Hitler's "secret air force" was the Luftwaffe, the official aerial warfare branch of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. The term "secret" primarily refers to its clandestine re-establishment and expansion in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles following World War I.
The Clandestine Origins of the Luftwaffe
After Germany's defeat in World War I, the Treaty of Versailles severely restricted its military capabilities, including an explicit prohibition on possessing an air force. However, even during the Weimar Republic, Germany began to secretly circumvent these restrictions. Various covert programs, often disguised as civilian aviation or sports clubs, were used to train pilots and develop aircraft technology.
- Secret Training: Pilots were often trained in secrecy, sometimes even in collaboration with the Soviet Union, allowing for the development of fundamental air force skills away from Allied scrutiny.
- Technological Development: German engineers and manufacturers continued to design and produce aircraft, albeit often under civilian pretexts, laying the groundwork for future military designs.
When Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, he immediately accelerated the rearmament program. On March 10, 1935, Hermann Göring officially announced the existence of the Luftwaffe, openly defying the Treaty of Versailles and revealing what had been a significant, albeit covert, build-up. This official declaration brought the "secret air force" into the public eye as a formidable component of the German military.
The Luftwaffe's Pivotal Role in World War II
Once fully operational, the Luftwaffe quickly became a central instrument of Nazi Germany's military strategy, particularly in the early stages of World War II, known for its pioneering role in Blitzkrieg tactics.
During the war, the Luftwaffe defended German-occupied Europe against the growing offensive power of RAF Bomber Command and, starting in the summer of 1942, the steadily building strength of the United States Army Air Forces. Its primary roles included:
- Close Air Support: Providing direct support to ground troops, often with dive bombers like the Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka," crucial for the rapid advances in Poland, France, and the early stages of the Eastern Front.
- Strategic Bombing: Although not as consistently pursued as by Allied air forces, the Luftwaffe conducted bombing campaigns against cities like London (the Blitz).
- Air Superiority: Engaging enemy aircraft to gain control of the skies, using advanced fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190.
- Air Defense: Protecting German cities and industrial centers from Allied bombing raids, a role that became increasingly dominant as the war progressed.
- Logistics and Reconnaissance: Transporting troops and supplies, and conducting crucial intelligence-gathering missions.
By the war's end, despite its initial successes and technological innovations (including early jet aircraft like the Me 262), the Luftwaffe was largely depleted by constant combat, fuel shortages, and overwhelming Allied air superiority.
