FREE DIVE BOMBER AND GROUND ATTACK UNITS OF THE LUFTWAFFE 1933-45: V. 2 PDF Henry L. de Zeng IV,Douglas G. Stankey | 192 pages | 30 Jun 2013 | Crecy Publishing | 9781906537098 | English | Manchester, United Kingdom BN No Results Page | Barnes & Noble® This close-support Stuka unit fought principally in the southern sector of the Eastern Front in places like Stalingrad and the Caucasus. The early two Schlachtgeschwader 1 and 2 were abbreviated SchlG, the reformed Stukageschwader in were abbreviated SG. Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" was formed on 18 October from Sturzkampfgeschwader 2. InStukageschwader 2 was transferred to the Eastern Front. On 26 JuneStuka Geschwader 2 attacked 60 Soviet tanks south of Grodnoand later discovered that only one T had been knocked out. During the rest of andthe inadequacy of dive-bombing tanks became more evident. The most effective way to assault tanks from the air would appear with SG 2 in During the attack, Oblt. During the spring of SG 2 worked up Dive Bomber and Ground Attack Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45: v. 2 modified Ju 87 G-1 'tank-busters' armed with two Rheinmetall-Borsig 37mm Flak 18 guns mounted under each wing. Prototypes were first used against Russian landing craft in the Black Sea area. In March Rudel knocked out the first tank with the new Stuka. This was a dedicated tank-buster, with no secondary dive-bombing role. While II. By early II. By May the depleted II. By April Stab and II. At the end of Dive Bomber and Ground Attack Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45: v. 2 war, the commanding officer and a few other pilots flew their aircraft west and surrendered to the American forces. The transport column traveling on roads was destroyed. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. History [ edit ] Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" was formed on 18 October from Sturzkampfgeschwader 2. Pacifica Military History. Kursk - The Air Battle: July London: Ian Allan. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch. Ian Allan Publishing. The German Air War in Russia, Close air support wings of the Luftwaffe. Categories : Luftwaffe Wings Military units and formations established in Military units and formations disestablished in Namespaces Article Talk. Views Read Edit View history. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. Download as PDF Printable version. Wikimedia Commons. Nazi Germany. Ju 87Fw Bombing of Wieluń - Wikipedia During the interwar period, German pilots were trained secretly in violation of the treaty at Lipetsk Air Base in the Soviet Union. With the rise of the Nazi Party and the repudiation of the Versailles Treaty, the Luftwaffe ' s existence was publicly acknowledged on 26 Februaryjust over two weeks before open defiance Dive Bomber and Ground Attack Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45: v. 2 the Versailles Treaty through German re- armament and conscription would be announced on 16 March. Partially as a result of this combat experience, the Luftwaffe had become one of the most sophisticated, technologically advanced, and battle- experienced air forces in the world when World War II broke out in The Luftwaffe proved instrumental in the German victories across Poland and Western Europe in and During the Battle of Britainhowever, despite inflicting severe damage to the RAF 's infrastructure and, during the subsequent Blitzdevastating many British cities, the German air force failed to batter the beleaguered British into submission. FromAllied bombing campaigns gradually destroyed the Luftwaffe ' s fighter arm. From latethe Luftwaffe used its surplus ground support and other personnel to Dive Bomber and Ground Attack Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45: v. 2 Luftwaffe Field Divisions. Despite its belated use of advanced turbojet and rocket propelled aircraft for the destruction of Allied bombersthe Luftwaffe was overwhelmed by the Allies' superior numbers and improved tactics, and a lack of trained pilots and aviation fuel. In Januaryduring the closing stages of the Battle of the Bulgethe Luftwaffe made a last-ditch effort to win air superiorityand met with failure. With rapidly dwindling supplies of petroleum, oil, and lubricants after this campaign, and as part of the entire combined Wehrmacht military forces as a whole, the Luftwaffe ceased to be an effective fighting force. After the defeat of Germany, the Luftwaffe was disbanded in During World War II, German pilots claimed roughly 70, aerial victories, while over 75, Luftwaffe aircraft were destroyed or significantly damaged. Of these, nearly 40, were lost entirely. The Luftwaffe was deeply involved in Nazi war crimes. By the end of the war, a significant percentage of aircraft production originated in concentration campsan industry employing tens of thousands of prisoners. The Oberkommando der Luftwaffe organized Nazi human experimentationand Luftwaffe ground troops committed massacres in ItalyGreeceand Poland. After the defeat of Germany, the service was dissolved on 8 May under the conditions of the Treaty of Versailleswhich also mandated the destruction of all German