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'''Luftwaffe''' (''Luft - air'' and ''Waffe - weapon'') is the German air force (see [[World War II in the Air]]).

'''Luftwaffe''' (''Luft - air'' and ''Waffe - weapon'') is the German air force (see [[World War II in the Air]]).

Its most famous period by far was during [[World War II]]. The '''Luftwaffe''' was originally the pride of [[Nazi Germany]] under its bombastic leader [[Hermann Goering]]. It learned new combat techniques in the Spanish Civil War and appealed to Hitler as the decisive strategic weapon he needed. Its high technology and rapid growth led to exaggerated fears in the 1930s that cowed the British and French into appeasement. In the World War II the Luftwaffe performed well in 1939-41, but was poorly coordinated with overall German strategy, and never ramped up to the size and scope needed in a total war.  It never built large bombers, was deficient in radar, and could not deal with the faster, more agile [[P-51]] Mustang pursuit planes after 1943. The Luftwaffe was narrowly defeated in the Battle of Britain (1940), and reached maximum size of 1.9 million airmen in 1942. Grueling operations wasted it away on the eastern front after 1942.  It lost most of its remaining fighter planes to Mustangs in 1944 while trying to defend against massive American and British air raids.  

Its most famous period by far was during [[World War II]]. The '''Luftwaffe''' was originally the pride of [[Nazi Germany]] under its bombastic leader [[Hermann Goering]]. It learned new combat techniques in the Spanish Civil War and appealed to Hitler as the decisive strategic weapon he needed. Its high technology and rapid growth led to exaggerated fears in the 1930s that cowed the British and French into appeasement. In the World War II the Luftwaffe performed well in 1939–41, but was poorly coordinated with overall German strategy, and never ramped up to the size and scope needed in a total war.  It never built large bombers, was deficient in radar, and could not deal with the faster, more agile [[P-51]] Mustang pursuit planes after 1943. The Luftwaffe was narrowly defeated in the Battle of Britain (1940), and reached maximum size of 1.9 million airmen in 1942. Grueling operations wasted it away on the eastern front after 1942.  It lost most of its remaining fighter planes to Mustangs in 1944 while trying to defend against massive American and British air raids.  

When its gasoline supply ran dry in 1944, it was reduced to anti-aircraft flak roles, and many of its men were sent to infantry units.  By 1944 it operated 39,000 flak batteries staffed with a million people in uniform, both men and women.

When its gasoline supply ran dry in 1944, it was reduced to anti-aircraft flak roles, and many of its men were sent to infantry units.  By 1944 it operated 39,000 flak batteries staffed with a million people in uniform, both men and women.

*1945...1,000,000

*1945...1,000,000

In order to release able-bodied men serving in home-based flak units for combat duty, 100,000 women auxiliaries (Helferinnen) were called up in 1944-45 to serve in the air warning service, and in the telephone and teletype departments. There were no women pilots.

In order to release able-bodied men serving in home-based flak units for combat duty, 100,000 women auxiliaries (Helferinnen) were called up in 1944–45 to serve in the air warning service, and in the telephone and teletype departments. There were no women pilots.

===Organization===

===Organization===

==War in the West==

==War in the West==

The Luftwaffe used its aircraft in a strategic manner in the early campaigns in Poland and France in 1939-40.  

The Luftwaffe used its aircraft in a strategic manner in the early campaigns in Poland and France in 1939–40.  

==Battle of Britain: 1940==

==Battle of Britain: 1940==

*  Mitcham, Samuel W. ''Men of the Luftwaffe.'' (1988). 356 pp.

*  Mitcham, Samuel W. ''Men of the Luftwaffe.'' (1988). 356 pp.

