How was the Luftwaffe organized?

Luftwaffe was organized in a large and diverse structure led by Reich minister ( German: Reichsminister) and supreme commander of the Luftwaffe ( German: Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe) Hermann Göring.

What was the difference between the Luftgau and the Fliegerkorps?

Each Luftgau had 50 to 150 officers led by a Generalmajor. It was responsible for providing administrative and logistical structure as well as resources to each airfield. The Fliegerkorps on the other hand were in charge of the operation matters related to flying such as unit deployment, air traffic control, ordnance and maintenance.

Who was in charge of a German Luftflotte?

However a fighter leader ( German: Jagdfliegerführer) was in charge of all the fighter operations and reported to the Luftflotte Leader. Each Luftflotte was further divided into air districts ( German: Luftgaue) and flying Corps ( German: Fliegerkorps ). Each Luftgau had 50 to 150 officers led by a Generalmajor.

Who led the Luftwaffe in WW2?

The military branch was to be led by the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (Supreme H.Q. of Air Force). A chief would be leading the general staff. However, the separation of military from civil aviation was not complete and it was fragmented.

Operationally under the OKL, all Luftwaffe units were organized into Luftflotte, which were equivalent to an army group. Its size and number of subordinated units, was flexible and changed depending on need. The Luftflotten were created according to the geographical area.

What was the blitzkrieg strategy?

Blitzkrieg is a term used to describe a method of offensive warfare designed to strike a swift, focused blow at an enemy using mobile, maneuverable forces, including armored tanks and air support. Such an attack ideally leads to a quick victory, limiting the loss of soldiers and artillery.

What was the goal of the Luftwaffe?

Luftwaffe, (German: “air weapon”) component of the German armed forces tasked with the air defense of Germany and fulfillment of the country’s airpower commitments abroad. The Luftwaffe was formally created in 1935, but military aviation had existed in the shadows in Germany since the end of World War I.

What advantage did the RAF have over the Luftwaffe?

The RAF had several other advantages. First, its main fighter planes, the Hurricane and especially the Spitfire, were excellent machines, able to match the main German fighter, the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

What are the 3 components of the German blitzkrieg strategy?

Blitzkrieg: Components and Strategy There are several Blitzkreig components that make up the successful use of this strategy: the initial air attack, the armored advance, and the mechanized infantry.

What was wrong with the Luftwaffe?

First is that the Luftwaffe suffered more losses than it could sustain. This was most evidenced by the Battle of Britain. In that conflict, a Luftwaffe with a strength of about 5000 combat aircraft lost as many as 1800 combat planes over a four month period. That is unsustainable by any metric.

Is blitzkrieg still used?

For obvious reasons, we no longer call it blitzkrieg. In fact, the modern US version of blitzkrieg was developed by innovators like George S. Patton, Jr. Patton raised mechanized warfare to a level the Germans could only dream of.

Why was blitzkrieg so successful?

It was successful because of the use of a new instrument of war; the tank surprised the Germans. The successful German attack on the Russian Riga line was a surprise attack without a warning artillery preparation. The artillery gave close support to the infantry during its forward advance.

What made blitzkrieg so effective?

blitzkrieg, (German: “lightning war”) military tactic calculated to create psychological shock and resultant disorganization in enemy forces through the employment of surprise, speed, and superiority in matériel or firepower.

What did the blitzkrieg strategy depend on?

On what did the Germany military strategy of blitzkrieg depend? It depended on the element of surprise and speed.

Was the Luftwaffe any good?

When World War II began in 1939, the Luftwaffe was one of the most technologically advanced air forces in the world. During the Polish Campaign that triggered the war, it quickly established air superiority, and then air supremacy. It supported the German Army operations which ended the campaign in five weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahvh9Zo-R3w