It is a possibility. Is there a reason for you to put von Seidel as Commander-in-Chief and von Waldau as Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff, and not the other way around?
Let me explain it. I am working on a TL about a putsch by the german opposition to nazism in Germany in march 1943, and I am trying to find who could the new goverment appoint as Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe. It is specially difficult because the Luftwaffe was the most nazified of the three services of the Wehrmacht, and there was no one Luftwaffe officer in the group who planed the coup, and no information about who they though for that post. So I have been searching for high-ranking officers who might be considered non-nazi, or sceptical towards nazism, but I have found little information about the opinions of the officers. Any idea? Maybe Otto Hoffmann von Waldau or Hans-Georg von Seidel?
That you very much.
Jeschonnek effectively did run the Luftwaffe...into the ground, which led to him committing suicide in 1943 after Hamburg was firestormed. Supreme Commander was the Chief of OKL, while the Chief of Staff was the Chief of the general staff of OKL. In practice Jeschonnek ran the Luftwaffe with Goering popping in to give orders as he felt. For him to lose that authority would mean losing control over the Luftwaffe, which would only happen over his dead body. There is no mitigation of Goering's command authority so long as he lives, not only due to the bribes he was being paid by aircraft manufacturers which he thrived on, but also his personal prestige and Hitler's public confidence, as Hitler refused to remove Goering until the very end of the war, only over Goering asking to take over command as Führer while Hitler was encircled in Berlin, because of his fear of looking publicly weak if his right hand man had to be removed from his position. By late 1941 Milch had replaced Udet (who committed suicide in November-December IIRC) while Jeschonnek pretty much ran the Luftwaffe other than Goering's interference.I have encountered a similar dilemma with my story! The POD is set in April of 1941, however. I'm wondering how the luftwaffe could be reorganised into something less dysfunctional. Looking at a wikipedia article of the OKLs organisation, it isn't clear whether or not the rank of 'supreme commander' is the same as 'chief of the OKL.' Goering held both titles...
I wonder whether it would be possible to force Goering to step down as chief of the OKL, but allowing him to retain the symbolic position of 'supreme commander?' If so, then Hans Jeschonnek could finally gain full, unmitigated control over the luftwaffe.
The vacancy opened up by his promotion could be filled by Gunter Korten (a very competent officer). And of course, Ernst Udet would need to be replaced by Erhard Milch as chief of the technical office, because the luftwaffes R&D branch was a mess!
@wiking Would you happen to have any recommendations?
Jeschonnek effectively did run the Luftwaffe...into the ground, which led to him committing suicide in 1943 after Hamburg was firestormed. Supreme Commander was the Chief of OKL, while the Chief of Staff was the Chief of the general staff of OKL. In practice Jeschonnek ran the Luftwaffe with Goering popping in to give orders as he felt. For him to lose that authority would mean losing control over the Luftwaffe, which would only happen over his dead body. There is no mitigation of Goering's command authority so long as he lives, not only due to the bribes he was being paid by aircraft manufacturers which he thrived on, but also his personal prestige and Hitler's public confidence, as Hitler refused to remove Goering until the very end of the war, only over Goering asking to take over command as Führer while Hitler was encircled in Berlin, because of his fear of looking publicly weak if his right hand man had to be removed from his position. By late 1941 Milch had replaced Udet (who committed suicide in November-December IIRC) while Jeschonnek pretty much ran the Luftwaffe other than Goering's interference.
Sure, kill Jeschonnek in an accident or something.Okay, so Goering stepping down voluntarily isn't a option. What other options are there to make the luftwaffe command structure more efficient? Milch replacing Udet is an obvious choice. But how about replacing Jeschonnek with Gunter Korten, would that work?
Easiest, most direct option and speeds up his OTL fate.