer Directives # 16 & 17 2 Map of Battle of Britain 3 Total Losses of Aircraft in the Battle of Britain 4 Pilot Losses in the Battle of Britain 5 Production of Aircraft Factories during Battle of Britain 6 Principal Planes used by RAF and Luftwaffe/Reflection of Douglas Bader/Reflection of Alan Deer 7 Basil Embry ~ Reflection of the Battle of Britain 8 Winston Churchill Reflection of the Battle of Britain 9 Manchester Guardian ~ Article 10 RAF aces of Battle of Britain/A Pilot’s Reflection of the Battle of Britain 11 Civilians take shelter in Elephant and Castle Underground Station in south London during an air raid in November 1940. 12 Troops of 9th Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment, clear bomb damage in Hull sustained during the Blitz. 13 Picture of a young boy placing a Union flag into the remains of his home, which was destroyed in an air raid on London in 1940. Document 1 Adolf Hitler, Directive No. 16 (16th July, 1940) As England, despite her hopeless military situation, still shows no sign of willingness to come to terms, I have decided to prepare, and if necessary to carry out, a landing operation against her. The aim of this operation is to eliminate the English motherland as a base from which war against Germany can be continued and, if necessary, to occupy completely. Adolf Hitler, Directive No. 17 (1st August, 1940) The Luftwaffe will use all the forces at its disposal to destroy the British air force as quickly as possible. August 5th is the first day on which this intensified air war may begin, but the exact date is to be left to the Luftwaffe and will depend on how soon its preparations are complete, and on the weather situation. Document 2 Document 3 Total losses of aircraft in the Battle of Britain Month RAF Luftwaffe July (from10th) 90 165 August 399 612 September 416 554 October 182 321 Total 1087 1652 Document 4 Battle of Britain Pilot Losses – August Pilots Killed Pilots Missing Pilots Wounded Royal Air Force 139 7 110 Luftwaffe 193 302 69 Document 5 Production of aircraft factories during the Battle of Britain Month Great Britain Germany June 446 164 July 496 220 August 476 173 September 467 218 October 469 200 Total 2354 975 Document 6 Principal planes used by Great Britain Plane Type Maximum speed Weapons Spitfire Fighter 361 mph 8 x .303 machine guns Hurricane Fighter 328 mph 8 x .303 machine guns Principle planes used by Germany Plane Type Maximum speed Weapons Messerschmitt Fighter 357 mph 2 x 7.9 mm machine guns 109 1 x 20 mm cannon Messerschmitt Fighter* 349 mph 2 x 20 mm cannon 110 4 x 7.9 mm machine guns 1 x 7.9 mm free mounted machine gun Junkers 87 Bomber 217 mph 1 x 1,,102 lbs. bomb (Stuka) 4 x 110 lbs.