‘The Strategic, Moral and Conceptual Significance of Victory in the Battle of Britain

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Churchill's memorable phrase, 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few', encapsulates the standard perception of the strategic significance of the 'Spitfire Summer' of 1940. However, perhaps inevitably with the passage of time, this perception is often clouded by hyperbole and inaccuracy, leading revisionists to challenge the traditional story of the Battle of Britain, positing an imminent German invasion and a united Britain as a myth. Nevertheless, Overy's assertion hints at the iconic status that the Battle enjoys in the psyche of the British Nation. The achievements of the 'Few' had profound geo-political and moral implications at the time and still exert a powerful grip today, shaping key elements of our sense of British national identity - for good and bad. Why and how should this be so? The purpose of this article is neither to provide a historical narrative of the course of the Battle of Britain, nor to examine the reasons for British victory, both of which of have beaten a deservedly well- trodden analytical path. Instead, this article will focus holistically upon the significance of the victory in 3 areas.

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