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Between 1933 and 1945, the organization of the Luftwaffe underwent several changes. Originally, the German military high command, for their air warfare forces, decided to use an organizational structure similar to the army and navy, treating the aviation branch as a strategic weapon of war.
The Luftwaffe was organized in a large and diverse structure led by Reich minister and supreme commander of the Air force (German: Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe) Hermann Göring. Through the Ministry of Aviation (Reichsluftfahrtministerium) Göring controlled all aspects of aviation in Germany, civilian and military alike.
On 1 September 1939 German forces invaded Poland, triggering World War II. The Luftwaffe begun the invasion by bombing the undefended town of Wieluń. The Luftwaffe was an instrumental component of the Blitzkrieg battle plan. The Luftwaffe assigned two airfleets to the campaign.
During World War II, German pilots claimed roughly 70,000 aerial victories, while over 75,000 Luftwaffe aircraft were destroyed or significantly damaged. Of these, nearly 40,000 were lost entirely. The Luftwaffe had only two commanders-in-chief throughout its history: Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring and later Generalfeldmarschall Robert Ritter ...
I Luftwaffe Field Corps, planned during the winter of 1942–1943 on the basis of the 13th Air Corps (German: XIII. Fliegerkorps), but never really established.; II Luftwaffe Field Corps, October 1942–1 November 1943: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th Luftwaffe Field Divisions (Alfred Schlemm)
In the Luftwaffe war time tables of organization, certain positions could be filled with personnel not possessing the required military training, if properly trained personnel were not available. Such Sonderführer (Specialist Leaders), should have a civilian education or training qualifying them for the technical side of the position to be ...
During operations on the Eastern and African fronts. Luftflotte 1 (Russian Northern front); Luftflotte 2 (North Africa, Southern Italy and Greece); Luftflotte 3 (France, the Netherlands and Belgium)
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.