As Germany prepared Operation Barbarossa, Adolf Hitler remained frustrated that Britain had not been forced out of the war. Because he needed men, tanks, and aircraft for the coming invasion of Russia, he put any immediate invasion of Britain aside and instead relied on air and naval attacks to pressure Britain into peace or at least reduce its ability to interfere with his eastern campaign.

On February 6, Hitler issued Directive No. 23, ordering the Luftwaffe and navy to intensify attacks on Britain. The directive had two purposes: to try to break Winston Churchill’s government and, if that failed, to weaken British forces while also creating the impression that a German invasion of Britain might still be imminent. That deception would force Churchill to keep resources tied to home defense rather than use them elsewhere.

Hermann Göring was dismayed by Hitler’s decision to attack eastward before Britain had been defeated. Göring argued that the Luftwaffe was close to forcing Britain’s collapse and warned, using Hitler’s own earlier ideas, against the danger of a two-front war. Hitler dismissed the objection by promising that the Russian campaign would be brief and that afterward the Luftwaffe would receive far greater resources, so Göring accepted the plan and moved to make himself essential to Barbarossa.

Göring then gathered planners at the Gatow Air Academy to begin detailed Luftwaffe preparations for the invasion of Russia under strict secrecy. At the same time, in line with Directive No. 23, the Luftwaffe increased its attacks on Britain whenever winter weather allowed. German pilots met little resistance at night, confirming that Britain still had not solved the problem of intercepting night raiders effectively.