by sending RAF forces into large-scale air battles for the Luftwaffe to decimate. The RAF aircraft industry supported the losses and its pilots were replaced sufficiently to limit the RAF's decline in strength and deny the Germans victory. Conversely, the RAF were able to ensure the serviceability rates and aircrew numbers of the Luftwaffe declined in August–September. Having failed to defeat the RAF, the Luftwaffe adopted a different and clearer strategy of strategic bombing known as The Blitz. However, as with the campaign against the RAF, the types of targets differed radically and no sustained pressure was put under any one type of British target. Disputes among the OKL staff revolved more around tactics than strategy. This method condemned the offensive over Britain to failure before it had even begun. The end result of the air campaign against Britain in 1940 and 1941 was a decisive failure to end the war. As Hitler committed Germany to ever increasing military adventures, the Wehrmacht became increasingly overstretched and was unable to cope with a multi-front war. By 1944, the Allies were ready to launch Operation Overlord, the invasion of Western Europe. The Battle of Britain ensured that the Western Allies had a base from which to launch the campaign and that there would be a Western Allied presence on the battlefield to meet the Soviet Red Army in central Europe at the end of the war in May 1945. Notes References Citations Bibliography Addison, Paul and Jeremy Crang. The Burning Blue: A New History of the Battle of Britain. London: Pimlico. 2000. . Bishop, Ian. Battle of Britain: A Day-to-day Chronicle, 10 July – 31 October 1940. Quercus Publishing, London. 2009. Bond, Brian. France and Belgium, 1939–1940. Davis-Poynter, London. 1990 Bungay, Stephen. The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain. London: Aurum Press. 2000. (hardcover), 2002, (paperback) Collier, Richard. Eagle Day: The Battle of Britain, 6 August – 15 September 1940. J.M Dent and Sons Ltd. 1980. Dierich, Wolfgang. Kampfgeschwader "Edelweiss": The history of a German bomber unit, 1935–45. Allan; London. 1975. de Zeng, Henry L., Doug G. Stankey and Eddie J. Creek. Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933–1945: A Reference Source, Volume 1. Hersham, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Publishing. 2007. . de Zeng, Henry L., Doug G. Stankey and Eddie J. Creek. Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933–1945: A Reference Source, Volume 2. Hersham, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan