Luftwaffe Organization

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The German Luftwaffe (air force) of World War II had a distinct organization and command structure.

1 Luftwaffe organization
2 See also
3 External links
4 References

[edit] Luftwaffe organization

[edit] At the strategic level - Oberkommando der Luftwaffe

The top levels of Luftwaffe control resided with the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM - Air Ministry) and the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL - Luftwaffe high command). These institutions were responsible for the direction of research, production and overall maintenance of aircraft. They were directly answerable to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW - German forces high command). The OKL was at the same organizational level as the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH; "army high command") and Oberkommando der Marine (OKM' "naval high command").

The OKL was headed by Hermann Göring for most of the war, and was responsible for the overall war effort and for the amount of resources sent to a particular region.

The organization of the Luftwaffe for a particular Geschwader (JG 52 in this instance) is shown in the chart on the right. This chart shows the organisation of JG 52 at the time of the Battle of Britain, in mid-1940.

[edit] At the operational level - Luftflotte and Fliegerkorps

On the operational level the Luftwaffe was divided into Luftflotten ("air fleets"). These Air fleets were self-contained units that were equipped with all types of aircraft, supply elements, maintenance staff, administration and legal departments to operate on their own. Each Air fleet had responsibilities for a particular region.

At the start of the war Luftwaffe had four Luftflotten. These had responsibilities for roughly a quarter of Germany each. As the war progressed more Air fleets were created as the areas under German command grew. In 1940, Luftflotte 5 was created to direct operations in Norway and Denmark. Other Luftflotten were created as necessary. (See German Air Fleets in World War II for a more detailed breakdown of the various Luftflotten.)

The Luftflotten would contain several Fliegerkorps with specialized tasks. Each Fliegerkorps would have attached to it a number of units. Usually several Geschwader, but also independent Staffeln and Kampfgruppen.

[edit] At the tactical level - Geschwader, Gruppe and Staffel

[edit] Geschwader

Each Fliegerkorps had a number of Geschwader units. These units would be roughly equal a USAAF 'Wing' or RAF Group (air force unit). Each Geschwader had about 100-120 aircraft under its command, although these numbers tended to fluctuate greatly. Each Geschwader had a particular task, and would mostly have aircraft that served in that task, although some specialised aircraft were often attached. A Geschwader was commanded by a Geschwaderkommodore (usually of Major, Oberstleutnant (Lt. Colonel) or Oberst(Colonel) rank.) Other "staff" officers within the unit with administrative duties included an Geschwader Adjudant, Technical Officer, and Operations officer. These Officers were usually (though not always) experienced aircrew/pilots still flying on operations. Other specialist staff may have included Navigation, Signals and Intelligence personnel.A Stab Schwarm, or HQ flight, was attached to each Geschwader.

[edit] Types of Geschwader

Jagdgeschwader - JG was a fighter Geschwader, and would have capabilities in fighter, or fighter-bomber roles, and would typically be equipped with Bf 109 or Fw 190 aircraft.
Nachtjagdgeschwader - NJG the equivalent night fighter Geschwader. Typically equipped with heavy fighters like the Bf 110 or Ju 88, equipped with for instance the Lichtenstein radar.
Zerstörergeschwader - ZG Zerstörer is literally translated as "destroyer"; the English equivalent is heavy fighter. These units were usually equipped with Bf 110 fighters.
Schlachtgeschwader - SG Schlacht is literally "attack". Any such unit were a fighter-bomber/ground attack/close air support Geschwader. Typically equipped with the Ju 87 Stuka.
Sturzkampfgeschwader - StG - dive bomber Geschwader. Stuka Geschwader initially had this designation, but would eventually be renamed to fall under the Schlachtgeschwader name.
Kampfgeschwader - KG was a bomber Geschwader, with typical aircraft being the He 111 or the Ju 88.
Lehrgeschwader - LG was a Geschwader initially set up to test new equipment under operational conditions and try new tactics. These could fly several types of different aircraft.
Transportgeschwader - TG was a transport Geschwader, with typical aircraft being the Ju 52 or the Me 232.

As the war progressed, the various parts of each numbered Geschwader operated separately and often on totally different fronts or theatres of war.

[edit] Gruppe

Each Geschwader was divided into several Gruppen, usually three. These Gruppen were roughly equivalent to USAAF groups, or RAF wings. A Gruppe would be designated with a Roman numeral. For example, the first Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 would be I/JG 52. Each Gruppe was commanded by a Gruppenkommandeur (usually of Hauptmann (Captain/Major) rank), which had a Stabsschwarm ("headquarters flight") with which he flew.

In practice the Gruppe became the usual autonomous operational tactical combat unit within the Luftwaffe. As with the Geschwader, the "gruppe" included staff officers tasked with additional administrative duties; usually an adjutant, technical officer a medical Officer and operations officer. These officers were usually but not always experienced aircrew/pilots appointed from the operational cadre within the unit. Each Gruppe comprised of three Staffeln, although by the 1943-44 a fourth Staffel had been usually added. This could make the theoretical strength of the unit some 65-70 aircraft, though by the late war years operational strength was much lower. Personnel strength varied between 35-150 aircrew, and 300-500 ground crew.

During the mid war years a fourth Gruppe was introduced in many Geschwaders, initially as an operational training formations for new aircrew. However, these Gruppes soon became additional front-line units, performing the same tasks as their sister formations.

[edit] Staffel

Under each Gruppe were several Staffeln, containing 10-16 aircraft each, and roughly equivalent to squadrons. Each Staffel would be designated with a number, so the third Staffel in JG 52 would be 3./JG 52. A Staffel was commanded by a Staffelkapitän (usually of Oberleutnant or Hauptmann rank). At Staffel level combat formations became usually led by the most experienced or successful pilot, not necessarily by the Staffelkapitän during the last two years of WW2. This was particularly true in the Jagdgeschwaders. The Staffel usually had a few vehicles allocated to it, and a mobile repair shop to carry out minor repairs. The number of ground personnel varied depending on its type, with about 150 for a fighter unit, to 80 for a bomber staffel. (The latter was less because much of its servicing functions were carried out by attached units provided by the local Luftgau command.)

[edit] Schwarm and Rotte

Each Staffel was divided into the Schwarm (or flight) of four aircraft. Each Schwarm was divided into two Rotten which was a pair of aircraft. The Rotte was the basic fighting unit, with a leader and a wingman. The basic unit of bombers was a Kette of three aircraft flying in a "v" formation.

[edit] Finger four formation and tactical flexibility

The Schwarm of a fighter-staffel would employ the "finger four" formation, a formation developed during the Spanish Civil War by among others Werner Mölders. This formation, where each aircraft flew in a position roughly equal to the fingers of an open hand (thus the name) offered a much more flexible solution then the rigorous three-aircraft 'vic'-formation the RAF used at the start of the war. In the Schwarm the aircraft had plenty of space to maneuver, so they were free to scan the horizon for enemy aircraft rather than keeping a rigid formation.

The Rotte fighting pair also added to the flexibility, as a Schwarm could break up into the two Rotte pairs without losing its fighting ability. The Rottenführer would attack enemy aircraft, leaving his wingman to scan for threats and protect him while he engaged the enemy.

This flexibility became apparent to the RAF during the Battle of Britain, and both the RAF and USAAF fighter units would use a similar formation throughout the war.