The Battle of Britain, which began 75 years ago this month, was the single most important engagement of WorldWar Ⅱ. If the British had lost, the consequences would have been catastrophic. 1. At best, Britain would have had to seek a peace settlement with Germany on Hitler's terms, which would have been severe. Winston Churchill would most likely have been replaced as Prime Minister by the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, or former Prime Minister David Lloyd George. Both of them thought negotiation with Germany was inevitable. 2. Germany would have consolidated its domination of Europe. Had Britain been unable to continue the fight, the United States would not likely have entered the European war. Even if it did, there would have been no bases in Britain from which to conduct a bombing offensive against Germany or launch a D-Day invasion of Europe.
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