The history of the German air force is best described as discontinuous. The German air force has been formed and reformed twice, and like Germany, split into two parts to be reunified with the fall of the Berlin Wall. In other respects, it is very similar to the history of other European air forces being formed early in the 20th century. Similarly, it has existed as a part of the army and in its own right as an independent military organisation. As early as 1884 the Prussian army set up a balloon detachment, from which an airship division was formed in 1887. In 1910 an aircraft made its entry into German military service in the form of a Farman III imported from France.
At the onset of World War One, there was no single airforce but five air battalions which rapidly expanded with the confiscation of private aircraft. At the start of the conflict, around 300 aircraft were war ready. Prior to October 1916, Germany's air force (but not including naval aviation) was called Fliegertruppen des Deutschen Kaiserreiches or Imperial German Flying Corps. After 1916 it was called Deutsche Luftstreitkrafte (German Air Force). In either nomenclature, it remained a part of the German army. By the end of World War One, the German air force had grown to almost 2,800 aircraft with over 3,000 being destroyed during the course of the war.
After the war ended, the Treaty of Versailles was signed on the 28th of June 1919. The treaty imposed a broad set of restrictions on Germany, effective banning Germany from having an air force. Article 198 of the Treaty of Versailles stated that the armed forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air forces beyond the 1st of October 1919. However, it was allowed to maintain up to 100 seaplanes and flying boats to help in searching for submarine mines. Article 201 of the treaty forbade the manufacture and importation of aircraft and aircraft parts. Article 202 required Germany to hand over aircraft designed for warlike purposes to the Principal Allied (British Empire, France, Italy, USA, Japan) and Associated Powers.
Under the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party) and following the signing of the Enabling Act on the 23rd of March 1933, Adolf Hitler gained dictatorial powers. In April 1933 the Reich Aviation Ministry (Reichsluftfahrtministerium or RLM) was established which was responsible for all aviation in Germany. The RLM would amalgamate various flying into a single organisation, in effect forming the Luftwaffe covertly. With the repudiation of the Treaty of Versailles, the Luftwaffe was officially established on 26 February 1935.
After the end of World War Two, the Potsdam Agreement required that Germany’s war potential was to be eliminated. Under the political principles section, “all arms, ammunition and implements of war…shall be held at the disposal of the Allies or destroyed. The maintenance and production of all aircraft and all arms. ammunition and implements of war shall be prevented.” The Economics Principles section prohibited the production of all arms, ammunition and all types of aircraft. On May 5, 1955, the Allied forces formally ended their military occupation of West Germany. Four days later, West Germany was made a member of NATO. The build-up of the Bundeswehr (German military) was slow, hindered by the lack of available officers, barracks and a reluctance of volunteers to sign up for service.
In June 1955 a nine-month training programme for senior Luftwaffe officers commenced in the UK and USA. Airmen were appointed and sworn-in in November 1955. The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) in its current form was founded in 1956 as the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces of West Germany. After the reunification of East and West Germany on the 3rd of October 1990, all units of the former East German air force (Nationale Volk Armee air force) were integrated into the Luftwaffe. Most NVA units were deactivated, all NVA units were disbanded on January 1st, 1991. A select number of aircraft were integrated into the Luftwaffe, others were evaluated by NATO members but many were ultimately scrapped.
With the end of the cold war and in common with many other air forces the Luftwaffe has seen a reduction in its budget and size. There has been significant rationalisation with many command authorities, bases and flying units being disbanded. As a final note, Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 31 “Boelcke" (formerly known as Jagdbombergeschwader 31) is an example of the renaming that has taken place across the Luftwaffe. Jagdgeschwader 71 (JG 71) ”Richthofen”, being renamed Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 is another example.
At the onset of World War One, there was no single airforce but five air battalions which rapidly expanded with the confiscation of private aircraft. At the start of the conflict, around 300 aircraft were war ready. Prior to October 1916, Germany's air force (but not including naval aviation) was called Fliegertruppen des Deutschen Kaiserreiches or Imperial German Flying Corps. After 1916 it was called Deutsche Luftstreitkrafte (German Air Force). In either nomenclature, it remained a part of the German army. By the end of World War One, the German air force had grown to almost 2,800 aircraft with over 3,000 being destroyed during the course of the war.
After the war ended, the Treaty of Versailles was signed on the 28th of June 1919. The treaty imposed a broad set of restrictions on Germany, effective banning Germany from having an air force. Article 198 of the Treaty of Versailles stated that the armed forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air forces beyond the 1st of October 1919. However, it was allowed to maintain up to 100 seaplanes and flying boats to help in searching for submarine mines. Article 201 of the treaty forbade the manufacture and importation of aircraft and aircraft parts. Article 202 required Germany to hand over aircraft designed for warlike purposes to the Principal Allied (British Empire, France, Italy, USA, Japan) and Associated Powers.
Under the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party) and following the signing of the Enabling Act on the 23rd of March 1933, Adolf Hitler gained dictatorial powers. In April 1933 the Reich Aviation Ministry (Reichsluftfahrtministerium or RLM) was established which was responsible for all aviation in Germany. The RLM would amalgamate various flying into a single organisation, in effect forming the Luftwaffe covertly. With the repudiation of the Treaty of Versailles, the Luftwaffe was officially established on 26 February 1935.
After the end of World War Two, the Potsdam Agreement required that Germany’s war potential was to be eliminated. Under the political principles section, “all arms, ammunition and implements of war…shall be held at the disposal of the Allies or destroyed. The maintenance and production of all aircraft and all arms. ammunition and implements of war shall be prevented.” The Economics Principles section prohibited the production of all arms, ammunition and all types of aircraft. On May 5, 1955, the Allied forces formally ended their military occupation of West Germany. Four days later, West Germany was made a member of NATO. The build-up of the Bundeswehr (German military) was slow, hindered by the lack of available officers, barracks and a reluctance of volunteers to sign up for service.
In June 1955 a nine-month training programme for senior Luftwaffe officers commenced in the UK and USA. Airmen were appointed and sworn-in in November 1955. The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) in its current form was founded in 1956 as the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces of West Germany. After the reunification of East and West Germany on the 3rd of October 1990, all units of the former East German air force (Nationale Volk Armee air force) were integrated into the Luftwaffe. Most NVA units were deactivated, all NVA units were disbanded on January 1st, 1991. A select number of aircraft were integrated into the Luftwaffe, others were evaluated by NATO members but many were ultimately scrapped.
With the end of the cold war and in common with many other air forces the Luftwaffe has seen a reduction in its budget and size. There has been significant rationalisation with many command authorities, bases and flying units being disbanded. As a final note, Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 31 “Boelcke" (formerly known as Jagdbombergeschwader 31) is an example of the renaming that has taken place across the Luftwaffe. Jagdgeschwader 71 (JG 71) ”Richthofen”, being renamed Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 is another example.
