The Luftwaffe and the Battle of Stalingrad
Hitler came to power on the back of a general election. This fact is conveniently forgotten by most western writers. However it is accepted that after the death of President Hindenburg, he seized absolute power. His one burning ambition was to restore German pride, badly damaged during World War I and the Treaty of Versailles ( 1919). The terms of this treaty were very harsh and imposed strict military controls over Germany. One of the clauses pertained to the German Air Force, also referred to as the Luftwaffe. Germany was forbidden by law to have an Air Force capable of offensive action. The situation was so bad that the engines of the Zeppelin, the airship were used in the Maybach car, as Germany was forbidden by treaty to develop the Zeppelin.
Hitler's rise was greatly appreciated by the German People and he set about restoring German military might. He announced the scrapping of the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles and had all restrictions on the Air Force removed. New aircraft were developed by Messerschmitt and Folk Wulf. These new aircraft had an edge over all Western aircraft and the Messerschmitt 109 fighter was any ay superior to the Spitfire and Hurricane of the RAF.
Hitler was joined by an ace pilot named Herman Goering. He had been a fighter pilot during World War I and had made a name for himself. Hitler entrusted the air force to Goering and conferred the title of Reich Marshall. In Hindsight the elevation of Goering as head of the air force was a blunder. Though Goering had a lot of knowledge, he was unaware of the concept of long range transport and strategic bombers. Thus in one of the cardinal blunders of aviation history in Germany, no stress was laid on building large planes capable of flying long distances. We can now see that this mistake in a way cost Germany the war and brought about the turn of the tide at the Battle of Stalingrad( 1943).
Goering forbade the development of large 4 engine planes as he could not visualize their use. Hitler also had no idea of the theories of Giulio Douhet and strategic bombing as he believed the role of the air force was only to help the army in a local tactical battle.
The German designer Dr. Kurt Tank of Focke Wulf however despite restrictions did produce one 4 engine plane. This was the FW-200 also known as the Condor. The Condor however in comparison to the Strat Fortress and the Liberator of the USAF was a puny machine and could just carry 26 troops. However it did have a range of over 3500 km. It was also a much lighter plane compared to the RAF's Lancasters.
So long as the German armies were winning the concept of Herman Goering for close support in a tactical war to the German army was a success. The Luftwaffe using dive bombers, which were closely integrated with teh German army brought success. Thus the famous tactic of " blitzkrieg" or a lightning war was a success as the German army over ran Poland, the low countries and France. The German attack on Russia on 22 Jun 1941 also heralded a close integration of the Luftwaffe with the German ground troop, resulting in great victories. Three German army groups advanced deep into Russia and by 1942 had reached Moscow, surrounded Leningrad and were on the verge of capturing Stalingrad.
Stalingrad in particular hedl special significance for Hitler. Firstly it carried the name of the man he hated Josef Stalin and secondly it was the road to Central Asia, the Caucasus and India. Hitler wanted Stalingrad captured and teh German under Von Paulos was given this task. Stalin knew the importance of the loss of Stalingrad and instructed the Russian commander Zhukov to make all out efforts not to lose the city. He also sent Nikita Khruschev to Stalingrad with a one point brief to hold Stalingrad at any cost. Khruschev coined the words " there is no land beyond the Volga for us" as the Russians prepared to fight the German Army.
In October 1943, winter set in and the temperatures touched sub-zero. Parts of the city were in German hands and there was street fighting at every nook and corner. In November Zhukov brought in reinforcements and launched a counter attack. In a massive thrust the Russian army surrounded the army of Paulos.
At that critical juncture, Paulos in a coded message informed Hitler that he was surrounded and cut off from the main German force headed by Von Manstein. He requested permission to retreat, through a breakout to join forces of Field Marshal Von Manstein. At that time Hitler called the chief of the Luftwaffe, Herman Goering for advice. He wanted to know that winter on, could the luftwaffe keep the supply lines open to the beleaguered troops of the German army now surrounded by the Russians.
Goering grandly announced that it was not a problem and an air bridge would be established to supply materials to the encircled German army. He authorised use of the FW 200 ( condor ) for the airlift. This was the crunch as the Luftwaffe had no heavy planes like the US Air force and it was too late to make one. One wonders whether at that stage Goering realized his earlier mistake on not developing a long range strategic bomber. Never the less Hitler believed Goering's boast and was confident that a supply bridge would be established.
The FW -200 was however a plane with a lot of limitations. Firstly the cargo it could carry was limited and secondly the plane had severe limitations of performing in the Russian cold. In addition it had to contend with Russian fighters. The Germans had no long range bomber to hit Russian supply lines and it was no surprise that within a week the Condor totally failed to establish a aero bridge and the german troops were left high and dry. No supplies could be transported to the German army and the writing was on the wall for a German defeat.
Paulos repeatedly informed Hitler the dire situation, but Hitler replied by promoting Paulus to Field Marshal. This was alike a last straw that broke the camels back and with no supplies of food and clothing Paulos had no option but to surrender. The Battle of Stalingrad was over and 93000 German troops were taken captive. Only a handful returned at the end of the war.
In hindsight one can see that one of the reasons for the defeat of the German army was the performance of the Luftwaffe. It not only failed to supply essentials to the German army, but also failed to create what is known in air terminology a " favorable air situation". Most of the Condors were lost or destroyed and Goering was a failure. The performance of the Luftwaffe in no small measure contributed to the German defeat at Stalingrad.
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