Aerial warfare during Operation Barbarossa

2028:. The number of aircraft that would face the Axis in the five (Leningrad, Baltic, Western, Kiev, and Odessa) border districts, out of 13 military districts in the west of the country, was 5,440 (1,688 bombers, 2,736 fighters, 336 close support aircraft, 252 reconnaissance, and 430 army-controlled) aircraft. Around 4,700 were considered to be combat aircraft, but only 2,850 were thought to be modern. Of this total, 1,360 bombers and reconnaissance aircraft and 1,490 fighters were combat-ready. Luftwaffe intelligence suggested that a ground support force of 150,000 ground- and aircrew and 15,000 pilots were available. The actual strength of the VVS in the western Soviet Union was 13,000 to 14,000 aircraft, as opposed to the 2,800 aircraft considered operational by the Luftwaffe. Schmid estimated that the Soviet air forces were not that strong, and that it would take a long time to build up their strength and deploy it to the western border areas. In fact, the VVS and Soviet aircraft supply was well-organised far behind the front. 3777:. I./KG 55 was credited with 675 trucks, 22 tanks and 58 trains in the Battle of Kiev. One crew destroyed seven trains in a single sortie. Fuel was short owing to logistical shortcomings, and the less fuel thirst Ju 87s were to finish off the trapped forces. On 16 and 17 September, StG 77's Ju 87s destroyed 920 vehicles in the pocket and eliminated the fortress there. Soviet manpower losses were severe. Morale in the pocket was close to collapse. From 12 – 21 September 1941, Fliegerkorps V claimed 42 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 65 in the air, plus 23 tanks and 2,171 motor vehicles. To this total were added 52 trains, 6 anti-aircraft batteries, 52 trains, 28 locomotives destroyed and another 355 damaged motor vehicles, 41 horse-drawn wagons and 36 trains damaged. A bridge and 18 rail lines were severed. The cost was 17 aircraft lost and 14 damaged, nine men killed, five wounded and 18 missing. Fliegerkorps V had flown 1,422 sorties and dropped 567,650 kg of bombs. 3120: 2062:

an enormous mechanisation program. The populations' use of fuels for lighting and general civilian needs, caused OKL to assume that the Red Army and VVS could only meet peacetime fuel allocations through restrictions. It was believed that this difficulty would continue for some time. German intelligence also had a dim view of Soviet logistical capabilities. It viewed the Soviet road and rail networks as incomplete, thus the supply of aviation fuel to the VVS on the frontline would be poor and would curtail Soviet air operations. It was also thought that the bulk of Soviet industry lay west of the Urals, and was thus vulnerable to capture anyway. Although aware that the Soviet Union intended to move 40 to 50 percent of its industry east of the Urals to continue production, the Germans viewed this plan as impossible to carry out. The Luftwaffe also vastly underestimated the Soviet ability to improvise.

1920:. However, the need for counter air and ground support operations predominated in German air thinking. Hitler demanded close air support for the army, implying at least one Air Corps should be attached to each of the three Army Groups. There were four Air Corps (or Fliegerkorps) in the Soviet Union, giving one possible reserve Corps. Had production been brought up to a level commensurate with total war in 1940 and early 1941, a reserve of one Air Corps could have been set aside for strategic operations to commence with air-land operations. The splitting of tactical and strategic air units, the later being formed into one unified air command, would have done much to clarify the problem of organisation. The Strategic air units could have been freed from ground support duties which they were not trained or equipped for, while being able to carry out strategic bombing as advocated by the late General 3233:) affected the Luftwaffe's influence on the ground battle. Soviet production replaced aircraft at an "astonishing" rate, while damage to rail and communication lines were repaired very quickly, meaning German air attacks in this regard could only have temporary effect. The size of the operational theatre meant that German fighter operations were also difficult. While in quality of aircraft, combat tactics, morale and technical standard, the Luftwaffe was still ahead, the Soviets were showing a considerable ability to gain air superiority over the front as the inadequate number of German aircraft was unable to garner air control everywhere. Only local superiority could be obtained, whenever the Bf 109s appeared in strength. German Army forces continually complained about Soviet superiority in the air. The complete supremacy over the front, won in the initial strikes, was beginning to slip away. 3302: 1884:, since his days as chief of the operations staff, had opposed the notion that organisation, maintenance and logistics should be the responsibility of the General Staff. Instead, he proposed that the Staff be kept small and confined to operational matters. Supply and organisation were not the General Staff's concern. The lack of attention to logistical detail was apparent in German plans. Virtually no attention or organisation had been prepared for logistics in the Soviet Union. The Wehrmacht optimistically assumed that mechanised forces could advance into the country without major supply difficulties. Depending on railroad repair teams to mend the Soviet rail system, they believed they could finish the campaign after reaching Smolensk, using it as a jumping off point to capture Moscow. However, the units scheduled to repair rail communications lay at the bottom of German priorities. 2825:, chief of staff for Fliegerkorps VIII, was established as Close Support Leader II (Nahkampfführer II). It was an ad hoc group, which allowed Fiebig to take command of Fliegerkorps II's close support units, SKG 210 and JG 51, supporting the Second Panzer Army. Guderian, though not always in agreement with Fiebig's methods, was grateful for the quality of air support. The German army became spoiled with the level of air support, and wanted air power to support operations everywhere. Von Richthofen maintained that the Luftwaffe should be held back, and used in concentration for operational, not tactical effect. In the event, Fiebig had been operating without radios for the most part, and friendly-fire incidents were avoided by the use of signal panels and flags. In operational terms, the Luftwaffe, and in particular Richthofen, had performed well. Using the 4061:. Through late September, 100 tons arrived daily from Soviet civil aviation. In October, it increased to 150 tons daily. Losses were light owing to the Soviet tactic of flying in fog and darkness, avoiding German fighters. When Tikhvin was captured in November, TB-3s from 14th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment in addition to 7th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment. On 9 November, Stalin personally ordered that 200 tons daily were to be flown in over the following five days. 127th and 154th Fighter Aviation Regiments were handed over for escort operations. Although some formations were intercepted, most went undetected. The transports made a considerable contribution to the starving city. The MAGON GVF flew in 6,186 tons, including 4,325 tons of food and 1,271 tons of ammunition from 10 October to 25 December. Soviet fighters flew 1,836 sorties escorting them. 2008: 3185:. The VVS, having suffered terrible losses, was now in a position of numerical and qualitative inferiority. The Germans outnumbered the Soviets five to one in tanks, and two to one in artillery, but also two to one in serviceable aircraft. On 20 July the VVS KOVO had only 389 aircraft (103 fighters 286 bombers). The effectiveness of German fighter units, particularly JG 51, saw the new Pe-2 units nearly wiped out. The 410th Bomber Aviation Regiment lost 33 out of 38 bombers it had brought with it on 5 July. The IL-2 equipped 4th Attack Aviation Regiment had only 10 of the 65 aircraft after just three weeks. The Soviets had cleverly concentrated their air power at Yelnya, and the mixture of a decline in Luftwaffe strength (to 600 in the central sector) compelled the Germans to withdraw from the salient. 2054:

realisation of total Soviet military potential was the worst-case scenario, it was left out of any planning considerations. The relationship between the civilian sector, Soviet air rearmament, and the morale of the Soviet people were also underestimated. Civilian requirements were considered too high for production to be efficient, and Soviet determination to restrict civilian needs in favour of the war effort was underrated. The Soviet ability to switch production to the Urals, a region which the Germans considered as underdeveloped, was critical to Soviet war materiel production. The Germans did not believe this to be possible. The Luftwaffe's assessment that the rail transport system was primitive also proved to be ill-founded. Reinforcements steadily reached the front during

3368:. All of Fliegerkorps VIII was thrown into countering the attack supplemented by KG 76 and KG 77 from Fliegerkorps I. The attacks destroyed the Soviet concentrations. I./KG 4 conducted rolling attacks all over the front which had a devastating effect on Soviet troop's positions. Do 17s from KG 2 destroyed 18 tanks in one mission on 17 August. The Luftwaffe also maintained pressure on local airfields to maintain air superiority. ZG 26 destroyed 20 Soviet aircraft and damaged 13 more on 19 August, though the Germans claimed 40 for one loss. The next day another 18 were destroyed in counter air operations by ZG 26. Fliegerkorps I also contributed decisively to the battle, attacking and destroying Soviet rail traffic. 3392: 4030:

Leningrad's Badayevo warehouses were hit, destroying the entire sugar reserve of 2,500 tons. Crews from KG 4 flew two missions per night while the Fliegerkorps flew hundreds of missions in an effort to destroy Leningrad from the air. Missions were mainly flown at night, owing to heavy Soviet AAA fire and fighter defences, reinforced by 7 Fighter Aviation Corps. On 9 September, Luftflotte 1 carried out 479 sorties. On 10 September, it flew 436. On 11 September, the Axis ground forces advanced into the breaches created by the Luftwaffe. The German bomber units flew 478 sorties on 11 September, and pilots from the VVS KBF's 5th Fighter Aviation Regiment had to fly seven missions per day.

4076:. On Friday 19 September, six major German air attacks against Leningrad caused serious damage. Bombs hit a hospital killing 442 people. Fliegerkorps I record the loss of six aircraft. Logistics issues struck soon after, and the declining number of operational German fighters and increased demands from the German bomber crews for escort against increasingly resistant Soviet fighters left the VVS in control of the air over Leningrad. A combination of this and aggressive Soviet air attacks forced Hitler to abandon Leningrad's capture. Instead, he turned east, toward the wedge that had cut the city off from the Soviet hinterland, and to the Red Army forces that were trying to break it. 1873:(or mission command) doctrine. It encouraged the improvisation of tactics within the framework of set operational goals and advocated by-passing some levels of command under some circumstances. The air units were told what to achieve by high echelons, but not how to do it. This form of command was encouraged at the lowest levels to maintain the initiative and operational tempo. The form of warfare was an ad hoc style, but it allowed field commanders to dis-assemble and re-assemble command structures at Air Corps level, and commit them to a crisis, or urgent operations within a short period of time. This gave the Luftwaffe an unmatched degree of tactical and operational flexibility. 3562:, south west of Kiev. The German Eleventh Army prepared to cross the Dniestr river in a northerly direction. It was soon realised the Germans were attempted an encirclement operation, and the VVS was called in. The VVS Southern Front was still engaged in Moldavia, so the battered VVS South Western Front had to be deployed. Kirponos told Astakhov, commanding the VVS formation, "Take all you've got and throw it against the tanks...! Keep on attacking! This is your main task!" The few bombers left took to the air. Fortunately bad weather prevented German fighters intercepting effectively and considerable damage was done to German columns, but the offensive could not be stopped. 3226:. Another 73 precious motor vehicles, 22 tanks, 15 rail cars had also been destroyed by German air attacks along with another 40 on 25 July. As the pocket was finally destroyed in early August, the Luftwaffe contributed with another round of claims; 100 tanks, 1,500 trucks, 41 artillery pieces and 24 AAA batteries in Smolensk alone. The intensity of the air war over Smolensk it indicated in the number of operations and sorties flown; 12,653 German and 5,200 Soviet. Hitler's attention shifted to Leningrad, and Richthofen's Fliegerkorps VIII was dispatched on 30 July. Hitler's Directive 34 demanded the capture of the port city. Army Group Centre was ordered onto the defensive. 2742: 3655: 281: 270: 259: 248: 237: 226: 1817: 3569:, while German bombers pounded rail transports despite low cloud and rain. KG 27 claimed 20 trains destroyed on 20 July. Luftflotte 4 flew continuous interdiction attacks, and there was little to stop them. With the VVS needing to concentrate its diminished assets at the critical points, Soviet units were ordered back to Kiev to rebuild and help prevent the Germans crossing the Dniepr. The Soviets effectively abandoned the skies over Uman. By 25 July it became clear the effect of air interdiction was having, when a Soviet communication to Moscow stated; "All efforts to withdraw the 6th and 12th Armies to the east and north east are fruitless." 99: 3067:. Both Axis aviation groups played a decisive role in ground support operations. Attacks of the 15th Mechanised Corps destroyed 201 tanks by 30 June causing the Southwestern Front to withdraw. A Soviet counterattack on 1 July was routed by Fliegerkorps IV. On that day 220 motor vehicles and 40 tanks were knocked out by KG 51, KG 54 and KG 55. But losses were high; KG 55 lost 24 He 111s and another 22 damaged; KG 51's strength dropped by one-third, while KG 54 lost 16 Ju 88s put out of action. Nevertheless, air superiority was won, and Soviet rail and road communications were interdicted. The First Panzer Army achieved a breakthrough at 2115: 3048:'s Fliegerkorps IV. JG 3 were particularly successful, shooting down 18 bombers on 23 June. Although the Luftwaffe acknowledged that the VVS KOVO offered it the strongest resistance in June 1941, it did not save Ptukhin, who was arrested on 24 June and shot in February 1942. Indeed, the air battles had been costly for Luftflotte 4 and German Army reconnaissance units, which lost 92 aircraft (55 written off) from 22 to 25 June. In return, they flew 1,600 sorties against 77 Soviet airbases, and destroyed 774 Soviet aircraft on the ground and 89 in the air. When the Soviet 8th Mechanised Corps resumed an attack against the 2100:

in comparison to the three German grades of airbase, were thought to house command staffs and their supply administrations. What mobile airfields the Soviets maintained, were thought to be inadequate because of supply difficulties. Of the 2,000 airfields in the western Soviet Union, just 200 were considered to be of use for bomber operations. In fact, over 250 had been extended, and 164 more main bases were constructed between 8 April and 15 July 1941. Not only was this taking place, but each air regiment was given its own main field, a reserve base and an emergency landing strip. It was also, by order of the

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on strength by 22 September. It had sustained 1,283 combat losses including 749 in the air. On the Northern Front (including the arctic), total losses amounted to 2,692 since 22 June. Only 450 replacements had reached the line. Several divisions, including the 2 BAD and 41st Mixed Aviation Division were almost destroyed. It was fortunate that Soviet intelligence correctly determined that the Germans were abandoning the Leningrad offensive, and moving their armour to the central sector. It was decided that Moscow was the more vulnerable city, so the Red Army and VVS concentrated its greatest resources there.

4072:, with support from the VVS and Red Banner Fleet. The Luftwaffe responded with an aerial onslaught that surpassed the pressure exerted on the first day. German bomber units flew 606 operations against Soviet positions. Three large ships were spotted by German air reconnaissance trying to make it through to Leningrad across Lake Ladoga (it had not yet frozen). Ju 87s from StG 2 were sent to intercept and sank two of them. The VVS also made a maximum effort against German forces. JG 54 was called upon to protect German supply columns and spearheads under attack on the Luga-Leningrad highway south of 2186:

cumbersome, though they managed to offset some weaknesses by skilful improvisation. Operations were deemed to be lacking in flexibility in attack and defence and they suffered heavy losses for it. Aircrews were considered brave and eager defending their own territory, but showed a lack of fighting spirit over enemy territory. Outstanding pilots were the exception, rather than the norm. Training of Soviet pilots in formation flying was poor, as it was in bombers. Anti-aircraft units showed increased progress but the Luftwaffe saw serious shortcomings in air-to-air and air-land communication.

393: 381: 370: 359: 348: 337: 326: 315: 304: 293: 193: 438: 125: 206: 179: 40: 2305:, the Soviet leadership panicked and Stalin ordered a hasty overhaul of the armed forces. Order 0362, 22 December 1940, of the People's Commissar Defence ordered the accelerated training program for pilots which meant the cutting of training time. The program had already been cut owing to an earlier defence order, 008, dated 14 March 1940. It put an end to the flight training for volunteers, and instituted mass drafts. In February 1941, pilot training was cut further leading to a disastrous drop in the quality of pilot training prior to 1725:. Schmid still felt the Luftwaffe could defeat Britain by attacking its industries, while Waldau argued that dissipating German air strength along a wide 'air front' was deeply irresponsible. Waldau's continuing realism and non-concealed criticism of the Luftwaffe leadership and its prosecution of the war, led him to being removed from his post in 1942. Milch's skepticism soon became despair. He convinced himself a war in the East would be a disaster, and did everything he could to influence Göring to persuade Hitler not go ahead with 1796:, displayed little interest in non-operational matters and the requirements of production and planning. Thus operational plans and production plans were not synthesised. In the coming campaigns, with increased commitment of the Luftwaffe, production remained the same. Production had always risen in 1933 to 1937, but thereafter it was allowed to level off, and did not pick up again until 1942. From 1 September 1939 to 15 November 1941, 16 revisions of production and planning were called for and designed, but none were carried through. 2849:

aircraft (613 in the air and 49 on the ground). German losses were 699 aircraft. Some 480 were due to enemy action (276 destroyed and 208 damaged). After only slightly more than a week of fighting, the Luftflotten at the front saw their strength drop to 960 aircraft. In total the VVS suffered 4,614 destroyed (1,438 in the air and 3,176 on the ground) by 30 June. By the end of the fighting in the border areas on 12 July, the Soviet casualties had risen to 6,857 aircraft destroyed against 550 German losses, plus another 336 damaged.