* Murray, Williamson. ''Luftwaffe: Strategy for Defeat, 1933-1945'' (1985), the standard scholarly history [https://www.amazon.com/Luftwaffe-1933-45-Strategy-Brasseys-Commemorative/dp/1574881256/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214439105&sr=8-9 excerpt and text search]

* Murray, Williamson. ''Luftwaffe: Strategy for Defeat, 1933-1945'' (1985), the standard scholarly history [https://www.amazon.com/Luftwaffe-1933-45-Strategy-Brasseys-Commemorative/dp/1574881256/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214439105&sr=8-9 excerpt and text search]

* Overy, R. J. "Hitler and Air Strategy," ''Journal of Contemporary History'' 1980 15(3): 405-421. Issn: 0022-0094 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/260411 in  Jstor]

* Overy, R. J. "Hitler and Air Strategy," ''Journal of Contemporary History'' 1980 15(3): 405–421. Issn: 0022-0094 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/260411 in  Jstor]

* Overy, Richard  J. ''The Air War, 1939-1945''  (1981), sophisticated interpretation of all major powers

* Overy, Richard  J. ''The Air War, 1939-1945''  (1981), sophisticated interpretation of all major powers

*  Overy, Richard. ''Goering'' (1984) [https://www.amazon.com/Goering-Richard-Overy/dp/1842120484/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214439147&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

*  Overy, Richard. ''Goering'' (1984) [https://www.amazon.com/Goering-Richard-Overy/dp/1842120484/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214439147&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Proctor, Raymond L. ''Hitler's Luftwaffe in the Spanish Civil War.'' (1983). 289 pp.  

* Proctor, Raymond L. ''Hitler's Luftwaffe in the Spanish Civil War.'' (1983). 289 pp.  

* Spick, Mike. ''Luftwaffe Fighter Aces: the Jagdflieger and their Combat Tactics and Techniques'' (1996);  

* Spick, Mike. ''Luftwaffe Fighter Aces: the Jagdflieger and their Combat Tactics and Techniques'' (1996);  

* Wark, Wesley K. "British Intelligence on the German Air Force and Aircraft Industry, 1933-1939." ''Historical Journal'' 1982 25(3): 627-648. Issn: 0018-246x [http://www.jstor.org/pss/2638748 in Jstor ]  

* Wark, Wesley K. "British Intelligence on the German Air Force and Aircraft Industry, 1933-1939." ''Historical Journal'' 1982 25(3): 627–648. Issn: 0018-246x [http://www.jstor.org/pss/2638748 in Jstor ]  

* Westermann, Edward B.  ''Flak: German Anti-Aircraft Defenses, 1914-1945'' (2005); [https://www.amazon.com/Flak-German-Anti-Aircraft-Defenses-1914-1945/dp/0700614206/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214454891&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Westermann, Edward B.  ''Flak: German Anti-Aircraft Defenses, 1914-1945'' (2005); [https://www.amazon.com/Flak-German-Anti-Aircraft-Defenses-1914-1945/dp/0700614206/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214454891&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

*  Zeitlin, Jonathan. "Flexibility and Mass Production at War: Aircraft Manufacture in Britain, the United States, and Germany, 1939-1945," ''Technology and Culture,''  Vol. 36, No. 1 (Jan., 1995), pp. 46–79 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3106341 in JSTOR]

*  Zeitlin, Jonathan. "Flexibility and Mass Production at War: Aircraft Manufacture in Britain, the United States, and Germany, 1939-1945," ''Technology and Culture,''  Vol. 36, No. 1 (Jan., 1995), pp. 46–79 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3106341 in JSTOR]

===Primary Sources===

===Primary Sources===

*  Galland, Adolf. ''The First and the Last: German Fighter Forces in World War II'' (1955)

*  Galland, Adolf. ''The First and the Last: German Fighter Forces in World War II'' (1955)

*  Orange, Vincent. "The German Air Force Is Already 'The Most Powerful in Europe': Two Royal Air Force Officers Report on a Visit to Germany, 6–15 October 1936." ''Journal of Military History'' 2006 70(4): 1011-1028. Issn: 0899-3718 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]

*  Orange, Vincent. "The German Air Force Is Already 'The Most Powerful in Europe': Two Royal Air Force Officers Report on a Visit to Germany, 6–15 October 1936." ''Journal of Military History'' 2006 70(4): 1011–1028. Issn: 0899-3718 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]

==Online resources==

==Online resources==