Luftwaffe: The Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany's Air Force

The Luftwaffe was the aerial warfare branch of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany. Founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946, it played a central role in the aggressive expansion of the Third Reich. While often romanticized in military lore, the Luftwaffe's history is one of rapid mobilization, tactical brilliance in the early years, and eventual systemic collapse under the weight of strategic failures and war crimes.

Throughout its existence, the air force was dominated by the personality of its first Supreme Commander, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, who shaped the organization to serve the whims of Adolf Hitler.

Hermann Göring, the first Supreme Commander of the Luftwaffe (in office: 1935–1945)

Key Facts

Robert Ritter von Greim, the second and last Supreme Commander of the Luftwaffe (in office: April–May 1945)

Operational Period: 1935–1946.
Total Aircraft Produced: 119,871.
Total Personnel: Approximately 3,400,000 served between 1939 and 1945.
Aerial Victories: German pilots claimed roughly 70,000 victories.
Major Losses: Over 75,000 aircraft were destroyed or damaged, with nearly 40,000 lost entirely.
Commanders-in-Chief: Hermann Göring (1935–1945) and Robert Ritter von Greim (April–May 1945).

Origins and Strategic Evolution

Manfred von Richthofen with other members of Jasta 11, 1917 as part of the Luftstreitkräfte

The Wever Era (1933–1936)

In the early years of the regime, Walther Wever, Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff, envisioned a strategic air force. His goal was to paralyze enemy nations by targeting armaments factories and production centers. Wever advocated for the development of "Ural bombers"—long-range strategic aircraft capable of striking deep into enemy territory.

Walther Wever, Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff, 1933–1936

Shift in Doctrine

Following Wever's death in a 1936 aviation accident, the Luftwaffe lost its clear strategic direction. The air force shifted toward a flexible support role, designed to provide the ground forces with the conditions necessary for a decisive victory. Contrary to the myth that it was purely a tactical force, only 15% of its aircraft were devoted to ground support at the outbreak of war; however, the lack of a dedicated strategic mission would later prove fatal.

General Ernst Udet. Along with Albert Kesselring, Udet was responsible for establishing the design trend of German aircraft. His focus was on tactical army support air forces.

The Luftwaffe in World War II

Adolf Hitler visiting Luftwaffe soldiers January 1943.

The Battle of Britain and the Blitz

In the summer of 1940, the Luftwaffe engaged the Royal Air Force (RAF) in an attempt to secure air superiority for a planned invasion of Britain. Despite inflicting severe damage, the Luftwaffe failed to achieve its goal. The subsequent "Blitz"—the bombing of British cities—failed to break civilian morale, and the RAF maintained a kill ratio of over two to one against German planes.

Gun camera film showing tracer ammunition from a Supermarine Spitfire hitting a Heinkel He 111 bomber on its starboard quarter

Operation Barbarossa and the Eastern Front

In June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union. While the Luftwaffe destroyed thousands of Soviet aircraft in the opening stages, it could not eliminate the Red Air Force entirely. The absence of the strategic bombers Wever had requested years earlier meant Germany could not consistently strike Soviet production centers. Over time, the attrition of men and material at the Battle of Stalingrad (1942) and the Battle of Kursk (1943) led to a steady decline in strength.

Junkers Ju 87Ds over the Eastern Front, winter 1943–44

Technological Peaks and Failures

The Luftwaffe introduced cutting-edge technology, such as the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter, which was credited with approximately 745 victories. However, these successes were offset by production failures and flawed designs. The He 177A Greif heavy bomber became one of the most troublesome aircraft in service, plagued by development issues.

The most troublesome of all German designs during WWII – both in development and in service – was the He 177A Greif heavy bomber.

Furthermore, the neglect of naval aviation in the western theatre between 1939 and 1941 is regarded as one of the air force's greatest tactical failures.

Arguably, one of the greatest tactical failures was the neglect of naval aviation in the western theatre, 1939–1941 (pictured is a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 C Condor).

Organization and Personnel

Oberst Edgar Petersen, head of the Luftwaffe's Erprobungsstellen network of test facilities late in the war

The Luftwaffe was a massive organization that extended beyond pilots. Its personnel strength included a diverse array of units:

Luftwaffe Personnel Distribution (Approximate)
Unit Type	Personnel Strength
Flying Units	500,000
Anti-aircraft (Flak) Units	500,000
Air Signal Units	250,000
Construction Units	150,000
Landsturm Units	36,000

By 1942, surplus personnel were used to form Luftwaffe Field Divisions, which served as infantry. In 1943, the air force also established the Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring, an armored division that later expanded into a Panzerkorps.

War Crimes and Human Rights Abuses

A restored DB 610 "power system" engine, comprising a pair of DB 605 inverted V12s – the top of its central space-frame motor-mount structure can be seen.

The Luftwaffe was deeply complicit in the atrocities of the Nazi regime. This included the bombing of non-military targets, most notably during the Battle of Britain, which killed over 22,000 civilians and wounded 30,000 more. Other examples include the bombing of Belgrade in 1941 and the ruins of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.

Bomb-damaged buildings in Belgrade in April 1941

The air force also utilized forced labour. Concentration camp prisoners were coerced into working at aircraft factories, and the production of V-1 cruise missiles and V-2 rockets in the Mittelwerk tunnels resulted in more than 12,000 deaths. Additionally, Luftwaffe paratroopers were involved in massacres, such as those in Kondomari, Crete.

Concentration camp prisoners forced to work at a Messerschmitt aircraft factory

Manufacturing of V-1 cruise missiles and V-2 rockets in the Mittelwerk tunnels resulted in the deaths of more than 12,000 people.

Civilians murdered by Luftwaffe paratroopers in Kondomari, Crete

The End of the Luftwaffe

As the Third Reich collapsed, the Luftwaffe was unable to defend German airspace from Allied bombing. Following the surrender of Germany, the organization was officially disbanded in 1946. Many of its leaders, including Hermann Göring, were tried for war crimes during the Nuremberg trials.

Defendants in the dock during the Nuremberg trials. The main target of the prosecution was Hermann Göring (at the left edge on the first row of benches), considered to be the most important surviving Nazi official after Adolf Hitler's death.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who were the commanders-in-chief of the Luftwaffe?

The Luftwaffe had only two commanders-in-chief: Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, who led for most of its existence, and Generalfeldmarschall Robert Ritter von Greim, who served for the final two weeks of the war.

What was the "Ural bomber" concept?

Proposed by Walther Wever, the Ural bomber was a concept for a long-range strategic bomber designed to strike deep into the Soviet Union to destroy industrial production centers.

How many aircraft did the Luftwaffe lose during WWII?

Over 75,000 Luftwaffe aircraft were destroyed or significantly damaged, with nearly 40,000 of those being total losses.

Did the Luftwaffe have ground troops?

Yes. Starting in 1942, the Luftwaffe formed Field Divisions to serve as infantry, and later established the Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring, an armored unit.

What role did the Me 262 play?

The Messerschmitt Me 262 was a pioneering jet fighter. While it arrived late in the war, it was highly effective, with an estimated 745 aerial victories attributed to the type.