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North-Western Front flew 908 sorties. Luftflotte 1 flew 1,126 operations on 10 August, claiming ten tanks, 200 motor vehicles and 15 artillery pieces. KG 77, on Luftflotte 1's order of battle since 22 June, was invaluable in attacks on Luga, without which the Fourth Panzer Army could not have advanced. The German Army also reported heavy enemy ground attacks, which compelled ZG 26 and II./JG 54 to turn its attention to Soviet airfields claiming 17 to 22 destroyed. On 13 August the Fourth Panzer reached the rail line connecting

2058:. Production itself was also underestimated. In 1939, the Soviet Union produced 2,000 more aircraft than Germany per year (Germany was producing just over 10,000). A monthly total of 3,500 to 4,000 aircraft were built by the Soviets; Schmid and Ernst Udet, the Luftwaffe's director of air armaments, gave figures of 600 per month, a serious underestimation. Production kept up with the destruction and the Axis capture of industrial regions, and surpassed German production by 3,000 in 1941, by producing 15,735 aircraft. 3280:

superiority, though it failed to help Zhukov make any head way at Yelnya, and Guderian achieving a series of tactical success at Roslavl and Krichev. The effect of Soviet aviation was evident in the severe losses among German transports. By 31 August, the Luftwaffe had lost 1,320 (820 destroyed) since 22 June including 170 Army reconnaissance aircraft and 97 transports and liaison machines. The overwhelming majority were lost to air attack. The VVS reported the loss of 903 aircraft from 10 July to 10 September.

1560: 2194:, chief of the operations staff commented on the Soviets as a "state of most centralised executive power and below-average intelligence". Perhaps the best summation of German attitudes to intelligence were best summed up by the Chief of the General Staff, Hans Jeschonnek, uttered to Aschenbrenner in a bid to maintain the two country's relations while the Wehrmacht was engaged in the west; "Establish the best possible relations with the Soviet Union and to not bother about intelligence gathering". 3404:

next four days more battles took place. JG 54 claimed 188 victories in August; the 7 Fighter Aviation Corps admitting 44 losses between 20 and 30 August, for 25 claims made. The 26th and 191st Fighter Aviation Regiment lost 17 fighters between them, while the 35th and 44th Fighter Aviation Regiments suffered the loss of five between them, from a force of 154 fighters (113 serviceable). The hardest hit German units were StG 1 and KG 77, which lost 20 and 14 respectively. Over the next few days,

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with other formations. Wolfram von Richthofen's Fliegerkorps VIII joined Fliegerkorps I from Luftflotte 2 to give Luftflotte 1 much needed ground support units. On 6 September, the air attacks began with an intensity not yet seen in aerial warfare. The two German air corps carried out 1,004 sorties on the first day. From this total, 186 were brought to bare on a front measuring less than 16 square miles. The 186 operations were flown in a series of attacks lasting 11 hours.

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air battles and sent their bombers unescorted. 8 BAB, 1MTAP, 57th Bomber Aviation Regiment, and 73rd Bomber Aviation Regiment were intercepted en route. Further attack by 36 bombers from 57th and 73rd Bomber Aviation Regiments was also intercepted. Another attack was made in the evening of 30 June. The 57th and 73rd Bomber Aviation Regiments also fought in the battles. The day cost the Soviets 22 destroyed and six damaged. Ivonov was placed under arrest. His successor,

3584:. In two days 148 motor vehicles and 48 Soviet tanks were destroyed which stopped the attack. Rolling attacks were used in turn against the trapped Soviet armies. On 10 August Luftflotte 2 destroyed another 300 vehicles and 54 tanks. Fliegerkorps V claimed 420 motor vehicles, 58 tanks and 22 artillery batteries. The battle ended with 79,220 soldiers of the two armies dead, and 103,054 captured, although a large number were civilians that had been rounded up. 416: 405: 427: 166: 2798:. The result was carnage. German Flak units and fighters from JG 51 decimated the formations. It was a disastrous air battle for the Soviets, which cost them, according to German claims, 146 aircraft. After this, the VVS Western Front could muster only 374 bombers and 124 fighters on 1 July, from a force of 1,789 ten days earlier. On a more positive note, the VVS' 4th Attack Aviation Regiment saw action in June; it was equipped with the 153: 2738:. Soviet fighter aviation achieved some success, being held back from fighter escort duties to cover the industrial cities. Soviet bombers tried in vain to destroy German airfields to relieve the pressure. In two notable battles, typical of the campaign, the 57th Mixed Aviation Division lost 56 aircraft on the ground and a further 53 bombers were lost against JG 27 and 53. JG 51 claimed 70 on 25 June, while the Luftwaffe claimed 351. 3796: 3144:

Division and its IL-2s from 61st, 215th and 430th Attack Aviation Regiment, which had been kept in reserve, began operations. They attacked XXXXVII Panzerkorps. One IL-2, flown by Nikolai Malyshev of the 430th Attack Aviation Regiment, took 200 hits and remained in the air. The ground-attack aircraft caused enough damage to delay the German attack. Meanwhile, German aviation also proved decisive. West of Orsha, the

3901:, the German pilots practised "helter-skelter" tactics, whereby German fighters attacked bombers and fighters singly but relentlessly to create the impression there were more Axis fighters in combat than there were. They inflicted fearsome losses on the VVS. 147th Fighter Aviation Regiment lost 33 out of 53 I-153s by 9 July. The 145th Fighter Aviation Regiment recorded a loss of 14 losses from 22 June to 10 July. 3201:'s I Flak Cops played an important part in operations south of Smolensk. As well as using his 101st and 104th motorised regiments, each with three heavy and one light battalion, supported the Second Panzer Army. It was used to protect the ground forces, and claimed 500 Soviet aircraft between 22 August and 9 September, but was also used against ground targets. It claimed 360 Soviet vehicles in the same period. 3276:

The German Ninth Army acknowledged that the "enemy enjoys air superiority in the whole army sector." The Soviets also began using fast ground attack aircraft. It made interception difficult and German fighter units often arrived late. Pursuing the Soviets was unprofitable over enemy lines because of strong Soviet AAA fire. The attacks caused light losses, but it lowered the morale of the soldiers.

3161:. Soviet aviation concentrated on the Germans and wiped out an SS Regiment. The front became confused, with large Red Army forces moving east to escape Guderian, and powerful concentrations moving forward to block it. The Luftwaffe concentrated on both streams. Soviet aviation was continually in the air and opposing German air attacks. On 16 July, a major effort of 615 sorties against the 3237:

aircraft meant only select regions could be kept under observation. It was determined the required two daily reconnaissance operations against any one line was impossible to implement for these reasons. Thus the Wehrmacht's air intelligence sections unable to act as the eyes of the army and alert it to danger. What units were available were concentrated in the areas of main pressure.

3674:. Kirponos, commanding VVS South-Western Front ordered his forces against the bridgehead at Gornostaypol, but lost 33 of his aircraft in the process. One IL-2 of the 74th Attack Aviation Regiment did knock out the bridgehead with one hit. The loss of the bridge seriously delayed the advance of the German Sixth Army. Meanwhile, 210 Attack Aviation Regiment attacked the bridgehead at 2774:, commander of the Western Front, could not locate his units. Nevertheless, Red Army's standing instructions to fire with all weapons on close support aircraft caused a rise in German losses. Luftflotte carries out 458 sorties on 28 June, half that of 26 June. On 29 June just 290 sorties were flown. The proximity of German forward airfields prevented even more aircraft being lost. 2978:, reported particularly high losses. However, while some units had nearly been wiped out (2nd and 41st Mixed Aviation Division had lost 60 bombers), they prevented the Fourth Panzer Army from reaching Leningrad before the Red Army had prepared suitable defences; it is unlikely that the Red Army could have prevented them from doing so without the intervention of the VVS. 2092:), 399 Yak 1, 1,309 MiG-3s, 322 LaGG-3 fighters, 460 Pe-2 bombers and 249 IL-2 ground attack aircraft were available. The OKL had assumed that re-equipment would be slow. Intelligence also believed the Soviets had 1,200 heavy and 1,200 light anti-aircraft artillery. The Soviets actually possessed 3,329 of the former and 3000 of the later, as well as 1,500 searchlights. 2317:

still left the VVS short of 60,000 qualified officers in 1941. Despite the expansion of flight schools from 12 to 83 from 1937 to June 1941, the schools lacked half their flight instructors and half of their allotted fuel supplies. Combined with these events, training was shortened a total of seven times in 1939–1940. The attrition and loss of experienced pilots in

1410:, Soviet production increased, out-stripping its enemies and enabling the country to replace its aerial losses. The Axis had vastly underestimated Soviet industrial and technical potential. In the following years, Soviet air power recovered from the purges and losses, gradually gaining in tactical and operational competence while closing the technical gap. 3177:. However, plentiful air support encouraged the German army units to become reluctant in advancing without air cover. German forces became inclined to retreat if the Luftwaffe was not present in strength. The army complained air liaison was not effective enough. Commander of Fliegerkorps VIII, von Richthofen, argued that it took time to organise sorties. 2154:). The flights continued until 15 June 1941, with special emphasis on airfields. Despite two Ju 86s being forced to land in the Soviet Union largely intact, with exposed cameras and film, Stalin did not register any protest. In the event, the AufklObdL and its intelligence played a vital role in the overwhelming initial success in the air. 3361:, north of Lake Ilmen, which would cut communications from Moscow to Leningrad. The battle lasted for 11 days. StG 2 played a vital part, knocking out supply bridges and destroying the fortress in the city. Novgorod was abandoned on 24 August. Luftflotte 2 noted the strength of Soviet air defences were greater than in the central sector. 2821:'s Second Panzer Army south of Minsk. Logistics were stretched and Loerzer could not direct their bomber and long-range reconnaissance units which were further to the rear. The Panzers had outrun its air support. However, to ensure seamless cooperation from close support aircraft based within 100 km from the front, Major General 3848:(Flying Leader Kirkenes), was responsible for air superiority and anti-shipping operations over Murmansk. Almost immediately, German bomber crews of KG 30 came to respect the heavy AAA defences over Murmansk. The Soviet fighter units were also more experienced the most others. Half had seen action during the Spanish Civil War, 3718:

reconnaissance machines. The VVS North-Western Front and Southern possessed 493 bombers, 473 fighters and 20 reconnaissance aircraft. Most were concentrated in the first Front. The VVS Southern Front could muster only 119 serviceable machines. Its units had sustained heavy losses in the past four weeks. As Guderian reached the

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numbers 18 divisions (five fighter and 13 bomber). The ground support units made up 86.5 per cent of their force, and were contained in 63 divisions; nine bomber, 18 fighter and 34 mixed divisions. Another 25 divisions were being set up, and the number of regiments had increased by 80 per cent in the preceding two years.

2294:, commanding the Leningrad District, most would fail in their posts and pay for that failure with their lives. A critical operational omission of the VVS was the failure to disperse its aircraft. Soviet aircraft was left closely 'bunched' into groups, and lined up on airfields, making a very easy target for the Germans. 2032:

industry, and that the Soviet Union did not possess the ability to copy foreign models, while lacking the electrometals required to do so. They based this largely on the fact that the Soviets were importing electrometals from Germany, as part of the Nazi-Soviet pact, August 1939. A report from 1938 concluded;

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unit in 1941, losing 25 of its 36 aircraft. Badly depleted, it could not support a breakthrough to isolate the Kola Peninsula, nor could it support the capture of Murmansk by Dietl. The advance halted 64 kilometres short of the Kirov railway, and three years of positional warfare set in. The greatest

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and the naval air forces. The VVS formations suffered high losses against the veteran German formations, JG 51, losing 35 aircraft on 27 August. Fliegerkorps II's bombers delayed reinforcements through interdiction. But when the Soviets did strike on 29 August, it compelled Guderian to go over to the

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on 15 July. From 22 June to 31 August, 1,775 sorties was flown against the canal; 737 by the 806th Coastal Air Group, 339 by JG 54 and eight by II./KG 1, and a number by small naval air squadrons. They sank 66,000 tons of shipping including five destroyers and another 17,000 tons of merchant shipping

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attacked German positions relentlessly, but suffered heavy losses to JG 51, the main German fighter wing in the area. But while the battles in the Fliegerkorps II area went in the German favour, the north, where Fliegerkorps VIII had operated, there was little to stop the VVS gaining air superiority.

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The most concerning aspect for the Axis at this stage as the lack of aircraft. The VVS Western Front had received 900 new aircraft in July. In contrast, Luftflotte 2 had lost 447 in the opening battles for Smolensk, 6 to 19 July. On the Eastern Front the Luftwaffe had lost 1,284 aircraft, half of its

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closed the pocket around Smolensk. SKG 210, the Bf 110-equipped close support unit destroyed or knocked out 165 tanks, 2,136 motor vehicles, 194 artillery, 52 trains and 60 locomotives with wagons. In the campaign since 22 June, it had accounted for 915 Soviet aircraft, 823 on the ground. Still, some

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With air superiority Luftflotte 1's KG 1, KG 76 and KG 77 interdicted Soviet communications, slowing down the Soviet ground forces, who failed to reach the area before the Germans broke out. Fliegerkorps I in particular contributed to the success, and the Panzers met only weak opposition. Some Soviet

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Kesselring's Luftflotte 2 had destroyed the VVS Western Front by early July. Over 1,000 air victories were filed by German pilots, while another 1,700 were claimed on the ground. Soviet sources admit to 1,669 losses in the air, between 22 and 30 June. In the same period the Soviets claimed 662 German

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Soviet industry was highly productive, and on the eve of Barbarossa, possessed at least 9,576 frontline aircraft which made it the largest air force in the World. However, its equipment, like that of the Red Army, was largely obsolescent and suffering from prolonged use. The Great Purges had also hit

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Because of the scarcity of information on the Soviet armed forces, too much reliance was placed on Russian emigres and German repatriated, especially as their attitude was one more in line with Nazi ideology; a strong belief in German cultural superiority and the National Socialist thesis of Germanic

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The OKL's view of Soviet landing grounds was also inaccurate. The Germans considered the underdeveloped nature of the airfields and lack of installations meant that units were exposed to the elements, and could not conduct effective operations from them. The better, or first class air bases, measured

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In the event, the Axis land and air operations failed to achieve their ultimate goal – the defeat of the Soviet armed forces. When operations ended in December 1941, both sides had suffered heavy losses, unparalleled in the history of air warfare to this point. Some 21,000 Soviet and several thousand

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The Germans withdrew several units from Luftflotte 1. JG 53 headed back to Germany leaving JG 54 as the air fleet's only fighter unit and Fliegerkorps VIII was given back to Kesselring for the Moscow offensive. The VVS North-Western Front was reduced to the size of a division, with only 191 aircraft

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The simultaneous battles stretched German resources. In the north Dietl's force was attacked on 2 July by the 72 SAP which flew 45 operations and dropped 400 bombs in three hours. KG 30 failed to interdict Soviet naval forces and airfields which supported the landing at Rybachy, not least because of

3610:

Von Rundstedt turned to the Luftwaffe to repeat the victory at Uman, be destroying logistics and communication lines in order to prevent the 26th Army's retreat. Löhr ordered his units into action. The main retreat route was across the Dniepr, river, so bridges were a prime target. StG 77 and its Ju

3313:

In accordance with Hitler's new directive and Luftwaffe flexibility, Fliegerkorps VIII was moved to Luftflotte 1 from Luftflotte 2 to give the former much needed ground support units. II./ and 10(s)./LG 2, III./JG 27, II./JG 52, Do 17s from Stab., I./KG 2, III./KG 3 and Ju 8s from I., III./StG 2 and

3143:

During the first five days of July 1941, Luftflotte2 logged 2,019 sorties and destroyed 353 Soviet aircraft for 41 losses and 12 damaged. On 5 July 183 Soviet aircraft were destroyed on the ground, by Do 17s from III./KG 2 and III./KG 3. Soviet reinforcements still poured in; the 46th Mixed Aviation

3104:

ended that same day. The Romanians had lost 22,765 men (10,439 killed and 12,326 wounded). Its air force had flown 5,100 sorties and shot down 88 Soviet aircraft for 58 losses. JG 77 claimed 130 destroyed in the same period. The Soviet Air Forces admitted 204 losses, but it may have been higher. Its

3018:

was impossible to use owing to scattered attacks by Soviet forces. Instead, the Ju 52 transports had to bring in supplies by air, which remained the case until mid-August. Unable to support the Army Group any further, fast moving operations ended and the battles became slow and attrition based. Army

2986:

forces would be less costly. Soviet forces did increase their effectiveness: Despite Loerzer's Corps claiming 487 Soviet aircraft destroyed in the air and 1,211 on the ground between 22 June and 13 July, aerial resistance was clearly mounting. On 13 July, Army Group North counted 354 Soviet machines

2941:

into action at Duagavpils to recapture the bridgehead. Despite the lack of close support aircraft, which was eased with the arrival of 40 Bf 110s from ZG 26, Luftflotte 1 delivered a series of air attacks, which accounted for around 250 Soviet tanks. After the attack, the Fourth Panzer Army launched

2789:

replaced him. By the end of June, an all out effort was made by the VVS Western Front to stop further Axis progress. The 3rd Bomber Aviation Corps, 42nd, 47th and 52nd Long-Range Aviation Division and the TB-3 equipped 1st and 3rd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, long-range aviation, struck at German

