Fighting The Bombers: The Luftwaffe's Struggle Against the Allied Bomber Offensive

222 Pages·2011·4 MB·English

by  Isby

FIGHTING THE
BOMBERS
FIGHTING THE
BOMBERS
The Luftwaffe’s Struggle
Against the Allied Bomber Offensive
AS SEEN BY ITS COMMANDERS
by
General der Flieger Josef Kammhuber, Generalleutnant Josef “Beppo”
Schmid, Generalmajor Hans-Detlef Herhuth von Rohden, Dr. Willi
Messerschmitt, Generalleutnant Adolf Galland, Generaloberst Hubert
Weise, General der Flieger Wolfgang Martini, Major Heinz-Wolfgang
Schnaufer, Major Heinrich Ruppel, Major G. S. Sandmann, Major Josef
Scholls
Edited by
David C. Isby
Frontline Books
Fighting the Bombers:
The Luftwaffe’s Struggle against the Allied Bomber Offensive
First published 2003 by
Greenhill Books
published in this format in 2015 by
Frontline Books,
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street, Barnsley, S70 2AS
www.frontline-books.com
Copyright © David C. Isby
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise,
without the written permission of the Publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Fighting the bombers:
the Luftwaffe’s struggle against the Allied bomber offensive
1. Germany. Luftwaffe – Drill and tactics 2. World War,
1939–1945 – Aerial operations, British 3. World War,
1939–1945 – Aerial operations, American
4. Bombing, Aerial – Germany
I. Kammhuber, Josef II. Isby, David C.
940.5‘44941
ISBN 1-85367-532-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available
Designed and typeset by Roger Chesneau
Printed and bound in Great Britain
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).