Fighting the Bombers

The Luftwaffe's Struggle Against the Allied Bomber Offensive

Adolf Galland, Josef Kammbuber, Willi Messerschmitt, David C. Isby

• Publisher: Frontline Books
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781848328457
• eBook ISBN: 9781784380250
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

Fighting the Bombers is an unrivaled look at the Allied bombing campaign from the point of view of the Luftwaffe establishment and command. The contributing authors were involved in all aspects of German attempts to stem the unrelenting bombardment from the RAF and USAAF; from tactics in the sky and development of the planes themselves, to long term strategy and planning on the ground, and the implementation of sophisticated radio and radar equipment. These reports were written immediately after the war, in 1945 and 1946 when most of the authors were prisoners of war, and for the most part were prepared without the aid of official documentation and records. As such they represent a view not coloured by reflection or by 'party lines' that became established in the post-war years, and clearly show the development of the Luftwaffe—particularly the tactics and equipment used for night flying—as the war progressed and give a clear history of attempts to defend the Reich from aerial attack. The book also benefits from having been written specifically for an audience well-versed in military aviation affairs, the allied aviation and intelligence services.The detail contained in the reports is unique and allows the reader a fresh perspective on this famous campaign.Fighting the Bombers is an unrivaled look at the Allied bombing campaign from the point of view of the Luftwaffe establishment and command. The contributing authors were involved in all aspects of German attempts to stem the unrelenting bombardment from the RAF and USAAF; from tactics in the sky and development of the planes themselves, to long term strategy and planning on the ground, and the implementation of sophisticated radio and radar equipment. These reports were written immediately after the war, in 1945 and 1946 when most of the authors were prisoners of war, and for the most part were prepared without the aid of official documentation and records. As such they represent a view not coloured by reflection or by 'party lines' that became established in the post-war years, and clearly show the development of the Luftwaffe—particularly the tactics and equipment used for night flying—as the war progressed and give a clear history of attempts to defend the Reich from aerial attack. The book also benefits from having been written specifically for an audience well-versed in military aviation affairs, the allied aviation and intelligence services.The detail contained in the reports is unique and allows the reader a fresh perspective on this famous campaign.Fighting the Bombers is an unrivaled look at the Allied bombing campaign from the point of view of the Luftwaffe establishment and command. The contributing authors were involved in all aspects of German attempts to stem the unrelenting bombardment from the RAF and USAAF; from tactics in the sky and development of the planes themselves, to long term strategy and planning on the ground, and the implementation of sophisticated radio and radar equipment. These reports were written immediately after the war, in 1945 and 1946 when most of the authors were prisoners of war, and for the most part were prepared without the aid of official documentation and records. As such they represent a view not coloured by reflection or by 'party lines' that became established in the post-war years, and clearly show the development of the Luftwaffe—particularly the tactics and equipment used for night flying—as the war progressed and give a clear history of attempts to defend the Reich from aerial attack. The book also benefits from having been written specifically for an audience well-versed in military aviation affairs, the allied aviation and intelligence services.The detail contained in the reports is unique and allows the reader a fresh perspective on this famous campaign.

Contents

Introduction

The Contributors

Part One: The Defense of the Reich

1 Reich Air Defense in World War II: A Strategical-Tactical Survey compiled by Generalmajor Hans-Detlef Herhuth von Rohden, August 1946

2 The Overall Defense of the Reich: 1940–1944 (January) by Generaloberst Hubert Weise

3 Development of Nightfighting: July 1940–15 September 1943 by General der Flieger Josef Kammhuber

Part Two: A Battle of Increasing Numbers and Technology

4 Technical and Communications Equipment used in the Reich’s Defense by Generalmajor Hans-Detlef von Rohden

5 German Nightfighting: From 15 June 1943 to May 1945 by Generalleutnant Josef “Beppo” Schmid

6 German Dayfighting in the Defense of the Reich: 15 September 1943 to the End of the War by Generalleutnant Josef “Beppo” Schmid

Part Three: Developing Technology to Defend the Reich

7 Fighter Control: Interrogation of Generalleutnant Adolf Galland 15 October 1945

8 Luftwaffe Radars: Interrogation of General der Flieger Wolfgang Martini 10 October 1945

9 Luftwaffe Radars and Radios: Interrogation of OKL Staff

10 The Me-262: Development, Experience, Success, and Prospects by Dr Willi Messerschmitt

Part Four: Applying the Technology: Operations and Tactics

11 Commanding the Nightfighters: Interrogation of General der Flieger Josef Kammhuber 4, 22, 28 August 1945

12 Nightfighter Control by Major Heinrich Ruppel

13 Nightfighter Direction: Interrogation of Major G. S. Sandmann 16 August 1945

14 Nightfighter Operations: Interrogation of Major G. S. Sandmann 1 August 1945

15 Nightfighter Tactics: Interrogation of Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (and two NJG 4 Gruppenkommandeure) 21 May 1945

16 Nightfighter Tactics (NJG 6) by Major Josef Scholls

17 Nightfighter Missions: Interrogation of Major Josef Scholls 16 August 1945

18 Fighting the P-61: Interrogation of Major Heinrich Ruppel

Part Five: Summing Up

19 Looking Back by Generalmajor Hans-Detlef Herhuth von Rohden

Glossary

Introduction

This book is a collection of Luftwaffe leaders’ views of the Defense of the Reich against the Allied combined bomber offensive. The accounts give their version of the course of the battle against the bombers, how technology was developed and deployed—or not—in the increasingly sophisticated operations, and how the technology was employed in combat by fighter leaders and controllers. The longest and largest air campaign in history has certainly attracted its share of historians. However, the German accounts provided here give some unique insights.

The authors compiled most of these documents as prisoners of war, under the authority of the US Army Air Forces (although some of the interrogations on nightfighting were conducted by RAF specialists, themselves veterans of the bomber offensive). These documents represent the command “debrief” of many of the Luftwaffe’s leaders, undertaken in 1945 or 1946. It is to our advantage that these debriefs were carried out while memories were fresh, for the prisoners were without most official documents. The exceptions were the von Rohden and Messerchmitt chapters, which were historical narratives requested by the USAAF and US Navy, respectively. These accounts are written by professionals, for other professionals. Much of the syntax and capitalization is non-standard and reflects that of the German original. The authors assume that those for whom they are writing know the abbreviations, equipment, and references they use freely (which has required the provision of a glossary).

The accounts include matters often overlooked, such as the development of German fighter control capabilities and tactics. They are, quite literally, the first draft of the history of the Luftwaffe fighter force, and make up in immediacy what they may lack in reflection and opportunities for archival research. Each of the authors was interrogated on subjects about which he had direct personal knowledge: the intense internal secrecy of the German war effort makes claims to knowledge that did not come from such hands-on experience suspect.

These accounts are earlier and less refined than the better-known series of historical studies written by former Luftwaffe officers (some volumes of which have been reprinted by publishers such as Greenhill Books and Garland) and collectively referred to as the Karlshrue Studies. However, the chapters by von Rohden—who went on to manage the Karlshrue Studies—may be seen as being the first of the series of studies. These chapters written done as a collaborative effort with a number of other Luftwaffe officers, including at least two of the authors of this volume, Adolf Galland and “Beppo” Schmid.

This book is in many ways complementary to The Luftwaffe Fighter Force: The View From the Cockpit, published by Greenhill in 1998. That was the history of an air force—that part of the Luftwaffe which flew fighters—from organization to ultimate defeat; Fighting the Bombers is the story of that force’s greatest battle. Thus, it begins with historical narratives (those of von Rohden, Weise and Kammhuber) to set out the overall context. Then the technologies involved are introduced in more detail. Finally, there is consideration of the manner in which these technologies were applied by the fighter controllers and fighter pilots involved in the Defense of the Reich. Fighting the Bombers also stresses the technology of radio and radar and the night battle whereas the earlier book put more emphasis on covering the daylight battles. This reflected the role of Adolf Galland—whose concern was daylight air fighting—as the unifying voice in that book. In this book, although Galland reappears, there is a greater range of authors and concerns. The current volume could be subtitled “The View From the Ops Room,” because that is where the authors did most of their fighting, leading and directing the fighters. While this volume’s contributors include Major Schnaufer, the highest-scoring nightfighter ace (with 121 victories), the emphasis is on the system itself rather than the pilots who were at its “sharp end.”