2726:

was defeated, and VVS forces from 13 BAD lost 64 SBs and 18 DB-3s against JG 51; that same day, 557 Soviet aircraft were lost overall. In the first three days, the Germans claimed 3,000 Soviet aircraft destroyed. Soviet figures put this higher; at 3,922. Luftwaffe losses were 70 (40 destroyed) on 24

2713:

to counterattack the advance of Army Group North. Luftflotte 1's KG 76 and 77 inflicted heavy losses on these columns. It is known the 12th Mechanised Corps lost 40 tanks and vehicles to air assaults. A lack of specialised close support aircraft forced the Germans deployed the Ju 88 in the role, and

2224:

Soviet aviation was heavily supported by a large industry. Hitler had forbidden air reconnaissance flights deep into the Soviet Union until shortly before the beginning of Barbarossa, and the Luftwaffe did not possess the aircraft with the range to be able to reach the Ural factories to see how vast

2095:

The organisation of Soviet operations was also considered poor. It was thought that the Soviet air forces did not possess communications. Only radio communications, which were operated by underskilled personnel, were operational. Communications existed with the VVS air staff, military districts, air

1887:

The ease with which the OKW assumed the Eastern campaign could be won did not take into account the enormous distances. This caused supply breakdowns and a big drop in the serviceability rates, reserves of spare parts, fuel and ammunition. This difficulty would only increase during the autumn rains,

1694:

There was no marked increase in German production in the autumn, 1940, in preparation for this major campaign. On 15 October, General Tschersich, the Luftwaffe's chief of procurement, was basing aircraft replacement on the assumption peace with Britain would be secured, and there would be no further

4012:

The Luftwaffe was free from the interference from Soviet fighters. By concentrating two Fliegerkorps on the entire sector, the Germans achieved numerical superiority. Luftflotte 1 mustered 481 aircraft (203 bombers, 166 fighters, 39 Bf 110s, 12 long-range reconnaissance aircraft and 60 Ju 87s). The

4008:

In early September 1941, the Soviet forces surrounded Novgorod and the Luga river and 20,000 Soviet soldiers were captured. With this force removed, the Army Group North could begin operations against Leningrad. Operating with a flexible command structure, the forces of Luftflotte 1 were reinforced

3717:

Fliegerkorps II attacked the Chernigov bridgeheads to slow down Soviet reinforcements while SKG 210 provided close air support. The VVS was in constant action against German bridgeheads on airfields. At the end of August, Luftflotte 4 was down to 320 bombers, around 100 operational fighters, and 35

3263:

was putting pressure on the army group's southern flank, in coordination with the other elements of the Reserve front to the north east, at Yelnya. Guderian's Second Panzer Army defeated the 28th Army, and captured 38,000 prisoners. An important part of the victory achieved by Fliegerkorps II owing

2921:

Unable to summon adequate forces, Ionov turned to the VVS KBF, the air force of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet. The plan revolved around a massive air strike, at the bridges in Daugavpils and the airfield, occupied by JG 54 at Duagava. The Soviets had not learned the tactical lessons from the previous

2316:

and operational level effectiveness suffered. The 6,000 officers lost and then the subsequent massive expansion schemes, which increased the number of personnel from 1.5 million in 1938 to five million in 1941 flooded the VVS with inexperienced personnel and the infrastructure struggled to cope. It

2065:

One of crucial failures of the Luftwaffe was to underestimate the role of civil aviation on the Soviet Union. The Germans believed that it accounted for only 12 to 15 percent of all logistical traffic, and the nature of the Soviet terrain meant that rail was relied upon to deliver around 90 percent

2061:

This was in part due to the German belief that the Soviets had insufficient fuel supplies, particularly oil, which would undermine Soviet armaments production. The energy resources (30 percent in the Ural-Volga region, 27 percent in Soviet Asia, and 43 percent in the Caucasus) were used to complete

1941:

In the tactical arena the Germans held significant leads against the Soviets. While the Soviets were not as primitive in aircraft design quality as believed, it was in tactical deployment, combat tactics, and training, along with accumulated experience that the Germans held qualitative superiority.

1791:

The Luftwaffe's production problems in 1941 lay not on the dilettantism of the Nazi leadership, but with a military leadership which did not understand the difficulties in producing modern weapons in large numbers and who evinced little worry about their enemy's capabilities. Udet, who had replaced

3772:

On 14 September, the two Panzer Armies were ordered to close the pocket. Guderian established contact with Kleist at Lubny the same day, trapping 450,000 Soviet personnel. The Luftwaffe was now asked to help retain the Red Army within the pocket so they could be destroyed. Fliegerkorps V destroyed

3733:

The intervention of German bomber units had a huge impact. At Chernigov, KG 28 bombed supply bridges and artillery concentrations. Other units were also involved. In a measure of the effectiveness of German bombers, KG 3 was credited with 349 trains, 488 trucks, 30 tanks and 450 Soviet aircraft on

3572:

But attrition was starting to show in the German ranks. Several German formations had to be sent home owing to their depleted state. Stab./JG 53, I./JG 53, I./KG 54, III./KG 51 and III./55 had all been withdrawn to Germany. I./KG 54 had been particularly successful, claiming thousands of vehicles,

3258:

The central role played by the Luftwaffe was evident when Richthofen's Fliegerkorps VIII was moved to Luftflotte 1 in early August. This left only Fliegerkorps II under Loerzer in the central from, splitting Kesselring's Air Fleet in two. Loerzer lost StG 77 to Luftflotte 4, but gained III./KG 26,

3099:

in the north. Axis aviation performed well. On 7 July III./KG 27 claimed 70 lorries destroyed while Axis fighters inflicted heavy losses to the VVS South-Western Front. The VVS managed, on rare occasion to catch the Luftwaffe on the ground. 55th Fighter Aviation Regiment knocked out 11 Ju 87s from

2981:

The Soviets were now over the most critical phase. Novikov now drew the conclusion that Soviet air forces could be effective by instituting changes. All bombers were to be escorted, Soviet fighter pilots were encouraged to be more aggressive and take part in low-level suppression attacks, and more

2249:

The consolidated report of the visit stressed among than other things: (1) that the factories were completely independent of subsidiary part deliveries (2) the excellently arranged work --- extending down to details , (3) the well maintained modern machinery, and (4) the technical manual aptitude,

2031:

OKL estimated that the Soviets possessed a workforce of 250,000, 50 fuselage/airframe factories, 15 aero engine factories, 40 factories building aircraft equipment and appliances, and 100 auxiliary factories. It was believed that the purges of the 1930s had severely affected the Soviet aeronautics

4029:

under severe pressure, forcing it back from Lake Ladoga and cutting the city off from the Soviet hinterland. The focus of German air operations shifted to the centre of the city. On the night of 8 September, beginning at 18:55, 6,327 incendiaries alone were dropped by 27 Ju 88s causing 183 fires.

3403:

Richthofen moved his units to Spasskaya, 48 kilometers north east of Novgorod to support operations. The XXXXI Panzerkorps succeeded in encircling the Soviets, but in their defence the PVO 7 Fighter Aviation Corps engaged Fliegerkorps VIII in a series of intense air battles on 25 August. Over the

3383:

shifted the XXXXI Panzerkorps south west, instead of north east towards Leningrad. He intended to surround the Soviets in the Luga-Novgorod area. But the Soviets were well prepared, not least in the air. The VVS North West received 402nd and 6th Fighter Aviation Regiments which revived Soviet air

2872:

in stepped up line astern formation. It allowed the formation to focus in looking for the enemy rather than keeping formation. Soviet aircraft fought with little regard for formation tactics, usually along or in pairs without tactical coordination. The lack of radios in aircraft made coordination

2356:

and 201 MiG-3s were operational on 22 June, and only four pilots had been trained to fly them. The attempt to familiarise pilots with these types resulted in the loss of 141 pilots killed and 138 aircraft written off in accidents in the first quarter of 1941 alone. On 31 August, the first foreign

2266:

was shot and 400 to 500 aero engineers were arrested from the Commissariat of Aviation Industry. Some 70 were shot and 100 died in forced labour camps. The others were later put into prison workshops, and allowed to continue their work. The aviation industry was disrupted, severely, and while the

2210:

On the other hand, there was a systematic failure to appreciate the level of pre-war education in the Soviet military. The ability of the Soviets to improvise and compensate for disorganisation in logistics offset their failings. Extensive use of camouflage and all arms defence against air attack

3978:

Hurricanes played an important air defence role in 1941. Britain's decision to aid the Soviets meant sending supplies by sea to the far northern ports, and as the convoys would need to sail within range of German bases from the based in neighbouring Finland, it was decided to deliver a number of

3240:

Another difficulty was communications. The Air Signals Corps was put under severe pressure. Radio signals over vast areas were vulnerable to interception so telephone lines were used instead. The line from Richthofen's Fliegerkorps VII to Kesselring's command train at Luftflotte 2 was 780 miles.

3075:

on 5 July while Pflugbeil's Fliegerkorps V assisted, destroyed 18 supply trains and 500 wagons. However, the battles resulted in heavy attrition with both German and Soviet units being withdrawn. At heavy cost, constant air attacks brought the First Panzer Army's advance to a halt. The Luftwaffe

3614:

The air battles opened on 13 August when the 88th Fighter Aviation Regiment fought over the bridgehead, against JG 3, which were concentrated there to ensure the Ju 87s were able to carry out their assignments unhindered. Through a skilfully handled withdrawal, the 26th Army was able to escape.

2717:

The air attacks on the previous day had reduced the effectiveness of the VVS North-Western Front. They sent unescorted bombers which suffered heavily without fighter escort, which was absent owing to losses in the opening air strikes. Elsewhere, the Luftwaffe helped breakdown Soviet resistance.

2206:

and in post-war British and American studies, and also in the Eastern Bloc. Soviet sources confirm that the VVS was in a state of reorganisation before the attack, and were retraining on modern machines which made it unready for a major conflict. The deductions about Soviet tactical-operational

2185:

The view of Soviet fighter aircraft, namely the I-16, was positive. But the rest of the VVS' aircraft were deemed obsolete. However, the view formed of Soviet flying crews and operational personnel was not good. In the German view they lacked General Staff training and operational procedure was

2083:

and strategic bomber and fighter forces would held back for air defence. In fact, Soviet sources indicated that 70 air divisions and five air brigades were in the front line in June 1941. Moreover, strategic bomber and fighter defence forces consisted of only 13.5 per cent of their strength and

2078:

Intelligence correctly predicted that the VVS was in a state of reorganisation since April 1939, and that the restructuring was not yet complete. The OKL believed there to be 50 air divisions in reserve, and 38 air divisions and 162 regiments in the frontline. It was believed that Soviet ground

1985:

In fighter technology, the performance capabilities were closer. The Yak 1 could compete on equal terms with the Bf 109E, while the LaGG-3 and MiG-3 were slower and less manoeuvrable. The Bf 109F held a significant flight performance advantage over Soviet fighters. In manoeuvrability terms, the

3279:

The VVS brought in large numbers of aircraft from all over the country, though most were obsolete and training machines. This brought the strength of VVS to 3,700 by August. But ill-trained and inexperienced crews resulted in continuing heavy losses. Yet by 30 August, the VVS had sustained air

3236:

The lack of aircraft for long-range reconnaissance was also a problem. In order to maintain the pressure, and locate any potential Soviet build-up operations, the Luftwaffe needed strategic reconnaissance assets. The large size of the theatre made this essential. However, the lack of units and

3043:

which was to capture Kiev and conquer the Ukraine. The Southwestern Front, Red Army was quick to react, destroying bridges along the River Bug. The Germans prepared pontoon bridges, and the VVS South West tried to halt the Axis crossing points. The Soviets claimed to have cause havoc among the

2917:

found 86 undamaged Soviet aircraft, the remains of 8th Mixed Aviation Division. Luftflotte 1 controlled the skies over the battlefields. The VVS forces had lost 425 aircraft in the air and 465 on the ground in the first eight days. Another 187 had sustained battle damage. Out of 403 SB bombers

2832:

The Luftwaffe did particular damage to Soviet railways, which Soviet doctrine relied on, aiding the Axis armies. Although one major supply bridge at Bobruysk was knocked out, 1,000 Soviet workers repaired in 24–36 hours, showing Soviet resolve. The Soviet Union was too open for attacks on road

2364:

Even the most pessimistic German intelligence reports believed, regardless of the numerical superiority of the VVS, the Luftwaffe would be dominant over the battlefield owing to technical and tactical advantages. Air attacks on German ground forces were not considered to be possible, while the

2087:

The German intelligence on Soviet aircraft quality was mixed. Schmid rightly deduced that the VVS was technically inferior in aircraft quality operations and tactics, and would be on the eve of war. However, they underestimated the growth and ability of the Soviet Union to rearm with new, more

2041:

The Luftwaffe had little intelligence on the VVS. Heinrich Aschenbrenner, the German air attache in Moscow was one of the few in the Nazi regime able to gain any clear insight into Soviet armaments potential, as a result of a visit to six aircraft plants in the Urals in the spring of 1941. His

3527:

was lost. The VVS lost 46 aircraft in defensive operations. On 26 October, Leningrad had been completely surrounded, and there was little need to attack the canal passing through, since it was blocked by siege. Luftwaffe Command Baltic was disbanded on 26 October and some of its units sent to

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bomb, dropped by KG 3. The German Army struggled to maintain the pockets when it did succeed in encircling Soviet formations. Often, the Red Army broke out at night, through gaps. In the day, small groups broke out, avoiding roads and obvious routes. The Luftwaffe failed to interdict because

2244:

that one aero engine factory in the Moscow region was six times larger than six of Germany's largest factories put together. Göring was furious with the report, and dismissed it. He believed they had fallen for a Soviet bluff. Intelligence reports regarded as negative by the OKL were usually

1768:

began. The Germans had only 1,511 bombers available for operations on 21 June 1941, compared with 1,711 on 11 May 1940, two hundred fewer. While overall, the Luftwaffe had remained much the same size, it was arguably weaker in crew quality than it had been in 1939, owing to the losses it had

2812:

pocket fell on 1 July and the two Panzer Armies pushed on towards another pocket, west of Minsk. Luftflotte 2 supported the armoured columns in relays and helped encircle four more Soviet armies near the city. Fliegerkorps VIII provided considerable support, as it was equipped for the task.

2106:, being separated from its rear organisations. The supply centres were to be organised on the forward airfields, enabling 36 air bases to operate in the western military districts and supply between two and four air divisions. This was carried out to ensure a high state of combat readiness. 2053:

The most serious omissions were in their underestimations related to the strategic sphere. OKL had vastly underestimated Soviet production capabilities. This reflected a lack of training of the German General Staff in strategic and economic warfare matters. Though a war of attrition and the

3765:. The 38th Army's attempt to prevent this was a disaster. The Luftwaffe's rolling attacks destroyed the remnants of the army. The VVS Bransk Front and VVS South-Western Front had lost an opportunity to intervene. German fighters established an air umbrella over the First Panzer Army under 3352:

The weather cleared on 10 August enabled Alexsandr Novikov to send 2 BAD and 7th Fighter Aviation Regiment of 5th Mixed Aviation Division from the Lake Imlen and Karelian Isthmus regions. IL-2s from 288th Attack Aviation Regiment claimed large success against Axis ground forces as the VVS

4087:

back on 24 September. Fliegerkorps VIII had been returned to Luftflotte 2, and the Fourth Panzer Army was sent to Army Group Centre. In addition, Fliegerkorps I's III./KG 4 and KG 76 had been sent to the central sector for the upcoming attack on Moscow. At this point, the Soviets nearly

2965:

On 7 July, Soviet aviation did play an important role in slowing the German advance and forcing the Fourth Panzer Army's advance north east, to Leningrad, to stop. They succeeded in getting among German troop and vehicle concentrations and spreading havoc on the congested bridges at the

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began with an inadequate number of aircraft, would lead to the Luftwaffe being severely depleted by the end of the year, and becoming increasingly ineffective, while consequently the VVS, thought destroyed in the early battles, became increasingly potent by end of 1941. The planning for

2970:. But they did so at a dreadful price, and lost 42 bombers to JG 54. Between 1 and 10 July, the VVS flew 1,200 sorties and dropped 500 tons of bombs. Army Group North reported heavy losses in equipment. Specifically the 1st Panzer Division noted these losses were caused by air attack. 2918:

available on 22 June, 205 had been shot down, 148 lost on the ground, and 33 damaged by 30 June. Fighter losses included 110 I-153s, 81 I-16s, and 17 MiG-3s. A problem faced by the Luftflotte was that it lacked close support aircraft, and was forced to use medium bombers in the role.

1924:. The concept of concentrating all available forces for the army, in the decisive battle became invalid, since it was the ability of the Soviets to re-arm and rebuild, through the failure of the Axis to bomb industrial regions beyond the front, that contributed to ultimate failure of 3580:, halfway between Kiev and Uman. For a while it seemed as the entire German flank was going to give way and prompt a suspension of operations at Uman. The Luftwaffe tipped the balance back in the Axis favour. Kurt Pflugbeil's Fliegerkorps V conducted rolling attacks on the attacking 2805:, and although only trained to land and take off in them, their crews were thrown into the fight. German fighter pilots were shocked by the effectiveness of their heavy armour, which deflected their fire. Still, the regiment lost 20 crews killed in these battles from a force of 249. 1618:

but operational-level interdiction. This entailed attacking enemy logistics, communications and air bases. Air strikes on Soviet war-making potential were forbidden by Hitler. It made little sense to destroy industry that would soon be in Axis hands; the German High Command (German:

2207:

limitations were to a large degree, accurate. In aircraft types, equipment and training, ground organisation, supply system at the operational level, the dispersal of effort and the operational commands immobility, gave the impression of an air force with limited striking power.

