Why We Fight: The Battle of Britain, Part 1

"Why We Fight: The Battle of Britain, Part 1" is the first segment of the fourth installment in Frank Capra’s acclaimed "Why We Fight" propaganda series, produced in 1943 for the U.S. War Department and directed by Captain Anthony Veiller. This documentary captures the critical period in 1940 when Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany following the fall of France. It vividly recounts the Luftwaffe’s relentless bombing campaign against British cities, detailing the aerial onslaught aimed at breaking British morale and infrastructure. The film contrasts this aggression with Britain’s resilient defense, led by the Royal Air Force (RAF), emphasizing how the outnumbered RAF pilots, flying Spitfires and Hurricanes, heroically repelled the Nazi air assaults. Through archival footage, animated maps crafted by Walt Disney Productions, and narration by Walter Huston, it illustrates the strategic importance of this battle in thwarting Hitler’s Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of Britain. This part sets the stage for the broader narrative of British endurance and the pivotal role of democratic resolve in the face of totalitarian aggression, crafted to educate and inspire American troops.