military aircraft. Since the Treaty of Versailles forbade Germany to have an air force, German pilots trained in secret. To train its pilots on the latest combat aircraft, Germany solicited the help of the Soviet Unionwhich was also isolated in Europe. A secret training airfield was established at Lipetsk in and operated for approximately nine years using mostly Dutch and Soviet, but also some German, training aircraft before being closed in This base was officially known as 4th squadron of the 40th wing of the Red Army. Hundreds of Luftwaffe pilots and technical personnel visited, studied and were trained at Soviet air force schools in several locations in Central Russia. The first steps towards the Luftwaffe ' s formation were undertaken just months after Adolf Hitler came to power. The RLM was in charge of development and production of aircraft. On 25 March the German Air Sports Association absorbed all private and national organizations, while retaining its 'sports' title. On 15 Mayall military aviation organizations in the RLM were merged, forming the Luftwaffe ; its Dive Bomber and Ground Attack Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45: v. 2 'birthday'. The Commander-in-Chief left the organisation and building of the Luftwaffeafterto Erhard Milch. Another prominent figure in German air power construction this time was Helmuth Wilberg. Wilberg later played a large role in the development of German air doctrine. Having headed the Reichswehr air staff for eight years in the s, Wilberg had considerable experience and was ideal for a senior staff position. However, it was revealed Wilberg had a Jewish mother. Wilberg remained in the air staff, and under Walther Wever helped draw up the Luftwaffe ' s principle doctrinal texts, "The Conduct of the Aerial War" and Dive Bomber and Ground Attack Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45: v. 2 16". The German officer Corps was keen to develop strategic bombing capabilities against its enemies. However, economic and geopolitical considerations had to take priority. The German air power theorists continued to develop strategic theories, but emphasis was given to army support, as Germany was a continental power and expected to face ground operations following any declaration of hostilities. For these reasons, between andthe Luftwaffe ' s leadership was primarily concerned with tactical and operational methods. Untilthe manual "Directives for the Conduct of the Operational Air War" continued to act as the main Dive Bomber and Ground Attack Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45: v. 2 for German air Dive Bomber and Ground Attack Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45: v. 2. The manual directed OKL to focus on limited operations not strategic operations : the protection of specific areas and support of the army in combat. With an effective tactical-operational concept, [21] the German air power theorists needed a strategic doctrine and organisation. Knauss promoted the Giulio Douhet theory that air power could win wars alone by destroying enemy industry and breaking enemy morale by "terrorizing the population" of major cities. This advocated attacks on civilians. At this time, Wever conducted war games simulated against France in a bid to establish his theory of a strategic bombing force that would, he thought, prove decisive by winning the war through the destruction of enemy industry, even though these exercises also included tactical strikes against enemy ground forces and communications. In the proposal, it concluded, "The mission of the Luftwaffe is to serve Dive Bomber and Ground Attack Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45: v. 2 goals. Corum states that under this doctrine, the Luftwaffe leadership rejected the practice of " terror bombing " see Luftwaffe strategic bombing doctrine. Nevertheless, Wever recognised the importance of strategic bombing. In newly introduced doctrine, The Conduct of the Aerial Air War inWever rejected the theory of Douhet [30] and outlined five key points to air strategy: [31]. Wever began planning for a strategic bomber force and sought to incorporate strategic bombing into a war strategy. He believed that tactical aircraft should only be used as a step to developing a strategic air force. In MayWever initiated a seven-year project to develop the so-called " Ural bomber ", which could strike as far as into the heart of the Soviet Union. Inthis design competition led to the Dornier Do 19 and Junkers Ju 89 prototypes, although both were underpowered. However Wever's vision of a "Ural" bomber was never realised, [32] and his emphasis on strategic aerial operations was lost. Following Dive Bomber and Ground Attack Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45: v. 2 untimely death of Walther Wever in early June in an aviation- related accidentby the late s the Luftwaffe had no clear purpose. The air force was not subordinated to the army support role, and it was not given any particular strategic mission. German doctrine fell between the two concepts. The Luftwaffe was to be an organization capable of carrying out broad and general support tasks rather than any specific mission.