The Battle of Britain took place from July 1940 to May 1941 as Germany sought to gain air supremacy over Britain in preparation for Operation Sea Lion, a planned invasion of the island country. The battle was the first major campaign fought entirely by air forces and saw intense aerial battles between the German Luftwaffe and British Royal Air Force over southern England throughout the summer and fall of 1940, until the Germans were forced to abandon their plans for invasion due to heavy losses.