Changes

==Inter-war years==

==Inter-war years==

The [[Treaty of Versailles]] caused the total dismantling of the German Air Force. To maneuver around this the German authorities used [[Lufthansa]] (the civil airline) to train pilots and ground crews. It was not until the advent of the Nazi regime that an air force (Luftwaffe) was created.

The [[Treaty of Versailles]] caused the total dismantling of the German Air Force. To maneuver around this the German authorities used [[Lufthansa]] (the civil airline) to train pilots and ground crews. It was not until the advent of the Nazi regime that an air force (Luftwaffe) was created.

==Luftwaffe in World War II==

==Luftwaffe in World War II==

[[Image:LuftwaffeBadge.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Luftwaffe Nazi insignia]]

[[Image:LuftwaffeBadge.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Luftwaffe Nazi insignia]]

Early in the war the Luftwaffe played a very successful role in the destruction of enemy targets. As part of the German tactic of '''Blitzkrieg''' the Luftwaffe was most effective.

Early in the war the Luftwaffe played a very successful role in the destruction of enemy targets. The Luftwaffe was an integral part of the German tactic of '''Blitzkrieg''', with bombers acting as flying artillery in support of ground troops.  The main German fighter plane at this time, the [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]] outclassed the Polish, French, and British planes up until the [[Battle of Britain]], giving the Luftwaffe air superiority through the battles of Poland and France.

During the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe lost about 1,000 planes and about 2,000 men. Because of its superior man power and size the Luftwaffe was set back but not knocked down by the smaller RAF.  

During the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe lost about 1,000 planes and about 2,000 men. Because of its superior man power and size the Luftwaffe was set back but not knocked down by the smaller [[RAF]].  

After the Battle of Britain the Luftwaffe saw a steady decline. Despite the creation of technologically advanced jet fighters such as the [[Me-262]], at war's end the Luftwaffe had ceased to be an effective fighting force.

The Lufwaffe had initial success in North Africa and the Soviet Union, but as the war ground on, it saw a steady decline. Despite the creation of technologically advanced jet fighters such as the [[Me-262]], at war's end the Luftwaffe had ceased to be an effective fighting force.

 

The greatest ace of the Luftwaffe (and in all of aviation history) was Erich Hartmann, who scored 352 aerial victories, all on the Eastern Front.

[[Image:Luftwaffe-logo-large.jpg|thumb|200px|left]]

[[Image:Luftwaffe-logo-large.jpg|thumb|200px|left]]

==Post war re-creation==

==Post war re-creation==

It was not until 1955 that the Luftwaffe was recreated in West Germany. Former members of the WW2 era Luftwaffe were brought together to plan the formation of a new air force. The creation of a post war Luftwaffe was the result of the heightened tensions of the [[Cold War]]. The [[German Democratic Republic|East German]] authorities created the '''Luftstreitkräfte''' of the NVA (National People's Army) during the same period.

It was not until 1955 that the Luftwaffe was recreated in West Germany. Former members of the WW2 era Luftwaffe were brought together to plan the formation of a new air force. The creation of a post war Luftwaffe was the result of the heightened tensions of the [[Cold War]]. The [[German Democratic Republic|East German]] authorities created the '''Luftstreitkräfte''' of the NVA (National People's Army) during the same period.

[[category:Germany]]

[[category:Germany]]

[[category:World War II]]

[[category:World War II]]

[[category:weaponry]]

[[category:weaponry]]