A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : Battle of Britain: A Spotter on London Rooftop National Archives and Records Administration St. Paul's Cathedral in London Air Raid National Archives and Records Administration London Firemen Air Raid Exercise National Archives and Records Administration Children in East London After a Night Air Attack National Archives and Records Administration Berkshire Almshouse Residents After a Night Air Attack National Archives and Records Administration "What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward to broad sunlit lands...Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say 'This was their finest hour' " (Winston S. Churchill, June 18, 1940). Students could look at the photographs either on a computer or an overhead projection. They could choose to pretend to be one of the people depicted in the photographs and write a postcard to an American cousin, explaining their experience during the war. The teacher could choose a photograph from each of the categories above and ask students to look at the selection (either on a computer, overhead projection or a PowerPoint slideshow). The teacher can give the students a list of the categories and ask the students to match the picture to its category. The exercise encourages students to look carefully at photographs and to pick out clues that might indicate their origin. Students could use the photographs as the background to create a news magazine cover. They would have to add a magazine title and at least five short titles for articles that a reader would find inside the magazine. The teacher could either have students just create the cover, or also have them write the articles.

(b) describing the major battles and turning points of the war in North Africa, Europe, and the Pacific, including Midway, Stalingrad, the Normandy landing (D-Day), and Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb to force surrender of Japan;

Battle of Britain: A Spotter on London Rooftop
National Archives and Records Administration

St. Paul's Cathedral in London Air Raid
National Archives and Records Administration

London Firemen Air Raid Exercise
National Archives and Records Administration

Children in East London After a Night Air Attack
National Archives and Records Administration

Berkshire Almshouse Residents After a Night Air Attack
National Archives and Records Administration

Description: "What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward to broad sunlit lands...Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say 'This was their finest hour' " (Winston S. Churchill, June 18, 1940).

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestion

Students could look at the photographs either on a computer or an overhead projection. They could choose to pretend to be one of the people depicted in the photographs and write a postcard to an American cousin, explaining their experience during the war. The teacher could choose a photograph from each of the categories above and ask students to look at the selection (either on a computer, overhead projection or a PowerPoint slideshow). The teacher can give the students a list of the categories and ask the students to match the picture to its category. The exercise encourages students to look carefully at photographs and to pick out clues that might indicate their origin.

Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

Students could use the photographs as the background to create a news magazine cover. They would have to add a magazine title and at least five short titles for articles that a reader would find inside the magazine. The teacher could either have students just create the cover, or also have them write the articles.