2250:

devotion frugality of Soviet workers. Other remarkable features were that up to 50 per cent of the workers were women, who were employed at work, performed in other countries exclusively by highly qualified personnel, and that the finished products were of an excellent quality.

2096:

divisions and bases, but not with the flying formations which only possessed RT and other telegraphy personnel. In critical situations it was believed radio traffic became overloaded, and the lack of airborne radio capability meant the VVS could not conduct flexible operations.

3863:

The 145th Fighter Aviation Regiment, 137th Bomber Aviation Regiment and 202 SAP carried out most Soviet operations. KG 30 caused serious damage to Murmansk's port facilities on 29 June and knocked out its power plant. Ju 87s of IV.(St)/LG 1 helped support the ground advance of

2225:

Soviet industry was. Shortly before the invasion, German engineers were given a guided tour of Soviet industrial complexes and aircraft factories in the Urals from 7 to 16 April, and evidence of extensive production was already underway. Their reports to the OKW went unheeded.

3705:. The front had 464 combat aircraft. In August 1941 the new Stavka Reserves, indicated the Soviet ability to replace losses, including six RAG (Reserve Aviation Groups) equipped with the most modern aircraft. It was also supplemented by aircraft from flight schools, from the 1959:, little to no investment was made in signals or air-to-air communications. During the later conflict, radios were not used and were thus removed. This was mostly because Soviet radios were too heavy and affected combat performance, while the Germans developed light radios. 1900:

Jeschonnek's view of air warfare was also flawed. He believed in the quick war. To this end he advocated throwing in all personnel, even training instructors into short but intensive campaigns. He did not believe in retaining reserves of pilots or material. He also, like

3249:

was critical and remained unaffected. In this tactical sphere, reports received could be acted upon in real time by use of radio in a short time, lessening the ability of the enemy to react. It enabled the Luftwaffe to respond quickly to fluid events right at the front.

3606:

was to be held. His 26th Army, which had been successfully been holding the Germans 96 kilometres south of Kiev. The army was ordered to withdraw across the Dniepr. Von Rundstedt now focused on an encirclement of Kiev from the south, aimed at destroying the 26th Army.

2727:

June. The Soviet attack lost 105 tanks to air attacks. Soviet sources acknowledged the lack of coordination between ground and air forces was poor, and that Soviet fighters failed to protect the ground forces which "suffered serious losses from enemy bomber attacks".

3479:(2,250 grt). The rest of the Soviet "fleet", were forced to change course. This took them through a heavily mined area. As a result, 21 Soviet warships, including five destroyers, struck mines and sank. On 29 August, the Ju 88s accounted for the transport ships 3148:

was surrounded by a counterattack on 8 July, and Ju 87s from StG 1, transferred from Fliegerkorps VIII, helped the division breakout. On 11 July Luftflotte 2 helped Guderian's Second Panzer Army across of the Dniepr, contributing 1,048 sorties. Soon afterwards, the

2232:, sent a stark warning that Soviet production was more sophisticated and advanced than first assumed. Hitler's reaction was to speed up preparations; "You see how far these people are already. We must begin immediately". Hermann Göring was told by the experts, from 3019:

Group North had scored an operational victory, by advancing and securing the Baltic states, but failed to capture Leningrad or destroy the Red Army's North-Western Front. By the end of July 1941, the VVS had flown 16,567 sorties in support of the ground forces.

2487:

Supporting Army Group Centre's advance on Moscow was, initially, considered the most important objective. Fliegerkorps II and VIII were given the best ground attack units, particularly the former, commanded by von Richthofen. Loerzer's Corps was to support the

1928:

to win a decisive victory. It was not until the winter, 1941-42 that Jeschonnek and Hitler revisited the idea of producing a heavy bomber to hit far ranging targets. Fliegerkorps IV was finally ready for operations after the publication of the Luftwaffe study

2023:

with its 1,500 aircraft, as well as the air defence units (PVO), which had 1,445 aircraft. The Navy split their Western air forces between the three western fleets; 114 aircraft under the Arctic Fleet, 707 under the Baltic Red Banner Fleet, and 624 under the

3180:

The Southwestern Front Red Army, and the South-Western Front, VVS, had suffered heavily and the three armies were effectively destroyed. But their delaying strategy tied down German forces for a month. They even succeeded in pushing back the 10th Panzer to

1804:), 102 reconnaissance, and 60 ground attack aircraft, plus 200 fighters in reserve and 60 miscellaneous types. This force was spread across; 31 bomber, eight dive bomber, "one, one-third" ground attack, two twin-engine, and 19 single-engine fighter groups ( 4017:

could only muster 286 aircraft (163 operational). Most were fighters. On 14 September, just 21 bombers and strike aircraft were on the order of battle (11 SBs, two IL-2s, six Pe-2s and two Ar-2s). This left the VVS Leningrad Front short of hitting power.

3379:, cutting off and encircling Tallinn and the Sixteenth Army captured Chudovo, cutting one of the two main communication lines from Moscow to Leningrad. Fliegerkorps VIII dropped 3,000 tons of bombs in the preceding 10 days in support of these operations. 2134:, which could fly so high as to be invulnerable to interception by Soviet fighters. In some cases, Soviet aviation was forbidden to try, as Stalin pursued a non-provocation policy. In the event, the Luftwaffe identified over 100 Soviet airfields between 2042:

analysis was ignored by OKL. On the whole, German views of Soviet air power were still coloured by the impressions of German engineers and officers during their collaboration with the Soviet Union in the 1920s, and the poor performance of the VVS in the

4057:(MAGON GVF). The Long-Range Aviation contributed aircraft from 7th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment and 39 TBAE from KBF's transport fleet. Apart from three of MAGON GVF's squadrons, which flew directly from Moscow to Leningrad, most operated out of 2912:

on 26 June, and advance of 240 kilometres in four days. It was nearly the case, as much of its forces had been largely destroyed. A number of Soviet aircraft had been abandoned, as was seen on 25 June, when III./JG 54 occupied the airfield near

3780:

The Luftwaffe helped maintain the effectiveness of the encirclement, preventing many, but not all, Soviet formations from escaping. In particular, the destruction of rail lines prevented Soviet forces from reinforcing the line, or withdrawing.

1448:

predicted this problem and on 18 December 1940 had issued Directive 21. It ordered the beginning of the preparations for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the USSR. On the other hand, the war with the British was far from concluded and the

2950:. However, when the Panzer Army began a breakout of the bridgehead, heavy rain prevented large-scale air operations. When the weather cleared, the Soviet committed unescorted bombers from 2nd Mixed Aviation Division, but lost 28 to JG 54. 1365:, and gaining air superiority. The success of the strike enabled the Axis to support their armies in highly successful encirclement battles in July to September 1941. Its transport fleet helped fly in vital supplies to the army when the 2190:

racial superiority. The view formed of the Slavic peoples, hammered into the Wehrmacht by Nazi propaganda, prevented the Luftwaffe forming a realistic judgement of Soviet air forces. Even the usually sound and objective Major General

3841:

The air war started in the north before 22 June. 72 SAP VVS was involved in running air skirmishes with reconnaissance aircraft. On 22 June only small raids were carried out owing to weather conditions. One of the air fleet's units,

3384:

power there. Equipped with 32 new LaGG-3 fighters, it boasted strength of 174 aircraft on 24 August. The German noticed that the Soviets had improved in quality. The bulk of the 299 aircraft available in the north were given to the

2211:

made the Soviets tenacious on the defensive. There was, on the German side, a failure to realise that the unfavourable ratio of Soviet air power to the vastness of territory applied even more so to the numerically weaker Luftwaffe.

4146:, which caused the death of the director and management. The second attack on the city brought much more destruction. GAZ was almost completely disabled. On its territory, many shops and adjoining social facilities were destroyed. 4037:, commander-in-chief of the VVS North-Western Front to dispatch all available aircraft against German troop concentrations and airfields. Despite heavy pressure by Soviet fighter bombers, the German 58th Infantry Division captured 1713:(German High Command or OKW) that the Soviet Union could not be defeated in 1941. He called for winter preparations and increases in production in the expectation the war in the East, even if successful, would last several years. 1892:. This meant German air power was operating in a theatre of 579,150 square miles. The Luftwaffe started on a 995 miles front, which extended to 1,240 from Leningrad to Rostov, then a further 620 miles from Leningrad to Murmansk. 1888:

when Soviet roads were turned to quagmires. On occasion, only the transport fleet could fly in supplies to keep units operational. The Luftwaffe's operating radius was to go no deeper than Moscow, and stretched from Leningrad to

2278:, and the theory of air power that was focused on the offensive, and bombing the enemy heartland. It was overloaded with inadequately designed bombers, which were expected to survive in combat. In 1938 production of light and 1950:

adopted by the Soviets. Moreover, all German fighters possessed radios, so they could communicate with each other. Soviet aircraft lacked this, and pilots had to communicate with hand signals. Despite repeated warnings in the

2258:

aircraft manufacturers, and the loss of personnel ended the Soviet lead in aircraft design and aeronautics. At least one designer was shot for a charge of sabotage on the crash of an aircraft, and many designers were sent to

1778:

went ahead, regardless of these failures, and the knowledge that experience in Western Europe had shown that while highly effective, close support operations were costly, and reserves needed to be created to replace losses.

3197:

100,000 Red Army soldiers escaped by Kesselring's estimate. Most escaped at night, which showed even when the Luftwaffe had air superiority, it lacked the all-weather, round the clock capability to prevent the withdrawals.

1639:

and deny the enemy the means to interfere with their operations. Once this had been carried out, close air support could be rendered to the ground forces. This had always been a core tenet of Luftwaffe doctrine. Once the

3974:

was a disaster. 20 Albacores from 827 and 828 Squadrons, and nine Fulmars from 809 Squadrons were intercepted. The FAA losses indicated 13 lost and nine Albacores damaged. Twelve five airmen were killed and 22 captured.

3880:

landed Soviet marines behind Dietl's force at the Rybachiy Peninsula. LG 1's Ju 87s could not be concentrated on the force, as they were shifted 320 kilometres to the south to help the Finnish-German XXXVI Corps push to

3876:. The 137th Bomber Aviation Regiment sank one freighter and inflicted heavy damage to the Wharf area and oil tanks in the ports. After advancing only 24 kilometres Dietl's force was halted. Worse was to follow, when the 1782:

In a document issued by the Department of the Luftwaffe General Staff on 15 November 1940, it was clear that production was barely adequate to maintain current strength, much less expansion of the Luftwaffe. It stated:

2762:

reconnaissance aircraft warned the Soviets. Richthofen developed ad hoc tactics; armed reconnaissance. His commanding officer, Kesselring, ordered Luftflotte 2 to fly armed reconnaissance missions, using bombers and

2088:

capable aircraft. The OKL was completely unaware that over 2,739 aircraft including the most modern types had been produced and were in service. Although still lacking in some ways (only the I-16 and SB aircraft had

2019:, the Luftwaffe's senior intelligence officer, identified 7,300 aircraft in the VVS and long-range aviation in the western Soviet Union, when the actual figure was 7,850. However, Luftwaffe intelligence ignored the 6293: 2036:

it seems doubtful the Soviet aircraft industry will be able to equipe the large air forces the Soviet command is endeavouring to establish....Soviet air power can no longer be rated as highly as it was two years

3618:

Löhr, with help from Kesselring's Luftflotte 2, turned to preventing the remnants of the Red Army's Southwestern Front escaping over the lower Dniepr. Luftflotte 2 supported Guderian in the north. On 17 August

3918:

by LG 1. Just days later it was moved back to support the offensive at Salla. The unit was treated like a fire-brigade, rushing from one hot spot to another. IV(St)./LG 1's Ju 87s suffered more than any other

3550:

had offered severe resistance to Army Group South, under von Rundstedt. In mid-July it halted the Axis advance west of Kiev. Frustrated, Rundstedt instructed the bulk of his army group to head south, towards

1828:

The Luftwaffe was highly effective at carrying out close support operations, in direct or indirect support of the army and at winning and maintaining air superiority. German doctrine, and experiences in the

1373:

played an important role on the defensive, countering the Soviet offensive in December 1941. Despite debilitating losses, Soviet aviation also played a crucial role in stemming the invasion and allowing the

2954:

aerial resurgence was seen on 5 July, but the threat was dealt with and 112 Soviet aircraft were destroyed on the ground. A soviet counterattack still occurred, and wiped out a forward advance party of the

2653:, its main goal was the disruption of Soviet road and rail traffic to and from Leningrad – Murmansk, and the interdiction of shipping in the later port, which was bringing in American equipment across the 3647:, north of Kiev, followed the 26th Army across the river on 23 August. The same day, after Hitler's order to focus on Leningrad and Kiev, Guderian's Second Panzer Army, Army Group Centre, pushed south at 3420:

island, claiming 26 batteries, 25 artillery pieces, 26 motor vehicles, 16 field emplacements, seven bunkers, seven barracks, one ammunition dump and two columns of horse-drawn transport. In addition four

3139:

operation Fiebig's Close Support Command II provided direct ground support, Fliegerkorps VIII, focused on the northern part of the front, while Loerzer's Fliegerkorps II focused on the Soviet rear areas.

1799:

The strength of the Luftwaffe amounted to 4,389 aircraft, of which 2,598 were combat types and 1,939 were operational. The inventory amounted to 929 bombers, 793 fighters, 376 dive-bombers, 70 destroyers

2833:

intersections to have much effect on preventing supplies reaching the line, or enemy units retreating, so bridges were focused on. The Luftwaffe continually attacked Soviet airfields around Smolensk and

1764:

had inflicted losses the Luftwaffe had not fully replaced. By the conclusion of the Balkans campaign, the strain put on German resources and its effects on production was already showing, even before

3670:, 160 kilometres to the south as Guderian broke through the weak Soviet flank, at the junction of the 13th and 40th Soviet Armies, advancing 96 kilometres in the first day and seized bridgeheads at 3416:. On 21 October all the Baltic islands were declared under Axis control. The Luftwaffe's losses eight Ju 88s, two Bf 110s, two Bf 109s and an air-sea-rescue aircraft. It flew 1,313 sorties against 4131:(now Nizhny Novgorod). Therefore, the German command developed a plan to destroy the industrial potential and occupation of the city. Thus, Germany was counting on gaining control over the entire 2998:

also. At this point, Army Group North was subjected to the heaviest air attacks thus far. Novikov had concentrated 235 bombers from the North and North-Western Front. It supported an offensive by

6303: 6298: 1966:, could outrun the main Soviet fighter, the I-16, above 3,000 metres (9,000 feet). At that altitude an I-16 could attack only if it took the Ju 88 by surprise. The SB bomber was the equal of the 3287:

had been stopped short of Moscow. Many started to hope for an imminent turning point in the war. However, the focus of the Wehrmacht had shifted to the north and south; to Kiev and Leningrad.

1916:

Strategic bombing could have been carried out during the first surprise operations in June 1941, especially on those Soviet armament works that lay within range of the He 111; near Moscow and

1599:, in a series of encirclement operations, to prevent a Red Army retreat into the more eastern areas of Russia. There was hope this would be enough to force a collapse of the USSR and then the 3734:

the ground. It also shot 21 fighters down in combat since 22 June. As a result of air attacks, the Bryansk Front called off the offensive. Counterattacks were ordered by Budyonny against the

2297:

Soviet training left much to be desired. Stalin's purges had deprived the VVS of its senior and best commanders. It heralded a debilitating decline in military effectiveness. In light of the

3742:

attacked, but was pinned down by heavy air attacks. It reported; "Impossible to move in the open terrain due to aerial attacks". Soviet air attacks suffered heavy losses to German fighters.

2856:(or pairs) which relied on wingman-leader tactics. The two flew 200 metres apart, each covering the others blind spot. In combat the leader engaged while the wingman protected his tail. Two 2274:. It relied on too few established designers and an over-centralised system which produced aircraft that fell behind the standards of most powers. The VVS was also profoundly influenced by 3844: 1322:

took place over a six-month period, 22 June – December, 1941. Aviation played a critical role in the fighting on the Eastern Front during this period, in the battles to gain and maintain

3558:

The Luftwaffe's attacks on Soviet railway lines had a tremendous impact on the Red Army's ability to conduct operations west of the Dnieper. It enabled the First Panzer Army to capture

4083:. But reinforced, it began to threaten the German XXXIX Corps occupying the wedge that cut Leningrad off from the rest of Russia. Provided with effective air support, they forced the 3627:, but the air fleet was too weak after eight weeks of operations and was unable to achieve success. Operations were soon shifted to helping the First Panzer Army across the river at 6258: 4050: 5987:. 'The Luftwaffe and Agility: An Assessment of Concepts and Relevant Concepts and Practices' in Air Power: The Agile Air Force, ( Royal Air Force 2008 Publication), pp. 40–49 3868:'s XIX Mountain Corps. Without the Ju 87s and their continuous attacks on Soviet positions, an advance to Murmansk could not have been made. The VVS struck at German logistics in 2926:

took command of the remnants of the VVS North-Western Front, but it had ceased to be a force to be reckoned with. The VVS KBF now assumed responsibility for most air operations.

