American Historical Ephemera & Early Photography Online

Watercolor, gouache, and charcoal on paper of a dramatic scene from the Battle of Britain (some minor staining). Visible area 24 1/4 x 37 in. Frame 26 x 38 in. Provenance: A Private Collection.

The Battle of Britain was a long-term military campaign fought between Great Britain and Nazi forces, and was the first to be fought entirely by air forces. There is disagreement between British and German historians as to the battle's duration, as the British consider the long-term bombing campaign carried out by Nazi forces known as The Blitz to be a part of the greater battle while Germans do not. Though Hitler expected the British to immediately agree to his terms for peace following his rapid conquest of France, the Battle of Britain turned out to be his first major defeat in western Europe and proved to be a turning point in the larger conflict.