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Creating a Balanced Luftwaffe However, there was more to the Luftwaffe's development than merely as a tactical air force. For instance, Wever supported creating a viable strategic bombing capability in the Luftwaffe.[9] Field Marshall Erhard Milch, a leading architect of the Luftwaffe, in January 1934 drafted an organizational goal which included nearly one-quarter the Luftwaffe's strength in heavy bombers.[10] Milch's plans came after receiving a convincing memorandum authored by Dr. Robert Knauss that was well received by Hess and Hitler among others. Knauss' memorandum argued for using strategic bombers in place of the strong battle fleet deterrent sought prior to the First World War. Knauss argued that for the cost of two army divisions or two battleships the German economy contained enough capacity to field a 400 strong strategic bomber force. German bombers such as the Do-17 and He-111 were well equipped to hit Germany's closest potential rivals; Poland and France. Nevertheless, economic dislocations rippling across Germany later in the decade greatly reduced the assets allocated to creating an effective strategic bombing force. |
The Globe At War |
Was The Luftwaffe Really Intended To Be Little More Than an Adjunct to the German Army? |
Heinkel He-111 Medium Bomber - Picture Courtesy of Deutsches Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archive), Bild 101I-385-0586-16 |
In addition to developing strategic bombers Germany also developed other unique airpower applications. For instance, Germany stood alongside the Soviet Union as two of the world's earliest innovators in regards to fielding airborne delivered infantry. German planners quickly seized upon using parachute dropped infantry or glider borne infantry as a practical tool in the German arsenal. Both techniques did require suitable terrain and weather to be effective and glider borne or parachute dropped soldiers had severe limitations. In addition training airborne troops proved both expensive and time consuming; as an extraordinary skill level was required to not only master the basic tactics necessary to properly execute an airborne assault, but also overwhelm entrenched defenses with the necessary speed and surprise. Germany's work into developing strategic bombers and fielding an effective airborne infantry arm are just two examples of the effort put into constructing a well rounded Luftwaffe prior to the Second World War. |