1442:

was unlikely to threaten its European territories. However, by this point of the war, Germany was in dire need of raw materials and oil resources available in the Soviet Union.

2697:

For the first eight days, the Axis put Soviet air bases under intense pressure in a bid to exterminate their air forces while providing the close support demanded by the army.

1845:. Their aircrews were still highly trained, and despite attrition, still had a cadre of experienced personnel. The air-to-ground support was the best in the World at the time. 2962:, cutting off all supply lines to the city and destroyed 140 Soviet tanks for two bombers lost. More Soviet air strikes against the spearheads were repulsed with high losses. 2290:

The purges affected the leadership of the VVS. In June 1941, 91 per cent of major formation leaders had been in place for just six months. With the exception of Major General

6288: 3814:

and the Kirov railway were the major objectives; the later was Murmansk's life line to the Soviet interior. The port was the only ice-free port in northern Russia. Only the

2852:

The disasters of the VVS were largely down to two reasons; the better tactics used by the Luftwaffe and the lack of communications between Soviet pilots. The Luftwaffe used

4123:

In November 1941, the Wehrmacht was already near Moscow. But from the rear of the Soviet Union, military equipment and armaments continued to arrive. The main supplier was

3052:, support for the Corps resulted in 22 German aircraft being shot down. Fliegerkorps IV's losses represented the lion's share of otherwise moderate German losses to date. 1905:, head of the Technical Department, favoured dive bombers. He insisted all aircraft should have the capability, which retarded the development of capable bombers like the 1453:

were supporting them, while showing an increasingly hostile attitude towards the Axis. A protracted war in the east could be disastrous, so a quick victory was essential.

6283: 3510:

Luftwaffe Commander Baltic had been set up in April 1941, and brought together units under an ad hoc command system to disrupt Soviet sea traffic around Leningrad. The

2770:. The Red Army eased German operations by failing to utilise radios and relying on telephone lines, which had been damaged by air attacks, causing communicative chaos. 3412:

transports brought in supplies for the infantry formations ashore, while bombing attacks were carried out against coastal batteries during further operations, such as

2324:

The process of modernisation in the VVS' frontline strength had started to gain pace and strength. The alleged technical primitivity of Soviet aircraft is a myth. The

82:

Inconclusive, both Axis and Soviet aviation contributed decisively to offensive and defensive operations, although the Axis failed to achieve their grand strategic aim

4088:

re-established communications with Leningrad, and driving the German XXXIX Corps back. The army turned to the Luftwaffe to fly in reinforcements quickly. The Spanish

3678:. It claimed several tanks and 13 German vehicles. The Romanian, Hungarian, Italian and Slovakian air units were involved in the combats. The 22 Gruppo Caccia had 51 3519:

damaged, probably beyond saving. One heavy cruiser, 17 destroyers and 132,000 tons of merchant shipping was damaged for the loss of 11 Ju 88s and five Bf 109s. Three

2845:

noted: "The number of track sections occupied with standing trains is increasing satisfactorily". In the event, 287,000 prisoners were taken in the Minsk operation.

513: 3904:

On 14 and 16 July the Soviet Fleets landed more forces behind Dietl. LG 1's Ju 87s were shifted back to support the Mountain Corps. On 20 July the Soviet destroyer

2229: 3611:

87s were called upon to make unbroken attacks on the bridges, particularly at Kanev. The VVS concentrated all available fighter forces in defence of the bridges.

2254:

Even though it maybe assumed the best factories were shown, the conclusion may also be drawn that other Soviet factories were also capable of the same standards.

2361:

was among those handed over but the Soviets did not have Russian-language manuals. The type was evaluated and made it into operations in September/October 1941.

3555:. The intention was to envelop the Soviets via a flank attack on their open left flank. Luftflotte 4 under Alexander Löhr was ordered to support the operation. 3169:

area, claiming 14 tanks, 514 trucks, nine artillery and two anti-aircraft guns. By 17 July, the 16th and 20th Soviet armies were surrounded at Smolensk and the

4054: 2472: 2165:

leadership noted the flights heralded an imminent offensive, but Stalin ordered them not to interfere. He was paranoid about provoking the Germans. But when a

3826:. The 14th Army protected the northern Kola, the Kirov railway and Murmansk port. The German forces suffered from huge logistics issues. It was only when the 4014: 3385: 3329:

demanded all out attacks on the Axis by the VVS. Although the VVS North-Western Front had 560 aircraft, they were dispersed because of another attack by the

4080: 2999: 2923: 2270:

While numerically the strongest air force in the world, the VVS was an imbalanced force in comparison to the British, Americans and Germans at the time of

1614:

developed its communications, aircraft, training programs, and to an extent its logistics to support mobile operations. Its primary mission was not direct

2785:

region. Disrupting communications prevented the Soviets from relieving the pocket. Pavlov and his staff were summoned to Moscow and then shot on July 22.

2070:

prime target. The civil air organisation was deemed too primitive and ineffective. In wartime, it would contribute significantly to supporting logistics.

3698: 3337:, north of Leningrad. To support the defence in the north, 162 Soviet aircraft were dispatched. The VVS KBF Naval Aviation was tied up in supporting the 2626: 6278: 6273: 6263: 4069: 3028: 2202:

The Luftwaffe's general picture of the VVS was entirely correct in many aspects in the military field; this was later confirmed in the early stages of

2500:

on the right. The Luftwaffe's front was only 186 miles long, but stretched 680 miles deep. The 1st AA Corps was to help break down border fortresses.

2321:

encouraged a culture of rapid promotion to positions beyond some pilots' level of competence. It created severe operational difficulties for the VVS.

1627:) did not believe the USSR could transfer its industry to the Ural Mountains. Counter-air operations were considered more important. In order for the 3727: 2638: 252: 1792:

Milch in technical and production affairs, possessed neither the temperament or technical background to do the job. The Chief of the General Staff,

1234: 6268: 3272: 3259:

I./KG 28 and KGr 100. The lack of substantial air support forced Army Group Centre to abandon a drive on Moscow, and instead to Roslava, where the

2771: 2122:

Extensive aerial intelligence flights were carried out on Soviet air bases after 21 September 1940. The main units involved were the high-altitude

1741:, while weakening the British hold on the eastern Mediterranean would be the most ideal strategy. Hitler dismissed this. Hitler also dismissed the 1182: 1090: 274: 4045:

pulled together aircraft from various commands to supply the encircled city from the air on 13 September. The Civil Air Fleet contributed PS-84s (

3702: 3223: 2889: 2754: 2177:. Rychagov was tortured then executed on 28 October 1941. At this point, the VVS had 1,100 airfields in the west, but just 200 were operational. 1252: 1158: 263: 3640: 1689: 1116: 3301: 1112: 506: 3357:

to Leningrad. Novikov dispatched 126 navy aircraft to assist the 8th Army, but air cover was limited. The German Eleventh Army reached Lake

3119: 3710: 2722:'s Fliegerkorps VIII operated unopposed in the air destroyed large amounts of Soviet ground targets. On 24 June, a Soviet counterattack at 2590:

on the right. The Luftwaffe's front was only 125 miles long, but stretched 528 miles deep. It was also assigned to dealing with the Soviet

3897:

with a range of 128 to 160 kilometres, increasing numbers of Bf 109s and Bf 110s put the VVS under pressure. In what may be described as

3615:

Luftflotte 4 failed in its operations to isolate the Soviets, and the defenders themselves blew the bridge once their move was complete.

3447: 2946:'s Northern Front became responsible for operations in the Baltic. It had escaped damage, owing to its assignment in the far north, near 1567:

The German plan for the USSR was to win a quick war, before Soviet superiority in numbers and industry could take effect, and before the

2892:

and his VVS North-Western Front had avoided the near destruction of the VVS Western Front, but at the cost of conceding much territory.

3219: 2007: 5872:. 'The Luftwaffe's Army Support Doctrine, 1918-1941' in The Journal of Military History, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan., 1995), pp. 53–76 2959: 2757:

had its headquarters destroyed near Brest-Litovsk by Ju 87s from StG 77. The fortress in Brest-Litovsk was destroyed by an 1800 SC

2374: 840: 835: 499: 3475: 1787:

own production at best ensures maintenance of the present strength. Expansion is impossible (either in personnel or in material).

3730:, were concentrated in order to protect them, and were involved in intense air battles with the 249th Fighter Aviation Regiment. 2829:, forward radio liaison officers, the mechanised divisions could summon air support very quickly, usually after a two-hour wait. 2749:

The Luftwaffe also flew support for the ground forces, with Richthofen's Fliegerkorps VIII flying valuable support missions. The

2169:

aircraft landed in Moscow without permission, Stalin grew concerned with his air force leaders. He ordered the arrest of General

550: 3059:(Magyar Királyi Honvéd Légierőthe). It consisted of 530, mostly obsolete combat aircraft, including 86 German Ju 86 and Italian 1913:

denied the Luftwaffe the chance to hit Soviet factories in the far reaches of the Urals and at least disrupt enemy production.

830: 6225: 6204: 6190: 6175: 6157: 6143: 6129: 6104: 6090: 6076: 6062: 6029: 6014: 5979: 5961: 5947: 5919: 5904: 5887: 5852: 5838: 5824: 5809: 5795: 5781: 3364:

The Northwestern Front, Red Army, attempted to relieve the pressure in the Novgorod sector. It launched a counterattack near

2994:

In mid-July, the battered Fourth Panzer Army reached the Luga River, 96 kilometres south of Leningrad. The Germans closed on

1468:). This would yield vast resources such as oil, rare metals, industrial cities and huge populations which would work for the 818: 3127:

The victory at Białystok–Minsk was the first of two major encirclements for Army Group Centre. The second took place in the

6044: 4291:

acknowledged that Blitzkrieg was not a pre-planned doctrine, but a method of operational improvisation driven by necessity.

2938: 2710: 2706: 1083: 675: 540: 3834:

that these problems were eased. The aim of the Axis was to capture Murmansk, the severe the Kirov railway and isolate the

1438:

as the only significant opposition). Axis forces deployed in Europe could only be engaged in the air or at sea, while the

3905: 3229:

The increased size of the operational theatre, and the ability of the Soviets to replace losses (partly through American

3105:

strength fell from 826 non-serviceable to 358, a decrease of 468. German losses amounted to 31 destroyed and 30 damaged.

2702: 2267:

damage caused was later patched up in 1941, months of idleness and disorganisation contributed to the disasters in 1941.

1974:. In July 1941, waves of unescorted SBs would be shot down in large numbers in an effort to stop the German advance. The 1730: 1267: 931: 641: 545: 5858:

Cooper, Mathew (1981). The German Air Force 1933–1945: An Anatomy of Failure. New York: Jane's Publishing Incorporated.

5815:

Boog, Horst with Jürgen Förster, Joachim Hoffman, Ernst Klink, Rolf-Dieter Müller, and Gerd R. Ueberschär, Ewald Osers.

6253: 2687: 1362: 1306: 901: 144: 5999: 5933: 5863: 3543: 2841:

also received special attention. Luftwaffe interdiction against Soviet communications was also considerable. General

906: 796: 697: 6163:

Overy, Richard (1980b). "Hitler and Air Strategy". Journal of Contemporary History. 15 (3): 405–421. ISSN 0022-0094.

3893:

VVS fighter defences. The Germans' response was to bring in elements of JG 77, a Bf 109-equipped unit. Supported by

1610:

was essential in the kind of operations the Axis' ground forces were going to perform. In the Inter-War period, the

4118: 4093: 3651:

with the aim of joining with Rundstedt to the east of Kiev. Fliegerkorps II used JG 51 and SKG 210 to support him.

3150: 2341: 1284: 1169: 886: 881: 651: 3006:

on 14 July. Flying 1,500 sorties, they helped push back the Germans 40 kilometres and inflict heavy losses on the

2778: 2511:(JG 53, Fighter Wing 53), and 2.(F)./122, which was equipped with Ju 88s, Do 17s, Bf 110s and He 111s. II., III., 2401:

in their quest to capture Kiev and Rostov on an initial front of 215 miles. Rostov was 950 miles from its base at

1127: 574: 6114: 3762: 3706: 2955: 2719: 1956: 1761: 1076: 363: 198: 4025:

on the left and the XXXIX Corps on the right, forming a two-pronged attack. Fliegerkorps VIII put the defending

3746:

intervened personally and over 90 per cent of Soviet aviation to counter Guderian in the north and support the

3264:

to weak Soviet air defences. Most of the 3rd Bomber Aviation Corps in the area, under the overall direction of

1833:, then Europe, had developed suitable aircraft for the role, such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109, Heinkel He 111, 957: 801: 3391: 6248: 2987:

in the skies. All this compelled the Luftwaffe to return to bombing airfields. Of particular concern was the

1543:) during the Axis military campaigns against the Western Allies. For Operation Barbarossa, around 65% of the 1176: 1038: 1028: 918: 670: 4100:

were all flown in by I., II., IV./KGzbV 1, KGrzbV 106, I., and II./LG 1 of the Luftwaffe's transport units.

3457:, more damage was done. On 28 August the Ju 88s had more success when KG 77 and KGr 806 sank the 2,026 3309:(left) and Richthofen of Fliegerkorps VIII. Richthofen's Corps was a specialised ground attack organisation. 2507:

and Dornier Do 217 for its command headquarters. Fliegerkorps VIII under Richthofen possessed I, and III.,/

3766: 3511: 3454: 3076:

noted that the Soviets used their aviation to gain time, while the Red Army established a defence at Kiev.

1667:). Airborne infantry operations were considered to capture river crossings but the heavy losses during the 1208: 991: 746: 709: 614: 523: 211: 27: 2424:

The units committed to the Air Fleet were both medium bomber and fighters. Fliegerkorps V under Greim had

1635:

s bombers to operate effectively in their roles, the first task of the Axis aviation was to eliminate the

6230:

Statiev, Alexander. 'Antonescu's Eagles against Stalin's Falcons: The Romanian Air Force, 1920-1941', in

4079:

The Soviet 54th Army was renamed the 48th Army in September. It had been depleted to 6,000 men after the

2930: 2245:

dismissed. In particular, Aschenbrenner listed some warnings that German intelligence had not picked up:

1701:(Air Force High Command or OKL) were unaware of Hitler's intentions, or they did not take him seriously. 1514:) were to assist militarily and allow their countries to be used as a base for the German Defence Force ( 3654: 4097: 2741: 2601:

and Dornier Do 217 for its command headquarters. Helmuth Förster and Fliegerkorps I, was equipped with

2469: 1709: 1697: 1023: 985: 751: 3063:. It supported Pflugbeil's Corps in support of the First Panzer Army which was struggling against the 3576:

On 7 August the Soviets attempted to relieve the pocket by launching a surprise counter offensive at

3442: 3413: 3128: 3114: 3064: 3056: 1816: 1749: 1228: 1164: 1122: 1018: 626: 594: 569: 3010:. The Luftwaffe struggled to be effective because of logistical problems: the only supply road from 2658: 2520: 2456:(Learning Wing 2). The Deutsche Luftwaffenmission Rumanien (German Air Force Mission Romania) under 4026: 3822:

were deployed. The 7th almost covered the entire Soviet-Finnish border between Lake Ladoga and the

3819: 3747: 3739: 3581: 3566: 3429:, 13 merchant ships and four smaller ships were sunk. In the air 15 enemy aircraft were destroyed. 3260: 3170: 3162: 3154: 3003: 2476: 2191: 1718: 1651:

thus began preparations to neutralize the Military Aviation of the Workers' and Peasants Red Army (

1450: 1257: 937: 729: 3602:, decided to abandon most of the western Ukraine, in light of the Uman disaster. Only the port of 2114: 1994:

could outturn the Bf 109, while the Soviets had more experience in the use of air-to-air rockets.

1962:

The technical differences were enough to give the Luftwaffe the edge. The latest bomber type, the

4143: 3849: 3815: 3644: 3620: 3380: 3338: 2750: 2559: 1921: 1536: 1279: 1240: 996: 813: 775: 763: 646: 631: 397: 3123:

Kesselring (left), with his chief of staff, Wilhelm Speidel (centre), and Hermann Göring (right)

6111:

Force Strategy, Blitzkrieg Strategy and Economic Difficulties: Nazi Grand Strategy in the 1930s

3458: 2958:. Again, the Luftwaffe interdicted and the three bomber groups flew ground support missions at 2540: 2536: 2353: 2349: 2142:. Around 500 flights, at altitudes of up to 36,500 ft (11,130 m) were carried out by 2089: 1846: 1675:

s paratrooper forces to a reserve role (when deployed, it was usually for special operations).

1439: 1419: 1193: 1142: 891: 864: 741: 584: 442: 3803: 2650: 352: 5788:

Black Cross Red Star: The Air War Over the Eastern Front Volume 1: Operation Barbarossa, 1941

4022: 3898: 3877: 3735: 3593: 3372: 3084: 2579: 2575: 2414: 2406: 2394: 1198: 869: 858: 609: 3044:

advancing Germans but 2nd and 4th Bomber Aviation Corps suffered significant losses against

3984: 3947: 3935:. As a naval strategist, the Far North appealed to Churchill for intervention. He sent the 3886: 3806:'s Luftflotte 5 was responsible for Axis air operations over the far north, along with the 3790: 3636: 3409: 3193: 3189: 3145: 2489: 2398: 2358: 2282:

as well as fighters was to be cut in two to allow for more bomber aircraft to be produced.