The narratives are all highly personal to the authors and certainly do not represent a more nuanced view taking a broader range of sources into account; some of the authors—most notably Kammhuber and Schmid—took this wider view in the 1950s when they prepared volumes in the Karlshrue studies. Others, like Schnaufer (killed in a post-war accident), never got to tell their story again. There has been no attempt to correct the accounts, even where the authors get things wrong, or to insert more recent or superior knowledge. Whenever possible, the original spellings and terminology have been maintained, including even such elementary things as capitalization and the rendering of umlauts into English, which have been placed without consistency in the original documents. The translation has been edited to bring specific terminology, but not necessarily grammar and syntax, into line with standard English-language usage. But the alterations have been kept to a minimum.

David C. Isby

Washington, March 2002

The Contributors

Galland, Generalleutnant Adolf Ace with 103 victories. Served as Waffengeneral (General der Jagdflieger) 1941–5, when relieved and put in command of Me 2629 equipped JV 44. Widely known author postwar.

Kammhuber, General der Flieger Josef Bomber Geschwader commander at the start of the war, shot down by the French. Given command of Fliegerkorps XII against early EAF night raids. Built up night-fighter force but was relieved after Hamburg raids in 1943, after which he commanded in Denmark and Norway (in command of Luftflotte 5). Put in charge of jet- and rocket-powered aircraft programs in 1945. Worked on Karlshrue studies. Returned to Luftwaffe service in 1950s, becoming first Inspekteur (1956–62).

Martini, Generalmajor Wolfgang Chief of Luftwaffe Signal Troops (including radar) from September 1941 until the end of the war.

Messerschmitt, Dr Willi German aircraft designer from the First World War through to end of the Second. Responsible for many outstanding wartime combat aircraft designs, first with the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke A.G. and then with his own company. Postwar, also worked in automotive industry.

Rohden, Generalmajor Hans-Dedef Herhuth von Head of Abteilung 8—the Historical Section of the OKL—during the Second World War. Also held staff positions with operational formations (including six months each as chief of staff of IV Riegerkorps and Luftflotte 4 on the eastern front). Post-war went to work for USAAF. Helped organize German logistical support for Berlin Airlift, 1948. In the 1950s, based at Karlsruhe, produced a series of studies written by former Luftwaffe officers for the USAF.

Ruppel, Major Heinrich First World War pilot and reserve officer. Sector controller at Darmstadt. Served as la, JaFu Mi Helrhein, at the end of the war. Considered by Schmid to be the best fighter controller in the Luftwaffe.

Sandmann, Major G. S. Air Tactics Officer, Air Defense Section, OKL, at the end of the war. Previously served as Fighter Controller, 3. Jagddivision.

Schmid, Generalleutnant Joseph “Beppo” Intelligence chief of the Luftwaffe from January 1938 to November 1942. Given command of I. Jagdkorps from September 1943 until November 1944, despite being a non-aviator. Luftwaffe West commander for remainder of war. Worked on Karlshrue studies postwar.

Schnaufer, Major Heinz-Wolfgang Highest-ranking Luftwaffe night-fighter ace, with 121 victories (almost all with Fritz Rumpelhardt, his radar operator throughout the war). Commanded NJG 4 at the end of the war. Killed in road accident in 1950.

Scholls, Major Josef Night-fighter pilot. Served with NJG 6 at the end of the war.

Weise, Generaloberst Hubert Senior flak officer who commanded Befehlshaber Mitte (and later Luftflotte Reich) from 1940 to 1944, when he was replaced by Stumpff. Later became head of Germany’s missile defense program (preparing defenses against Allied copies of the V-1 and V-2).

PART ONE
THE DEFENSE OF THE REICH

This section provides the historical context and describes the course of events relevant to this book. The first chapter is a survey of the Defense of the Reich, compiled in 1946 by von Rohden; its later date than the other chapters is evident from the fact that it includes quotations from postwar US publications. The other chapters provide historical accounts by two of the senior Luftwaffe commanders who were in charge of defending the Reich in the earlier years of the bomber offensive—Generals Kammhuber and Weise.

The German air defense effort was largely an improvisation, and little “Prussian efficiency” is apparent in these accounts. This was especially pronounced in night-fighting, where extensive prewar experience was unavailable and the combat experience of the opening battles of the war was less transferable than to daylight operations.

Also apparent in these accounts are the limitations of the authors when writing about subjects in which they lacked personal knowledge, as shown by von Rohder’s assertion that the Me 262 could have been operational much earlier than it was—which recent studies have contradicted.

D.C.I.

Chapter ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Full Title
• Copyright Page
• Contents