
Fear was always a bad counselor, and fear is no position from which to view the world. Against a technical means of attack the same technical concept has always found a defense.
Generaloberst Hans von Seeckt
The Development of the German Luftwaffe
1919-1939
Professor Richard Suchenwirth
Edited by Mr. Harry R. Fletcher
US Air Force Historical Division
The Development of the German Luftwaffe, 1919 to 1939, written by Professor Richard Suchenwirth and revised and edited by Harry R. Fletcher, is one of a series of historical studies written for the United States Air Force Historical Division by men who had been key officers in or outstanding authorities on the German Luftwaffe during World War II. The overall purpose of the series is two fold :
- 1) To provide the United States Air Force with a comprehensive and insofar as possible, authoritative history of a major air force which suffered defeat in World War II, an history prepared by many of the principal and responsible leaders of that air force
- 2) to provide a firsthand account of that air force’s unique combat in a major war, especially its fight against the forces of the Soviet Union. This series of studies therefore covers in large part virtually all phases of the Luftwaffe’s operations and organization, from its camouflaged origin in the Reichswehr during the period of secret rearmament following World War I through its participation in the Spanish Civil War and its massive operations and final defeat in World War II with particular attention to the air war on the Eastern Front.
The German Luftwaffe Historical Project (referred to hereinafter by its shorter and current title, The GAF Monograph Project) has generated this and other especially prepared volumes which comprise, in one form or another, a total of more than 40 separate studies. The project, which was conceived and developed by the US Air Force Historical Division, was, upon recommendation of Headquarters Air University late in 1952, approved and funded by Headquarters USAF in early 1953. General supervision was assigned to the USAF Historical Division by Headquarters USAF, which continued principal funding of the project through 30 June 1958. With in the Historical Division, Dr. Albert F. Simpson and Mr. Joseph W. Angell, Jr., respectively Chief and, Assistant Chief of the Division, exercised overall supervision of the project. The first steps towards its initiation were taken in the fall of 1952 following a staff visit by Mr. Angell to the Historical Division, Headquarters United States Army, Europe, at Karlsruhe, Germany, where the Army was conducting a “somewhat similar historical project covering matters and operations almost wholly of interest to that service. Whereas the Army’s project had produced or was producing a multiplicity of studies of varying length and significance (more than 2000 have been prepared to date by the Army project), it was early decided that the Air Force should request a radically smaller number (around 40) which should be very carefully planned initially and rather closely integrated. Thirteen narrative histories of GAF combat operations, by theater areas, and 27 mono graphic studies dealing with areas of particular interest to the United States Air Force were recommended to, and approved by, Headquarters USAF in the initial project proposal at late, 1952. (A list of histories and studies appears at the end of this volume.)
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