1971: 1801: 1342:. The Axis air forces were generally better equipped, trained and experienced in executing 1319: 1213: 1100: 924: 806: 757: 563: 3314:

II./StG 1 and III./StG 1 now came under the air fleet's order of battle. On 8 August, the

3214:

still contributed to the fighting; claiming 126 trains and 15 supply bridges destroyed at

1147: 589: 8: 5774:

From Barbarossa to Odessa, Volume 1: The Air Battle for Bessarabia 22 June - 31 July 1941

4084: 3980: 3873: 3693:

sought to encircle Guderian's spearhead. It was given the best Soviet equipment, and new

3408:

captured the small Estonian islands and the Luftwaffe turned its attention to Leningrad.

3388:. Only the 1st and 55th Mixed Aviation Division were assigned to the VVS Karelian Front. 3242: 3198: 3080: 3007: 2975: 2602: 2547: 2410: 2166: 2080: 1866:, to allow for accurate air support, free from friendly-fire incidents and in real time. 1854: 1493: 1137: 1001: 967: 912: 2570:

Army Group North's advance on Leningrad was supported by Fliegerkorps I. Advancing from

1745:'s objections that it was the British and their shipping lanes that was the main enemy. 1559: 39: 3671: 3426: 3422: 3322: 3315: 3296: 3036: 2934: 2905: 2901: 2670: 2666: 2622: 2618: 2583: 2555: 2445: 2433: 2429: 2425: 1979: 1933:

in November 1943. However, the project was abandoned as there was no capable aircraft.

1347: 1223: 1011: 972: 952: 947: 845: 620: 415: 404: 158: 1909:, by complicating the design, thus delaying development and production. The lack of a 1769:

suffered, even in successful campaigns. The failures in production, and the fact that

1406:

Axis aircraft were destroyed. With its factories in the Urals, out of range from Axis

6221: 6200: 6186: 6171: 6153: 6139: 6125: 6100: 6086: 6072: 6058: 6040: 6025: 6010: 5995: 5975: 5957: 5943: 5929: 5915: 5900: 5883: 5859: 5848: 5834: 5820: 5805: 5791: 5777: 4034: 3932: 3807: 3573:

240 aircraft and hundreds of tanks and artillery destroyed at a cost of 23 aircraft.

3405: 3342: 3088: 2943: 2786: 2781:. Kesselring, Loerzer and Richthofen concentrated on supply centres in the Minsk and 2614: 2610: 2606: 2551: 2532: 2528: 2516: 2512: 2508: 2461: 2449: 2441: 2291: 2047: 1830: 1753: 1644:

had been reached, the Luftwaffe was to destroy the surviving factories in the Urals.

1636: 1615: 1585:, though the concept is controversial and unrelated to any specific German doctrine. 1528: 1489: 1391: 1331: 1274: 1245: 1203: 896: 724: 319: 241: 3245:. However, the development of radio and their use with forward air controllers, the 3032: 2701:, commander of the North-Western Front (Baltic Military District) ordered the large 2597:

Under Alfred Keller, the Luftwaffe contained K.Gr.z.b.V. 106, a transport unit with

330: 297: 3992: 3988: 3963: 3953: 3944: 3690: 3547: 3396: 3334: 3040: 2942:

an attack across the Daugava River. The state of the VVS North-Western Front meant

2698: 2662: 2524: 2503:

Under Kesselring, the Luftwaffe contained IV./K.Gr.z.b.V. 1, a transport unit with

2453: 2437: 1987: 1967: 1757: 1652: 1591:

task was to destroy as much of the Soviet military forces as possible, west of the

1355: 1343: 1335: 1289: 1262: 1218: 1152: 1132: 1050: 1044: 1033: 1006: 942: 850: 703: 692: 665: 657: 636: 579: 2766:

from LG 2, to suppress the Soviet ground forces being encircled by the Second and

4128: 4073: 3995: 3959: 3925: 3599: 3158: 3049: 2767: 2763: 2735: 2587: 2497: 2493: 2390: 2325: 2302: 2279: 2025: 1991: 1881: 1863: 1859: 1793: 1668: 1515: 1323: 1055: 962: 824: 789: 714: 604: 472: 420: 409: 308: 47: 1460:

as a military, political and economic power, by occupying the country up to the

6117:

for Defence Studies, Journal. Volume 128, Series 1. March 1983, pp. 39–43.

5972:

Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East, 1942-1943

3924:

success of the Axis in the north came not against the Soviets, but the British

3835: 3823: 3675: 3624: 3537: 3060: 3045: 2971: 2967: 2818: 2654: 2630: 2465: 2345: 2337: 2174: 2170: 2143: 2131: 2127: 1906: 1870: 1695:

military operations until 1 April 1947. Either the procurement officers of the

1465: 1435: 1427: 1387: 1366: 1188: 768: 599: 431: 374: 285: 230: 116: 3440:

inflicted severe losses on Soviet shipping. KGr 806 sank the Soviet destroyer

1880:

the logistical elements had been largely ignored. Chief of the General Staff,

1869:

The German air operations staff, at all levels, also practiced the concept of

1729:. Initially, Göring kept his word, and argued that pursuing a strategy in the 6242: 4089: 4038: 3967: 3936: 3774: 3743: 3686: 3623:'s Fliegerkorps V opened intensive operations against the traffic centres of 3365: 3326: 3265: 2983: 2893: 2822: 2814: 2799: 2634: 2598: 2504: 2333: 2275: 2263: 2139: 2123: 2016: 1975: 1963: 1947: 1889: 1842: 1838: 1834: 1714: 1592: 1572: 1407: 1327: 437: 385: 341: 184: 2625:(KG 77). Fliegerführer Ostsee (Flying Leader East Sea) under the command of 1418:

By 1941, the Axis powers were in a comfortable position after defeating the

5984: 5967: 5769:

in Technology and Culture: Volume 17 (November, 1976 issue): pp. 55–81

4288: 4132: 4046: 3865: 3679: 3659: 3559: 3524: 3433: 3330: 2842: 2591: 2571: 2457: 2233: 1910: 1742: 1734: 1704: 1457: 1445: 719: 392: 380: 369: 358: 347: 336: 325: 314: 303: 292: 280: 269: 258: 247: 236: 225: 130: 104: 71: 31: 5817:

Germany and the Second World War Volume IV: The Attack on the Soviet Union

3514:

was rendered unusable for some time after a major lock was knocked out at

2809: 5892: 5875: 5869: 3894: 3869: 3520: 2878: 2874: 2313: 2020: 1943: 1576: 1474:

as slave labourers. It would also provide enormous living space (German:

1470: 1423: 1351: 6294:

Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving the Soviet Union

4730:

The Men of Barbarossa: Commanders of the German Invasion of Russia, 1941

2475:

was also attached as a reserve. Luftflotte 4 was to coordinate with the

5760:

The Luftwaffe and the Battle for Air Superiority: Blueprint or Warning?

4139: 4064:

A Soviet counter offensive on 14 September drove the Germans back from

3853: 3628: 3268:, was protected Moscow and focusing on Yelyna, south east of Smolensk. 3230: 3096: 3072: 2995: 2909: 2329: 2298: 2043: 1952: 1902: 1581: 1498: 1476: 1395: 1068: 2657:. The Air Fleet was equipped with 240 aircraft. 1 Staffel JG 77, Stab/ 5767:

Technology and Legitimacy: Soviet Aviation and Stalinism in the 1930s

3758: 3667: 3632: 3068: 2897: 2418: 1738: 1520: 1485: 1379: 1370: 735: 6209:

Rotundo, Louis. 'The Creation of Reserves and the 1941 Campaign' in

6037:

War over the Steppes: The air campaigns on the Eastern Front 1941–45

5845:

The German Way of War: From the Thirty Years' War to the Third Reich

2402: 4065: 3940: 3915: 3811: 3795: 3577: 3515: 3417: 3358: 3166: 3101: 2947: 2896:'s Luftflotte 1 had defeated the attempted Soviet counterattack in 2795: 2791: 2237: 2135: 2011:

Joseph "Beppo" Schmid, the Luftwaffe's senior intelligence officer.

1917: 1641: 1568: 1507: 1461: 1375: 1808:). Around 68 per cent of the German air strength was operational. 4058: 3857: 3450: 3437: 3354: 3290: 3174: 3132: 3092: 2834: 2817:'s Fliegerkorps II was not achieving as much success, supporting 1596: 1511: 1503: 1431: 1383: 1339: 1295: 426: 171: 46:

The plane in the foreground is a two-seat trainer version of the

4716: 4714: 4712: 2586:

on the left of the Army Group's flank. Richthofen supported the

2496:

on the left of the Army Group's flank. Richthofen supported the

2479:, though the later was considered independent to the Luftwaffe. 1369:

weather made supply difficult on the ground. In particular, the

491: 6304:

Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving Romania

6299:

Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving Germany

3831: 3827: 3603: 3346: 3318:

opened its assault on the Luga Front, south west of Leningrad.

3182: 2914: 2723: 2535:

with Do 17s were also used for ground support, as was I., III./

2259: 2241: 2102: 1399: 5732: 5730: 5444: 5442: 5440: 2929:

As Kutsevalov assumed command of the VVS North-Western Front,

2873:

worse. When the Soviets did use formation methods, the German

2405:. Fliegerkorps IV operated on a 350-mile front supporting the 2332:

bomber were just as capable as foreign aircraft. In 1941, the

1657:

Voyenno-Vozdushnyye Sily Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya

6085:. Nautical and Aviation Publishing Company of America, 1992. 4732:, Mitcham, Jr., Samuel W., Philadelphia: Casemate, 2009, p.36 4709: 3882: 3754: 3723: 3648: 3376: 3215: 3136: 3011: 2838: 2782: 2731: 2730:

The Luftwaffe delivered a series of destructive air raids on

2554:(JG 51), I., and II., SKG 210, I., II., KG 3, I., II., III., 1603:

could "mop up" the remaining enemy forces beyond the Dniepr.

1361:

On the opening day, Axis counter-air operations succeeded in

4894: 4892: 4890: 1824:. The primary close support weapon of the Luftwaffe in 1941. 1579:

in the 1930s) could recover. The method is usually labelled

5727: 5611: 5437: 3719: 3694: 3552: 3015: 2692: 2464:(JG 52). Luftgaukommando (Air District Command) VIII under 2440:(JG 3). Kurt Pflugbeil and Fliegerkorps IV contained, II./ 5880:

The Luftwaffe: Creating the Operational Air War, 1918-1940

5684: 5682: 5680: 5604: 5602: 5592: 5590: 5580: 5578: 5576: 5557: 5555: 5545: 5543: 5497: 5495: 5493: 5465: 5463: 5268: 5266: 5264: 5262: 5260: 5187: 5185: 3830:

government allowed them to transport their forces through

3100:

StG 77 in this regard on 12 July. However, the battle for

2937:, Red Army. On the first day of his command, he threw the 2884: 2790:

positions at low-level to prevent them crossing the river

5145: 5143: 5103: 5101: 4887: 4684: 4682: 4663: 4661: 4659: 4226: 4224: 4222: 4220: 4218: 4216: 4214: 4195: 4193: 4191: 4189: 4187: 4185: 4183: 4181: 4179: 4124: 1978:

bomber was both faster and better armed than the British

6259:

Battles and operations of World War II involving Finland

5175: 5173: 2991:

tactic—the VVS carried out 60 of these attacks in July.

1358:, which did severe damage to organisational structures. 5718: 5709: 5700: 5677: 5638: 5629: 5599: 5587: 5573: 5564: 5552: 5540: 5513: 5490: 5481: 5472: 5460: 5257: 5182: 5161: 5064: 5062: 5060: 5041: 5039: 4135:. On 4 November, the Luftwaffe began bombing of Gorky. 3931:

On 25 July 200 P-40s were given to the Soviet Union by

2417:

pushing into the Ukraine to conquer the Crimea, on the

1398:, and then during the defence and counter-offensive at 6218:

The Russian Air Force in the Eyes of German Commanders

5652: 5650: 5140: 5124: 5122: 5098: 4679: 4656: 4376: 4374: 4372: 4211: 4176: 3436:

during the Baltic advance. Ju 88 units operating over

1721:, Luftwaffe chief of operations, were also opposed to 6220:. United States Air Force Studies, Washington, 1960. 6199:. United States Air Force Studies, Washington, 1968. 6185:. United States Air Force Studies, Washington, 1968. 5170: 4817: 4815: 4813: 4299: 4297: 4142:

were damaged. The main building was destroyed at the

3753:

Guderian's army seized more important bridgeheads at

3726:, JG 3 and the Slovak 12 Letka, under the command of 3157:'s 12th Mechanised and 61st Rifle Corps by capturing 2908:'s LVI Panzerkorps outflanked the Red Army, reaching 2079:

attack aviation would be attached to and support the

6289:

Battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom

6122:

The Rise and Fall of the German Air Force, 1933–1945

5992:

Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power, 1941-1945

5954:

When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler

5897:

Wolfram von Richthofen: Master of the German Air War

5772:

Bernád, Dénes; Karlenko, Dmitriy; Roba, Jean-Louis.

5110: 5057: 5036: 4767: 4765: 4649: 4647: 4265: 4263: 4138:

After the first raid, some workshops of GAZ and the

3507:

were damaged. Some 5,000 Soviet soldiers were lost.

2661:(ZG 76, Destroyer Wing 76), II.(S). and IV.(Stuka)./ 1982:, but again, it was still vulnerable to the Bf 109. 1970:, but it was largely defenceless against the German 1502:, published in 1924). His recently acquired allies ( 1382:

in July, then in slowing down the occupation of the

5994:. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. 5926:

