German Air Force formed in the 1920's

Adolf Hitler said:
I have a Prussian army, a Christian navy and a National Socialist air force

The Armistice abolished the Imperial German air service and prohibited its reformation, though this didn't stop the formation of a "shadow airforce" created in and with the help of the Soviet Union. It wasn't until Hitler came to power that a formal German air force, the Luftwaffe, was created.

What if though Germany was permitted a limited air force in the Treaty of Versailles, (in the same manner as the 100,000 man Riecheswehr and the U-boatless Riechesmarine), say a dozen squadrons and no bombers.

Originally the organisation starts off as part of the army but in the early 20's it becomes an independent force as the Luftstreitkräfte.

So what happens when the Nazis come to power with a pre-existing air force in place, one with it's own traditions and power structure as is the case in the army and navy?
 
Hmm, interesting thought, Shark!

If the Air Force was already there in '35 one could perhaps argue that Göring will not become its C-in-C? Which in my book is a big plus! :)

That said, the Air Force will not be built from scrath in the late 30's, thus consist of more obsolete planes ala the French and Italian Air Forces when the war erupts. Nor will its senior leadership be as innovative. First and foremost Wever will spend his carrier in the Army. Milch might not be involved in aerial affaires either. Major drawbacks, I'd say.

The air force will, however, have more depth, so to say, and, I suppose, a larger organization and reserves and thus be able to cope with the loses of war better than OTL.

I suppose, some of the stranger ideas will never hatch, so there might not be any dive bombers, but some sort of fighter bomber instead? No jets either, I suppose, but perhaps better interceptor and/or fighter designs? This alternative Luftwaffe will most likely pay more attention to defense than it did OTL.

Politically and militarily speaking, the SS might end up even more powerfull, perhaps with its own air arm?

Whether it will have a big effect in the end, I don't know.

Best regards!

- Bluenote.
 
Wendell said:
What if the airforce is overlooked entirely in the Treaty of Versailles?
After the bombings of London and loses to German fighter planes over the Western Front? Hmm, I find that somewhat hard to believe! Would it btw change anything from Shark's original premise?

Anyway, with Clemenceau's attitude the Germans were lucky to even have their 100,000 men under arms!

Best regards!

- Bluenote.
 
In this scenario, what would become of Göring? Foreign Minister? Wouldn't that be an interesting twist on things?

Regards!

- B.
 
It's alive!

If the Air Force was already there in '35 one could perhaps argue that Göring will not become its C-in-C? Which in my book is a big plus! :)
Word. OTOH, without Goering's ability to persuade Hitler, TTL's Luftsreitkraefte might be very weak.
First and foremost Wever will spend his carrier in the Army.
This alternative Luftwaffe will most likely pay more attention to defense than it did OTL.
Maybe not. Lots of Army officers ended up in AFs in Britain & U.S. Wever might be Germany's Trenchard. IMO, TTL's Luftsreitkraefte is liable to need somebody like that just to survive (much as RAF did). It might see Luftsreitkraefte adopting strategic bombing theory (for the same reasons), without von Kesselring being able to reign it in because German industrial capacity was too low (which, FWI read, is why he cancelled the Ju-89 & Do-90 bomber projects).
Milch might not be involved in aerial affaires either. Major drawbacks, I'd say.
Oh, no.:rolleyes: Quite the opposite. Avoiding Milch's miserable management could only be a benefit:
some of the stranger ideas will never hatch, so there might not be any dive bombers
Yep. IMO, Ju-87 still flies, is proven too vulnerable in Spain, & is dropped. The mania (Milch? Or Udet?) for having everything capable of DB (including 4-engine bombers:eek::confused:) doesn't happen, so the Ju-88 is a much better strike aircraft, & appears months sooner than OTL. Whether He-112 beats Bf-109 is an open question; the choice was partly on cost, & cost is liable to trump performance, especially with less political clout. OTOH, with a longer period of professionalism, Luftsreitkraefte might be able to insist on the better type, even if it costs more.
The air force will, however, have more depth, so to say, and, I suppose, a larger organization and reserves and thus be able to cope with the loses of war better than OTL.
Agreed. Maybe more on point, training will be more rational, & with a longer period of professionalism (presumed), the need to preserve the training program if war doesn't go as planned (by the maniac douchebag:p in charge) will be recognized.
but some sort of fighter bomber instead? No jets either, I suppose, but perhaps better interceptor and/or fighter designs?
Hmm... *thinks* Really good question. I'd expect something like the Hs-129 to take the place of Ju-87 at war's start, supplementing the Ju-88. Probably the FW-190 is adopted a bit sooner, accepting the loss of production, since TTL, production is rationalized & all of Germany's a/c industry is producing one fighter type, the Bf-109.

As war goes increasingly bad, I have to think an improvised defense a/c would occur to somebody, something not taking material away from frontline fighters, leading to (say) 2-pulsejet Me-328s or Ba-349s with batteries of 55mm or 73mm rockets in the nose, (zero-) launched on vertical rails by RATO. (A similar idea was examined by USAF postwar.) Nothing so complex (or dangerous!:eek:) as the Walther-powered Me-163...

Without the DB mania, there's a chance a more/less strategic bomber (a 4-engine B-26, not a Lanc) might enter German service early in the war, in time for Barbarossa (if not BoB).
Politically and militarily speaking, the SS might end up even more powerfull, perhaps with its own air arm?
Maybe. The more important questions, IMO, are:

  • does Kriegsmarine get its own ocean patrol/strike a/c? This would be a very significant multiplier for BdU's commerce war.
  • does Luftsreitkraefte actually maintain strategic bombing, or is it solely a "German Flying Corps", tied to Heer? A capacity to strike back at Britain in some fashion was a political necessity, especially as Allied bomber attacks intensified. It also has important potential butterflies for bombing of Soviet manufacturing plants beyond the Urals.
  • does Luftsreitkraefte (does Hitler?) allow attacks on Bomber/Coastal Command bases? (OTL, Hitler didn't.) This could have enormous consequences.
  • does Luftsreitkraefte authorize V-2s? Does Heer? The impact of this is fairly obvious: thousands more aircraft built, if not.
 
Combine with army?

If any sort of air force is going to exist, I'd suggest counting it and the army together for total number of men. Thus, every fighter squadron is that many fewer artillerymen or assault troopers.

Incidently, I'd expect bombers to be prohibited in any event..but an arguement could be made that fighters are purely defensive weapons. Note that almost all the aerial combat took place behind German lines.
 
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