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The following table summarizes the operational strength of the German air force, the Luftwaffe, by general category of aircraft. The period covered is World War II from 1940 to 1945, starting at part way through of the Battle of Britain which started on 10 July 1940 to near end of the war and the German unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945.
In the spring of 1940 the Luftwaffe assisted the Kriegsmarine and Heer in the invasion of Norway. Flying in reinforcements and winning air superiority, the Luftwaffe contributed decisively to the German conquest. [68] In May and June 1940, the Luftwaffe contributed to the unexpected German success in the Battle of France.
The Luftwaffe had been designed as a tactical air force to support ground forces on the battlefield and had operated this way during the continental campaigns with enormous success. In the Battle of Britain, however, the Luftwaffe was ordered to operate alone, as a strategic weapon.
Within the German air force leadership, the general opinion was that the Luftwaffe was a tactical rather than a strategic air force. Hence, in order to support the various army groups, the Luftwaffe was organized in similar fashion to the army. Its units had a flexible composition with sub-units being added or removed when necessary.
Unternehmen Paula (Undertaking or Operation Paula) [3] [4] is the German codename given for the Second World War Luftwaffe offensive operation to destroy the remaining units of the Armée de l'Air (ALA), or French Air Force during the Battle of France in 1940. On 10 May the German armed forces began their invasion of Western Europe.
The Kanalkampf (Channel Battle) was the German term for air operations by the Luftwaffe against the Royal Air Force (RAF) over the English Channel in July 1940, beginning the Battle of Britain during the Second World War. By 25 June, the Allies had been defeated in Western Europe and Scandinavia.
This list covers aircraft of the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War from 1939 to 1945. Numerical designations are largely within the RLM designation system.. The Luftwaffe officially existed from 1933–1945 but training had started in the 1920s, before the Nazi seizure of power, and many aircraft made in the inter-war years were used during World War II.
A list of Luftwaffe "Luftflotten" (Air Fleets) and their locations between 1939 and 1945. [1] Timeline ... 1940. Luftwaffe Order of Battle August 1940.