Luftwaffe: An analysis by former Luftwaffe Generals

5647: 5119: 4369: 4169: 4167: 4165: 4163: 6284:Battles of World War II involving the Soviet Union 6234:, Volume 66, No. 4 (Oct. 2002), pp. 1085–1113 4810: 4294: 4021:On 8 September Army Group North attacked with the 3697:tanks to do the job. He was also assigned the new 2546:Bruno Loerzer's Fliegerkorps II was equipped with 2352:were comparable to the best in the World. Only 37 1936: 5389:Brookes 2003, p. 42. and Plocher 1968, pp. 98-99. 5380:Bergström 2007, pp. 46-48 and Hooton 1997, p. 97. 4762: 4644: 4260: 4107: 3682:on strength and claimed successes for no losses. 3432:The Luftwaffe also did much damage to the Soviet 2285: 6240: 6213:, Vol. 50 (No. 1), January 1986, pp. 21–28. 5956:. Lawrence, Kansas: University of Kansas Press. 5762:. Air Power Journal: Autumn, 1995. pp. 1–8. 4160: 4000:delivered 48 P-40s and 39 Hurricanes in August. 2777:Entire Soviet armies had been surrounded in the 2523:(ZG 26, Destroyer Wing 26), II.(S). and 10.(S)./ 2436:(KG 54). It was given the complete fighter wing 2148:Aufklärungsgruppe Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe 5802:Barbarossa - The Air Battle: July–December 1941 4560:Corum 2008, pp. 131-133 and Hooton 1997, p. 96. 4357:Murray 1983, pp. 79-80 and Hooton 2010, p. 153. 3939:(FAA) to conduct an attack on Finnish bases at 3587: 3055:Fliegerkorps V received critical help from the 2468:acted as a reserve. Luftgaukommando XVII under 2228:Lead engineer and military air attaché, Oberst 2073: 1386:, enabling the withdrawal of industries to the 6022:The Luftwaffe: A Study in Air Power, 1933-1945 5899:. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. 2008. 4857:Hooton 2010, p. 154 and Bergström 2007, p. 12. 3958:were dispatched to deliver the strike forces. 3666:KG 3 and KG 53 destroyed the rail stations at 3491:(1,270 grt) sunk. Furthermore, the ships 3291:Luftflotte 1, the Baltic, advance on Leningrad 2180: 1690:German aircraft production during World War II 5974:. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence. 1998 4041:, inside the city district of Leningrad. The 3970:of 801 Squadron took off. The operation from 3799:The original plan for operation "Silver Fox". 3108: 2173:, commander of the VVS and replaced him with 1946:tactic was better and more flexible than the 1547:would be deployed to support the rest of the 1084: 507: 6097:Strategy for Defeat: The Luftwaffe 1933–1945 5912:German Air Operations in Support of the Army 5847:. Lawrence, KN: University of Kansas Press. 3784: 3769:as he moved rapidly north to meet Guderian. 3241:Telephone communications were vulnerable to 2982:night strikes owing to an absence of German 2745:Heinkel He 111s over the Soviet Union, 1941. 2365:Luftwaffe would prove decisive in the role. 1678: 1535:) played a vital role in the success of the 1350:. This superiority increased because of the 44:Soviet aircraft knocked out, 22 June 1941. 5786:Bergström, Christer and Mikhailov, Andrey. 4398:Brookes 2003, p. 14. and Boog 1998, p. 354. 3910:was sunk along with the patrol ship SKR-20/ 3885:in a bid to isolate the Kola, a plan named 3131:. On 9 July the Third Panzer Army captured 3027:Simultaneous operations were begun against 2066:of Soviet supplies to the front, making it 1811: 6007:Eagle in Flames: The Fall of the Luftwaffe 5952:Glantz, David M.; House, Jonathan (1995). 4830:Boog 1998, p. 345. and Hooton 1997, p. 94. 4676:Sterret in Cox and Gray 2002, pp. 182-183. 3658:Radio station of the V. Fliegerkorps near 3399:over the Eastern Front, 25 September 1941. 3253: 2539:(StG 1, Dive Bombing Wing 1) and I., III./ 1091: 1077: 514: 500: 189: 6279:Battles of World War II involving Romania 6274:Battles of World War II involving Hungary 6264:Battles of World War II involving Germany 6138:. United States Air Force Studies, 1968. 6071:. University Press of the Pacific, 2002. 6024:. London: Arms & Armour Press, 2010. 3643:before the Soviets could destroy it. The 1931:Battle against Russian Armaments Industry 1707:, responsible for production, warned the 149: 135: 121: 6197:The German Air Force versus Russia, 1942 6183:The German Air Force versus Russia, 1941 6055:German strategy against Russia 1939–1941 3794: 3653: 3598:Soviet South-Western Front's commander, 3390: 3300: 3118: 3031:'s VVS KOVO (Kiev) South-Western Front. 2740: 2693:Luftflotte 2, first encirclement battles 2379: 2375:Order of Battle for Operation Barbarossa 2219: 2113: 2006: 1815: 1558: 1554: 1484:and destroy what Hitler perceived to be 1098: 6269:Battles of World War II involving Italy 3750:, down to 5,000 soldiers and 10 tanks. 3531: 2885:VVS North-Western Front vs Luftflotte 1 2312:The officer corps was decimated in the 1895: 1733:, particularly in conjunction with the 175: 6241: 6034: 3565:StG 77 supported the Eleventh Army to 3204: 2637:floatplanes. Luftgaukommando I, under 2015:Before the Axis invasion of the USSR, 1997: 1683: 1496:since Hitler's political testament in 1318:Axis and Soviet air operations during 6170:. London & New York: Allen Lane. 6099:. Maxwell AFB: Air University Press. 5928:. Sidwick and Jackson, London, 1977. 4979:Sterret in Cox and Gray 2002, p. 184. 4003: 3685:To defeat Guderian, the newly formed 2109: 2002: 1072: 495: 5804:, London: Chevron/Ian Allan, 2007 . 4112: 3271:At Yelyna, VVS Reserve Front, under 3022: 2214: 457:4,389 German aircraft (2,598 combat) 6069:German Air Force Airlift Operations 4278:Boog 1998, pp. 398, 409, 1041-1042. 3966:from 812 Squadron, escorted by six 2734:, and rendered good support to the 2681: 1731:Mediterranean Theatre of Operations 1717:, senior intelligence officer, and 1378:to organise defences; first before 1354:in the 1930s and mass expansion of 471:Another 5,240 also disappeared off 13: 5790:. Pacific Military History, 2000. 2688:German-Soviet air war 22 June 1941 2389:Fliegerkorps V was to support the 2368: 14: 6315: 6168:The Bombing War: Europe 1939–1945 6057:. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1973. 5882:. Kansas University Press. 1997. 521: 5739: 5691: 5668: 5659: 5620: 5531: 5522: 5504: 5451: 5428: 5419: 5410: 5401: 5392: 5383: 5374: 5365: 5356: 5347: 5338: 5329: 5320: 5311: 5302: 5293: 5284: 5275: 5248: 5239: 5230: 5221: 5212: 5203: 5194: 5152: 4119:Bombing of Gorky in World War II 3722:river, halfway between Kiev and 2877:was much better than the Soviet 2342:Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 1394:, enabling a long-term stand at 1363:destroying 2,000 Soviet aircraft 1148:Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina 590:Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina 436: 425: 414: 403: 391: 379: 368: 357: 346: 335: 324: 313: 302: 291: 279: 268: 257: 246: 235: 224: 204: 191: 177: 164: 151: 137: 123: 109: 97: 38: 6232:The Journal of Military History 6115:Royal United Services Institute 5942:. Naval Institute Press. 2005. 5131: 5089: 5080: 5071: 5048: 5027: 5018: 5009: 5000: 4991: 4982: 4973: 4964: 4955: 4946: 4937: 4928: 4919: 4910: 4901: 4878: 4869: 4860: 4851: 4842: 4833: 4824: 4801: 4792: 4783: 4774: 4753: 4744: 4735: 4723: 4700: 4691: 4670: 4635: 4626: 4617: 4608: 4599: 4590: 4581: 4572: 4563: 4554: 4545: 4536: 4527: 4518: 4509: 4500: 4491: 4482: 4473: 4464: 4455: 4446: 4437: 4428: 4419: 4410: 4401: 4392: 4383: 4360: 4351: 4342: 4333: 4324: 4315: 4306: 4281: 4051:Special Northern Aviation Group 4033:On 12 September Zhukov ordered 3979:Hurricane Mk IIBs, flying with 3707:Transcaucasus Military District 2720:Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen 2644: 2565: 2482: 2384: 2262:. Indeed, the Head of the VVS, 1937:Tactics and technical standards 1551:in defeating the Soviet Union. 1531:, Germany's Air Force (German: 1336:interdicting enemy supply lines 6136:German Air Force General Staff 5833:. Ian Allan Publishing. 2003. 5290:Wagner and Fetzer 1974, p. 49. 5086:Fetzer and Wagner 1974, p. 37. 4789:Schwabedissen 1960, pp. 43-45. 4720:Schwabedissen 1960, pp. 36-38. 4272: 4251: 4242: 4239:Wagner and Fetzer 1974, p. vi. 4233: 4202: 4108:Luftflotte 2; Defeat at Moscow 2609:(JG 53, Fighter Wing), all of 2515:(JG 27, Fighter Wing 27), II./ 2301:and the German victory in the 2286:Training, equipment and purges 1876:However, during the course of 1464:(which fell just short of the 1: 6009:. Weidenfeld Military, 1997. 4943:Glantz and House 1995, p. 37. 4321:Glantz and House 1995, p. 30. 4248:Glantz and House 1995, p. 31. 4149: 3991:, to provide protection. The 2641:was the Luftflotten reserve. 2197: 1413: 6083:The German Air War in Russia 5425:Diechmann 1968, pp. 161-162. 5416:Diechmann 1968, pp. 160-161. 5033:Statiev 2002, pp. 1093-1094. 5006:Romanenko 2009, pp. 99, 101. 3943:and Petsamo. On 30 July the 3588:Two Luftflotten against Kiev 3455:Soviet evacuation of Tallinn 2665:(LG 1, Learning Wing 1). 5./ 2074:On Soviet field organisation 1571:officer corps (decimated by 1456:The plan was to destroy the 7: 6211:Journal of Military Affairs 6095:Murray, Williamson (1983). 5407:Bergström 2007, pp. 48, 50. 3738:and First Panzer Army. The 2931:Nikolai Fyodorovich Vatutin 2714:lost 22 of them in action. 2558:(KG 53), and I., II., III./ 2181:On Soviet combat capability 1957:Soviet–Japanese Border Wars 1524:) to launch its offensive. 10: 6320: 6166:Overy, Richard J. (2013). 6120:National Archives. (2000) 5843:Citino, Robert M. (2005). 5736:Bergström 2007, pp. 86-87. 5617:Bergström 2007, pp. 68-69. 5537:Plocher 1968, pp. 175-176. 5528:Plocher 1968, pp. 170-171. 5448:Bergström 2007, pp. 54-56. 5362:Bergström 2007, pp. 46-47. 5335:Bergström 2007, pp. 40-41. 5308:Bergström 2007, pp. 38-39. 5095:Bergström 2007, pp. 24-25. 5077:Bergström 2007, pp. 22-24. 4898:Schwabedissen 1960, p. 39. 4875:Schwabedissen 1960, p. 24. 4759:Schwabedissen 1960, p. 41. 4140:Dvigatel Revolyutsii plant 4116: 3788: 3773:727 trucks operating from 3591: 3535: 3321:Commander of the Red Army 3294: 3112: 3109:Luftflotte 2 over Smolensk 3035:'s Luftflotte 4 supported 2685: 2470:General der Flakartillerie 2372: 1942:In particular, the German 1853:s) were attached to every 1710:Oberkommando der Wehrmacht 1698:Oberkommando der Luftwaffe 1687: 1621:Oberkommando der Wehrmacht 1334:to armies on battlefield, 480:13,742 Luftwaffe personnel 6254:Battles involving Hungary 5819:. Clarendon Press. 1998. 3785:Luftflotte 5 over Karelia 3639:captured a bridgehead at 3283:The Soviets believed the 3115:Battle of Smolensk (1941) 3057:Royal Hungarian Air Force 2779:Battle of Białystok–Minsk 2676: 2550:from I., 11., III., IV., 2432:(KG 55) and I., and II., 2146:'s reconnaissance group, 1679:Strength of the Luftwaffe 1527:Although defeated in the 1492:(the main themes for the 1340:supplying friendly forces 1113:German declaration of war 1110: 531: 463: 448: 217: 90: 54: 37: 25: 20: 5371:Plocher 1968, pp. 97-98. 4848:Boog 1998, pp. 345, 348. 4798:Boog et al 1998, p. 342. 4697:Boog et al 1998, p. 343. 4623:Corum 1997, pp. 230-231. 3512:White Sea – Baltic Canal 1812:Operational capabilities 1719:Otto Hoffmann von Waldau 1451:United States of America 454:13,000 – 14,000 aircraft 6216:Schwabedissen, Walter. 6152:. Washington: Potomac. 6148:Overy, Richard (1980). 5434:Diechmann 1968, p. 162. 4961:Bailes 1976, pp. 75-76. 4952:Bailes 1976, pp. 71-72. 4750:Boog 1998, pp. 352-353. 4533:Diechmann 1968, p. 158. 4488:Diechmann 1968, p. 159. 4452:Murray 1983, pp. 76-77. 4434:Boog 1998, pp. 333-334. 4348:Muller 1992, pp. 7, 36. 4257:Plocher 1968, pp. 1, 8. 4230:Bergström 2007, p. 118. 4208:Bergström 2007, p. 116. 4199:Bergström 2007, p. 129. 4053:and six Squadrons from 3850:Battles of Khalkhin Gol 3736:German Seventeenth Army 3621:Robert Ritter von Greim 3434:Red Banner Baltic Fleet 3381:Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb 3305:Alexander Löhr, c-in-c 3254:Stalemate before Moscow 3210:original strength. The 2617:(KG 1, Bomber Wing 1), 2560:Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 2395:German Seventeenth Army 2090:self-sealing fuel tanks 1847:Forward air controllers 1737:(Italian Navy) against 459:980 other Axis aircraft 398:Robert Ritter von Greim 62:22 June – December 1941 6150:The Air War, 1939–1945 5990:Hardesty, Von (1992). 5745:Bergström 2007, p. 88. 5724:Bergström 2007, p. 95. 5715:Bergström 2007, p. 86. 5706:Bergström 2007, p. 83. 5688:Bergström 2007, p. 82. 5644:Bergström 2007, p. 70. 5635:Bergström 2007, p. 69. 5608:Bergström 2007, p. 68. 5596:Bergström 2007, p. 67. 5584:Bergström 2007, p. 66. 5570:Bergström 2007, p. 64. 5561:Bergström 2007, p. 63. 5549:Bergström 2007, p. 62. 5519:Bergström 2007, p. 61. 5501:Bergström 2007, p. 60. 5487:Bergström 2007, p. 59. 5478:Bergström 2007, p. 58. 5469:Bergström 2007, p. 57. 5457:Bergström 2007, p. 56. 5326:Bergström 2007, p. 40. 5317:Bergström 2007, p. 39. 5299:Bergström 2007, p. 37. 5272:Bergström 2007, p. 34. 5254:Bergström 2007, p. 33. 5236:Bergström 2007, p. 31. 5227:Bergström 2007, p. 30. 5218:Bergström 2007, p. 29. 5191:Bergström 2007, p. 28. 5167:Bergström 2007, p. 26. 5149:Bergström 2007, p. 27. 5107:Bergström 2007, p. 25. 4997:Bergström 2007, p. 12. 4866:Boog 1998, p. 336-337. 4688:Bergström 2007, p. 13. 4667:Bergström 2007, p. 11. 4524:Nielsern 1968, p. 154. 4416:Plocher 1968, pp. 5-6. 4287:Frieser 1995, p. 350: 4094:72nd Infantry Division 3845:Fliegerführer Kirkenes 3800: 3663: 3400: 3373:German Eighteenth Army 3310: 3124: 2746: 2659:Zerstörergeschwader 76 2629:, operated Ju 88s and 2580:German Eighteenth Army 2574:it was to support the 2541:Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 2537:Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 2527:(Learning Wing 2). I, 2521:Zerstörergeschwader 26 2519:(JG 52), I., and II., 2357:aircraft arrived. The 2354:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 2350:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 2252: 2230:Heinrich Aschenbrenner 2119: 2039: 2012: 1825: 1789: 1564: 1440:North African Campaign 218:Commanders and leaders 6035:Hooton, E.R. (2016). 5940:The Blitzkrieg Legend 5938:Frieser, Karl-Heinz. 5914:. Ayer and Co, 1968. 5800:Bergström, Christer. 5697:Plocher 1968, p. 146. 