Difference between revisions of "Luftwaffe"
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==Inter-war years== | ==Inter-war years== | ||
The [[Treaty of Versailles]] caused the total dismantling of the German Air Force. To maneuver around this the German authorities used [[Lufthansa]] (the civil airline) to train pilots and ground crews. It was not until the advent of the Nazi regime that an air force (Luftwaffe) was created. | The [[Treaty of Versailles]] caused the total dismantling of the German Air Force. To maneuver around this the German authorities used [[Lufthansa]] (the civil airline) to train pilots and ground crews. It was not until the advent of the Nazi regime that an air force (Luftwaffe) was created. | ||
| + | |||
| + | When the [[Spanish Civil War]] began, Germany sent military aid to the Nationalists, including the Condor Legion, a volunteer Luftwaffe unit. Many of the pilots in the Condor Legion went on to become famous in World War II. | ||
==Luftwaffe in World War II== | ==Luftwaffe in World War II== | ||
[[Image:LuftwaffeBadge.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Luftwaffe Nazi insignia]] | [[Image:LuftwaffeBadge.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Luftwaffe Nazi insignia]] | ||
| − | Early in the war the Luftwaffe played a very successful role in the destruction of enemy targets. | + | Early in the war the Luftwaffe played a very successful role in the destruction of enemy targets. The Luftwaffe was an integral part of the German tactic of '''Blitzkrieg''', with bombers acting as flying artillery in support of ground troops. The main German fighter plane at this time, the [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]] outclassed the Polish, French, and British planes up until the [[Battle of Britain]], giving the Luftwaffe air superiority through the battles of Poland and France. |
| − | During the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe lost about 1,000 planes and about 2,000 men. Because of its superior man power and size the Luftwaffe was set back but not knocked down by the smaller RAF. | + | During the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe lost about 1,000 planes and about 2,000 men. Because of its superior man power and size the Luftwaffe was set back but not knocked down by the smaller [[RAF]]. |
| − | + | The Lufwaffe had initial success in North Africa and the Soviet Union, but as the war ground on, it saw a steady decline. Despite the creation of technologically advanced jet fighters such as the [[Me-262]], at war's end the Luftwaffe had ceased to be an effective fighting force. | |
| + | |||
| + | The greatest ace of the Luftwaffe (and in all of aviation history) was Erich Hartmann, who scored 352 aerial victories, all on the Eastern Front. | ||
[[Image:Luftwaffe-logo-large.jpg|thumb|200px|left]] | [[Image:Luftwaffe-logo-large.jpg|thumb|200px|left]] | ||
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==Post war re-creation== | ==Post war re-creation== | ||
It was not until 1955 that the Luftwaffe was recreated in West Germany. Former members of the WW2 era Luftwaffe were brought together to plan the formation of a new air force. The creation of a post war Luftwaffe was the result of the heightened tensions of the [[Cold War]]. The [[German Democratic Republic|East German]] authorities created the '''Luftstreitkräfte''' of the NVA (National People's Army) during the same period. | It was not until 1955 that the Luftwaffe was recreated in West Germany. Former members of the WW2 era Luftwaffe were brought together to plan the formation of a new air force. The creation of a post war Luftwaffe was the result of the heightened tensions of the [[Cold War]]. The [[German Democratic Republic|East German]] authorities created the '''Luftstreitkräfte''' of the NVA (National People's Army) during the same period. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Further Reading== | ||
| + | *''Luftwaffe Aces: German Combat Pilots of World War II'', by Franz Kurowski, Stackpole Books, 2004 | ||
| + | *''Aces of the Reich: The Making of a Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot'', by Mike Spick, Greenhill Books, 2006 | ||
[[category:Germany]] | [[category:Germany]] | ||
[[category:World War II]] | [[category:World War II]] | ||
[[category:weaponry]] | [[category:weaponry]] | ||
Revision as of 23:36, September 25, 2008
Luftwaffe is German for air force (the Geman words Luft - air and Waffe - weapon). The modern Deutsche Luftwaffe is one of the three branches of the Bundeswehr, the German Federal Defense Force. The Luftwaffe is mainly equipped with US made or designed aircraft. In 2004 the German defense minister announced a planned reduction in the number of fighter aircraft and the future purchase of the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Beginnings
The German Air Force began as the Luftstreitkräfte (Air Force) of the Imperial German Army in 1912. During World War One the German Air Force was greatly increased in size and capacity. A famous fighter ace of this period was Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron.
Inter-war years
The Treaty of Versailles caused the total dismantling of the German Air Force. To maneuver around this the German authorities used Lufthansa (the civil airline) to train pilots and ground crews. It was not until the advent of the Nazi regime that an air force (Luftwaffe) was created.
When the Spanish Civil War began, Germany sent military aid to the Nationalists, including the Condor Legion, a volunteer Luftwaffe unit. Many of the pilots in the Condor Legion went on to become famous in World War II.
Luftwaffe in World War II
Early in the war the Luftwaffe played a very successful role in the destruction of enemy targets. The Luftwaffe was an integral part of the German tactic of Blitzkrieg, with bombers acting as flying artillery in support of ground troops. The main German fighter plane at this time, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 outclassed the Polish, French, and British planes up until the Battle of Britain, giving the Luftwaffe air superiority through the battles of Poland and France.
During the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe lost about 1,000 planes and about 2,000 men. Because of its superior man power and size the Luftwaffe was set back but not knocked down by the smaller RAF.
The Lufwaffe had initial success in North Africa and the Soviet Union, but as the war ground on, it saw a steady decline. Despite the creation of technologically advanced jet fighters such as the Me-262, at war's end the Luftwaffe had ceased to be an effective fighting force.
The greatest ace of the Luftwaffe (and in all of aviation history) was Erich Hartmann, who scored 352 aerial victories, all on the Eastern Front.
Post war re-creation
It was not until 1955 that the Luftwaffe was recreated in West Germany. Former members of the WW2 era Luftwaffe were brought together to plan the formation of a new air force. The creation of a post war Luftwaffe was the result of the heightened tensions of the Cold War. The East German authorities created the Luftstreitkräfte of the NVA (National People's Army) during the same period.
Further Reading
- Luftwaffe Aces: German Combat Pilots of World War II, by Franz Kurowski, Stackpole Books, 2004
- Aces of the Reich: The Making of a Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot, by Mike Spick, Greenhill Books, 2006