The Battle of Britain is the name given to the air campaign waged by the German Air Force ( Luftwaffe ) against Britain during the summer and autumn of 1940 . The Battle of Britain ( German : Luftschlacht um England or Luftschlacht um GroÃ britannien , literally `` Air battle for England '' or `` Air battle for Great Britain '' ) is the name given to the Second World War air campaign waged by the German Air Force ( Luftwaffe ) against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940 .