The Development of the German Air Force, 1919-1939

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

About the Author

List of Figures

Chapter 1. German Military Aviation from the Armistice of 1918 to the Establishment of the Reichs Aviation Ministry, 1 May 1933
The End of the Old Air Force and the Beginning of a New Era
Early Stages in the Rebirth of German Aviation
Further Aviation Developments
Rapallo and Lipetsk
The German Lufthansa (Deutsche Lufthansa)
The Paris Air Agreement and Sport Flying in Germany
Air Offices in the Reichs Defense Ministry, 1925-1929
The Reichs Defense Ministry
The Air Offices Maintained by the Army
Relaxation in the Need for Secrecy
T2 V (L) and its Missions
The German Aircraft Industry 1929 to 1933
Armament Contracts
Organization of the Training Program
German Aircraft Testing Stations
Preparations for Rearmament
Preparations for Mobilization
Steps Taken by the Navy Command to Provide for a Naval Air Force
Organizational Measures taken by the Navy Command
The Secret Build-Up
Air Agencies in the Reichs Defense Ministry, 1932 and 1933

Chapter 2. The Growth of the Top Level Command Apparatus
The Position of the German Luftwaffe within the Wehrmacht
Goering's Personality as a Factor in the Luftwaffe's Build.Up
Germany's Air Command during the Period of Secrecy, 30 January 1933 - 1 March 1935
From the Official Beginning of the Luftwaffe to World War II
Organization and Mission of the Top-Level Command Apparatus
The Air Administrative Area Commands
Air Commanders (Fliegerfuehrer) and Air Divisions

Chapter 3. The Build-Up of the Luftwaffe
Repercussions of Political Events upon the Luftwaffe
The Build-Up of Air Units
Measures Implemented by the Luftwaffe Command
The First Air Units
Bomber Units
Dive- Bomber Units
Fighter Units
Fighters for the Defense of Army and Navy Units
Long-Range Reconnaissance Units
Tactical Reconnaissance Units
Luftwaffe Signal Forces
Flak Artillery Units
Luftwaffe Meteorological Service
The Development of the Luftwaffe Ground Organization
Measures by the Ground Organization to Insure Mobility of Bomber Units

Chapter 4. The Air Armament Industry in Germany
Raw Material Problems
Aviation Fuel
Aircraft Design and Procurement
Aeronautical Research in Germany
The Office of Luftwaffe Supply and Procurement
The Supply of Field Units
The Selection of Aircraft in the Luftwaffe
Tactical and Technical Requirements of the General Staff
The Technical Office
The Role Played by the Technical Office
AircraftProduction
Aerial Torpedoes
Introducing Aircraft at Troop Level
The Luftwaffe Administration Office
The Luftwaffe Officer Corps
Engineer Officers
The Luftwaffe General Staff

Chapter 5. Luftwaffe Preparations for the War
Basic Thinking on the Strategic and Tactical Employment of the Luftwaffe
The Training of Top-Level Luftwaffe Leaders
War Games and Staff Journeys
Maneuvers
The Last Staff Training before the War
The Compilation of Operational Data
The Air Defense Fi...