German World War 2 Aircraft
At the eve of the Second World War, the Luftwaffe was among the most powerful air force in the world. They were also the most technologically advanced, doctrinally superior and battle experienced air force. The Luftwaffe played a key role in the initial stunning success of the German Blitzkrieg across Europe.
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There were two important turning points which marked the beginning of the end of the Luftwaffe’s superiority. One was the narrow defeat by the RAF during the Battle of Britain and the second was the turning point on the Eastern Front campaign during the Russian winter of 1942. As the Soviets reeled from their devastating initial losses, the Red Army recovered and began taking on the offensive. From 1943 onwards, combined with the attrition war inflicted by constant Allied bombings, the Luftwaffe had lost the ability to resist the might of the combined Allied Air Forces. By 1944, the Luftwaffe had practically disappeared from the skies, leaving the German Army to fight without air support.
Nevertheless, the Luftwaffe fielded many pioneering war strategies in combined arms as well as revolutionary aircraft during the war. Among them was the formation of a separate paratrooper division (Falshirmjager), the dive bomber in a tank busting role, jet powered flight and the world’s first ballistic missile. The greatest failure in terms of technological prowess was probably the lack of suitable long-range bombers and capable fighter escorts leaving the Luftwaffe unable to conduct any meaningful strategic bombing throughout the war.
After the war, German aeronautical expertise continued to make significant contribution to swept wing aircraft design, jet propulsion and rocketry.
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