5626:Plocher 1968, p. 147. 5510:Plocher 1968, p. 148. 5281:Plocher 1968, p. 145. 5158:Mitcham 1988, p. 138. 5137:Mitcham 1988, p. 137. 4934:Nielsen 1968, p. 167. 4470:Buckley 1998, p. 132. 4425:Nielsen 1968, p. 166. 4096:from France, and the 3899:psychological warfare 3878:Soviet Northern Fleet 3798: 3657: 3594:Battle of Kiev (1941) 3546:under the command of 3487:(2,190 grt) and 3469:, the 1,423 grt 3465:, the 2,317 grt 3394: 3304: 3122: 2939:21st Mechanised Corps 2744: 2711:23rd Mechanised Corps 2576:German Sixteenth Army 2543:(StG 2) with Ju 87s. 2380:Luftwaffe assignments 2247: 2117: 2034: 2017:Joseph "Beppo" Schmid 2010: 1819: 1802:Messerschmitt Bf 110s 1785: 1663:often abbreviated to 1562: 1555:German offensive plan 478:3,827 German aircraft 464:Casualties and losses 6249:Operation Barbarossa 6109:Murray, Williamson. 5674:Cooper 1981, p. 227. 5665:Cooper 1981, p. 229. 5353:Plocher 1968, p. 97. 5344:Brookes 2003, p. 42. 5245:Brookes 2003, p. 43. 5209:Brookes 2003, p. 37. 5179:Brookes 2003, p. 41. 5116:Brookes 2003, p. 33. 5068:Brookes 2003, p. 40. 5054:Plocher 1968, p. 32. 5045:Plocher 1968, p. 31. 5024:Plocher 1968, p. 30. 5015:Plocher 1968, p. 20. 4988:Sterret 2007, p. 76. 4970:Hooton 2010, p. 155. 4907:Plocher 1968, p. 18. 4614:Brookes 2003, p. 59. 4605:Plocher 1968, p. 16. 4587:Hayward 2008, p. 50. 4578:Hayward 2008, p. 49. 4515:Murray 1983, p. 100. 4497:Plocher 1968, p. 10. 4389:Plocher 1968, p. 24. 4380:Hooton 2010, p. 154. 4366:Hooton 2010, p. 153. 4339:Plocher 1968, p. 38. 4312:Citino 2005, p. 292. 4055:The Moscow Air Group 3887:Operation Silver Fox 3791:Operation Silver Fox 3761:, the latter by the 3662:on 11 September 1941 3637:11th Panzer Division 3532:Luftflotte 4 at Uman 3473:and the ice breaker 3446:on 8 August 1941 in 3410:Messerschmitt Me 321 3151:10th Panzer Division 3146:17th Panzer Division 3085:German Eleventh Army 2864:(section) and three 2473:Friedrich Hirschauer 2460:had Stab., and III./ 2448:, KG 27, II., III., 2415:Fourth Romanian Army 2407:German Eleventh Army 2359:Curtiss P-40 Warhawk 1972:Messerschmitt Bf 109 1896:Strategic capability 1563:Original German plan 1320:Operation Barbarossa 1307:Air war 22 june 1941 1177:Advance on Leningrad 1102:Operation Barbarossa 21:Operation Barbarossa 5831:Air War Over Russia 5776:. Ian Allan, 2008. 5398:Hooton 1997, p. 97. 5128:Hooton 1997, p. 96. 4916:Hooton 1997, p. 93. 4821:Hooton 1997, p. 94. 4641:Faber 1977, p. 223. 4632:Faber 1977, p. 222. 4596:Corum 1997, p. 228. 4569:Andrews 1995, p. 1. 4479:Murray 1983, p. 87. 4461:Murray 1983, p. 80. 4443:Plocher 1968, p. 7. 4407:Plocher 1968, p. 6. 4303:Murray 1983, p. 79. 4269:Murray 1983, p. 78. 4098:7th Fliegerdivision 4085:8th Panzer Division 4015:VVS Leningrad Front 3804:Hans-Jürgen Stumpff 3763:3rd Panzer Division 3476:Krišjānis Valdemārs 3423:motor torpedo boats 3386:VVS Leningrad Front 3205:First Axis problems 3199:Walther von Axthelm 3135:. For the Smolensk- 3129:Battle for Smolensk 3081:Romanian Third Army 3008:8th Panzer Division 2976:6th Panzer Division 2956:1st Panzer Division 2933:assumed command of 2768:Third Panzer Armies 2651:Hans-Jürgen Stumpff 2411:Third Romanian Army 2220:Supporting industry 2192:Hoffmann von Waldau 1998:German Intelligence 1748:The battles in the 1684:Supporting industry 1494:National Socialists 797:Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh 698:Barvenkovo–Lozovaya 353:Hans-Jürgen Stumpff 6195:Plocher, Hermann. 6181:Plocher, Hermann. 6134:Nielsen, Andreas. 5758:Andrews, William. 5656:Boog 1998, p. 784. 5200:Boog 1998, p. 764. 4925:Boog 1998, p. 341. 4884:Boog 1998, p. 339. 4839:Boog 1998, p. 348. 4807:Boog 1998, p. 343. 4780:Boog 1998, p. 350. 4771:Boog 1998, p. 349. 4741:Boog 1998, p. 337. 4706:Boog 1998, p. 340. 4653:Overy 1980, p. 59. 4551:Corum 1995, p. 53. 4542:Boog 1998, p. 372. 4506:Boog 1998, p. 354. 4330:Corum 1995, p. 54. 4173:Boog 1998, p. 351. 4081:Battle of Novgorod 4004:Siege of Leningrad 3801: 3672:Novhorod-Siverskyi 3664: 3544:Southwestern Front 3483:(3,974 grt), 3481:Vtoraya Pyatiletka 3401: 3323:Northwestern Front 3316:Fourth Panzer Army 3311: 3297:Siege of Leningrad 3190:German Fourth Army 3125: 3095:river and towards 3079:Further south the 3065:Southwestern Front 3037:Gerd von Rundstedt 3000:Alexsandr Matveyev 2935:Northwestern Front 2924:Timofey Kutsevalov 2906:Erich von Manstein 2902:Fourth Panzer Army 2747: 2736:Second Panzer Army 2671:Kampfgeschwader 26 2667:Kampfgeschwader 30 2623:Kampfgeschwader 77 2619:Kampfgeschwader 76 2584:Fourth Panzer Army 2556:Kampfgeschwader 53 2494:Second Panzer Army 2490:German Fourth Army 2477:Romanian Air Force 2452:(JG 77) and I.(J)/ 2446:Kampfgeschwader 27 2434:Kampfgeschwader 54 2430:Kampfgeschwader 55 2426:Kampfgeschwader 51 2167:Deutsche Lufthansa 2120: 2110:Air reconnaissance 2013: 2003:On Soviet industry 1980:Vickers Wellington 1826: 1820:The Junkers Ju 87 1565: 1170:Roslavl–Novozybkov 992:Western Carpathian 932:2nd Jassy–Kishinev 902:1st Jassy–Kishinev 887:Leningrad–Novgorod 882:Dnieper–Carpathian 6226:978-1-78039-023-9 6205:978-0-405-00045-4 6191:978-0-405-00044-7 6176:978-0-7139-9561-9 6158:978-1-57488-716-7 6144:978-0-405-00043-0 6130:978-1-905615-30-8 6105:978-1-58566-010-0 6091:978-1-877853-13-5 6081:Muller, Richard. 6077:978-1-4102-0120-1 6063:978-0-19821-495-3 6030:978-1-906537-18-0 6015:978-1-85409-343-1 5980:978-0-7006-1146-1 5962:978-0-7006-0899-7 5948:978-1-59114-294-2 5920:978-0-405-00040-9 5910:Diechmann, Paul. 5905:978-0-7006-1598-8 5888:978-0-7006-0836-2 5853:978-0-7006-1624-4 5839:978-0-7110-2890-6 5829:Brookes, Andrew. 5825:978-0-19822-886-8 5810:978-1-85780-270-2 5796:978-0-935553-48-2 5782:978-1-85780-273-3 4113:Strategic bombing 4035:Aleksandr Novikov 3962:of 817 Squadron, 3933:Winston Churchill 3808:Finnish Air Force 3699:VVS Bryansk Front 3406:Operation Beowulf 3371:On 20 August the 3343:Battle of Estonia 3194:German Ninth Army 3089:Mogilev-Podilskyi 3050:First Panzer Army 3023:Stalemate at Kiev 2974:, commanding the 2944:Aleksandr Novikov 2787:Semyon Timoshenko 2627:Wolfgang von Wild 2615:Kampfgeschwader 1 2611:Jagdgeschwader 54 2607:Jagdgeschwader 53 2588:Third Panzer Army 2552:Jagdgeschwader 51 2533:Kampfgeschwader 3 2529:Kampfgeschwader 2 2517:Jagdgeschwader 52 2513:Jagdgeschwader 27 2509:Jagdgeschwader 53 2498:Third Panzer Army 2462:Jagdgeschwader 52 2450:Jagdgeschwader 77 2442:Kampfgeschwader 4 2399:German Sixth Army 2391:First Panzer Army 2292:Aleksandr Novikov 2215:Soviet Air Forces 2048:Spanish Civil War 1831:Spanish Civil War 1616:close air support 1529:Battle of Britain 1490:Jewish Bolshevism 1356:Soviet air forces 1332:close air support 1315: 1314: 1066: 1065: 490: 489: 364:W. von Richthofen 320:Albert Kesselring 242:Aleksandr Novikov 86: 85: 6311: 6050: 6046:978-1-47281562-0 5746: 5743: 5737: 5734: 5725: 5722: 5716: 5713: 5707: 5704: 5698: 5695: 5689: 5686: 5675: 5672: 5666: 5663: 5657: 5654: 5645: 5642: 5636: 5633: 5627: 5624: 5618: 5615: 5609: 5606: 5597: 5594: 5585: 5582: 5571: 5568: 5562: 5559: 5550: 5547: 5538: 5535: 5529: 5526: 5520: 5517: 5511: 5508: 5502: 5499: 5488: 5485: 5479: 5476: 5470: 5467: 5458: 5455: 5449: 5446: 5435: 5432: 5426: 5423: 5417: 5414: 5408: 5405: 5399: 5396: 5390: 5387: 5381: 5378: 5372: 5369: 5363: 5360: 5354: 5351: 5345: 5342: 5336: 5333: 5327: 5324: 5318: 5315: 5309: 5306: 5300: 5297: 5291: 5288: 5282: 5279: 5273: 5270: 5255: 5252: 5246: 5243: 5237: 5234: 5228: 5225: 5219: 5216: 5210: 5207: 5201: 5198: 5192: 5189: 5180: 5177: 5168: 5165: 5159: 5156: 5150: 5147: 5138: 5135: 5129: 5126: 5117: 5114: 5108: 5105: 5096: 5093: 5087: 5084: 5078: 5075: 5069: 5066: 5055: 5052: 5046: 5043: 5034: 5031: 5025: 5022: 5016: 5013: 5007: 5004: 4998: 4995: 4989: 4986: 4980: 4977: 4971: 4968: 4962: 4959: 4953: 4950: 4944: 4941: 4935: 4932: 4926: 4923: 4917: 4914: 4908: 4905: 4899: 4896: 4885: 4882: 4876: 4873: 4867: 4864: 4858: 4855: 4849: 4846: 4840: 4837: 4831: 4828: 4822: 4819: 4808: 4805: 4799: 4796: 4790: 4787: 4781: 4778: 4772: 4769: 4760: 4757: 4751: 4748: 4742: 4739: 4733: 4727: 4721: 4718: 4707: 4704: 4698: 4695: 4689: 4686: 4677: 4674: 4668: 4665: 4654: 4651: 4642: 4639: 4633: 4630: 4624: 4621: 4615: 4612: 4606: 4603: 4597: 4594: 4588: 4585: 4579: 4576: 4570: 4567: 4561: 4558: 4552: 4549: 4543: 4540: 4534: 4531: 4525: 4522: 4516: 4513: 4507: 4504: 4498: 4495: 4489: 4486: 4480: 4477: 4471: 4468: 4462: 4459: 4453: 4450: 4444: 4441: 4435: 4432: 4426: 4423: 4417: 4414: 4408: 4405: 4399: 4396: 4390: 4387: 4381: 4378: 4367: 4364: 4358: 4355: 4349: 4346: 4340: 4337: 4331: 4328: 4322: 4319: 4313: 4310: 4304: 4301: 4292: 4285: 4279: 4276: 4270: 4267: 4258: 4255: 4249: 4246: 4240: 4237: 4231: 4228: 4209: 4206: 4200: 4197: 4174: 4171: 4070:Finskoye Koyrovo 4049:) from both the 4027:Soviet 54th Army 3989:No. 151 Wing RAF 3964:Fairey Swordfish 3960:Fairey Albacores 3945:aircraft carrier 3767:Ewald von Kleist 3748:Soviet 40th Army 3740:Soviet 38th Army 3691:Andrey Yeremenko 3582:Soviet 26th Army 3548:Mikhail Kirponos 3528:Fliegerkorps I. 3397:Lehrgeschwader 1 3335:Karelian Isthmus 3261:Soviet 28th Army 3171:Soviet 21st Army 3163:Soviet 21st Army 3155:Soviet 13th Army 3087:advanced toward 3041:Army Group South 3029:Yevgebiy Ptukhin 3004:Soviet 11th Army 2764:Henschel Hs 123s 2682:Axis air strikes 2669:(KG 30) and I./ 2663:Lehrgeschwader 1 2592:Baltic Sea Fleet 2525:Lehrgeschwader 2 2454:Lehrgeschwader 2 2438:Jagdgeschwader 3 1988:Polikarpov I-153 1968:Bristol Blenheim 1637:Soviet Air Force 1344:military tactics 1285:Bombing of Gorky 1105: 1103: 1093: 1086: 1079: 1070: 1069: 958:Petsamo–Kirkenes 836:Belgorod-Kharkov 802:Voronezh–Kharkov 526: 516: 509: 502: 493: 492: 469:~21,200 aircraft 441: 440: 430: 429: 419: 418: 408: 407: 400: 396: 395: 384: 383: 373: 372: 362: 361: 351: 350: 340: 339: 329: 328: 318: 317: 307: 306: 296: 295: 284: 283: 273: 272: 262: 261: 251: 250: 240: 239: 229: 228: 210: 208: 207: 201: 197: 195: 194: 187: 183: 181: 180: 170: 168: 167: 161: 157: 155: 154: 147: 143: 141: 140: 133: 129: 127: 126: 115: 113: 112: 103: 101: 100: 56: 55: 42: 18: 17: 6319: 6318: 6314: 6313: 6312: 6310: 6309: 6308: 6239: 6238: 6237: 6067:Morzik, Fritz. 6047: 5985:Hayward, Joel S 5968:Hayward, Joel S 5924:Faber, Harold. 5749: 5744: 5740: 5735: 5728: 5723: 5719: 5714: 5710: 5705: 5701: 5696: 5692: 5687: 5678: 5673: 5669: 5664: 5660: 5655: 5648: 5643: 5639: 5634: 5630: 5625: 5621: 5616: 5612: 5607: 5600: 5595: 5588: 5583: 5574: 5569: 5565: 5560: 5553: 5548: 5541: 5536: 5532: 5527: 5523: 5518: 5514: 5509: 5505: 5500: 5491: 5486: 5482: 5477: 5473: 5468: 5461: 5456: 5452: 5447: 5438: 5433: 5429: 5424: 5420: 5415: 5411: 5406: 5402: 5397: 5393: 5388: 5384: 5379: 5375: 5370: 5366: 5361: 5357: 5352: 5348: 5343: 5339: 5334: 5330: 5325: 5321: 5316: 5312: 5307: 5303: 5298: 5294: 5289: 5285: 5280: 5276: 5271: 5258: 5253: 5249: 5244: 5240: 5235: 5231: 5226: 5222: 5217: 5213: 5208: 5204: 5199: 5195: 5190: 5183: 5178: 5171: 5166: 5162: 5157: 5153: 5148: 5141: 5136: 5132: 5127: 5120: 5115: 5111: 5106: 5099: 5094: 5090: 5085: 5081: 5076: 5072: 5067: 5058: 5053: 5049: 5044: 5037: 5032: 5028: 5023: 5019: 5014: 5010: 5005: 5001: 4996: 4992: 4987: 4983: 4978: 4974: 4969: 4965: 4960: 4956: 4951: 4947: 4942: 4938: 4933: 4929: 4924: 4920: 4915: 4911: 4906: 4902: 4897: 4888: 4883: 4879: 4874: 4870: 4865: 4861: 4856: 4852: 4847: 4843: 4838: 4834: 4829: 4825: 4820: 4811: 4806: 4802: 4797: 4793: 4788: 4784: 4779: 4775: 4770: 4763: 4758: 4754: 4749: 4745: 4740: 4736: 4728: 4724: 4719: 4710: 4705: 4701: 4696: 4692: 4687: 4680: 4675: 4671: 4666: 4657: 4652: 4645: 4640: 4636: 4631: 4627: 4622: 4618: 4613: 4609: 4604: 4600: 4595: 4591: 4586: 4582: 4577: 4573: 4568: 4564: 4559: 4555: 4550: 4546: 4541: 4537: 4532: 4528: 4523: 4519: 4514: 4510: 4505: 4501: 4496: 4492: 4487: 4483: 4478: 4474: 4469: 4465: 4460: 4456: 4451: 4447: 4442: 4438: 4433: 4429: 4424: 4420: 4415: 4411: 4406: 4402: 4397: 4393: 4388: 4384: 4379: 4370: 4365: 4361: 4356: 4352: 4347: 4343: 4338: 4334: 4329: 4325: 4320: 4316: 4311: 4307: 4302: 4295: 4286: 4282: 4277: 4273: 4268: 4261: 4256: 4252: 4247: 4243: 4238: 4234: 4229: 4212: 4207: 4203: 4198: 4177: 4172: 4161: 4152: 4127:, which was in 4121: 4115: 4110: 4074:Krasnogvardeysk 4023:Eighteenth Army 4006: 3926:Royal Air Force 3793: 3787: 3728:Ivan Haluznicky 3645:Soviet 5th Army 3600:Semyon Budyonny 3596: 3590: 3540: 3534: 3339:Soviet 8th Army 3299: 3293: 3256: 3207: 3173:near Orsha and 3117: 3111: 3025: 2887: 2751:Soviet 4th Army 2699:Fedor Kuznetsov 2695: 2690: 2684: 2679: 2647: 2639:Richard Putzier 2568: 2485: 2387: 2382: 2377: 2371: 2369:Order of battle 2326:Polikarpov I-16 2303:French Campaign 2288: 2280:strike aircraft 2222: 2217: 2200: 2183: 2112: 2076: 2026:Black Sea Fleet 2005: 2000: 1992:Polikarpov I-15 1939: 1898: 1882:Hans Jeschonnek 1814: 1794:Hans Jeschonnek 1692: 1686: 1681: 1669:Battle of Crete 1557: 1416: 1324:air superiority 1316: 1311: 1128:Białystok–Minsk 1106: 1101: 1099: 1097: 1067: 1062: 1056:Prague uprising 1039:Bratislava–Brno 1029:Moravia–Ostrava 919:Lvov–Sandomierz 747:Rzhev–Sychyovka 575:Białystok–Minsk 527: 522: 520: 485: 483: 481: 479: 473:order of battle 470: 458: 435: 434: 424: 423: 421:Emanoil Ionescu 413: 412: 410:Ermil Gheorghiu 402: 401: 390: 389: 388: 378: 377: 367: 366: 356: 355: 345: 344: 334: 333: 323: 322: 312: 311: 309:Hans Jeschonnek 301: 300: 290: 278: 277: 267: 266: 256: 255: 253:Fyodor Michugin 245: 244: 234: 233: 223: 205: 203: 202: 192: 190: 188: 178: 176: 174: 165: 163: 162: 152: 150: 148: 138: 136: 134: 124: 122: 110: 108: 107: 98: 96: 74: 48:Polikarpov I-16 45: 43: 12: 11: 5: 6317: 6307: 6306: 6301: 6296: 6291: 6286: 6281: 6276: 6271: 6266: 6261: 6256: 6251: 6236: 6235: 6228: 6214: 6207: 6193: 6179: 6164: 6161: 6146: 6132: 6118: 6107: 6093: 6079: 6065: 6053:Leach, Barry. 6051: 6045: 6032: 6018: 6003: 5988: 5982: 5965: 5950: 5936: 5922: 5908: 5890: 5873: 5867: 5856: 5841: 5827: 5813: 5798: 5784: 5770: 5763: 5755: 5754: 5753: 5748: 5747: 5738: 5726: 5717: 5708: 5699: 5690: 5676: 5667: 5658: 5646: 5637: 5628: 5619: 5610: 5598: 5586: 5572: 5563: 5551: 5539: 5530: 5521: 5512: 5503: 5489: 5480: 5471: 5459: 5450: 5436: 5427: 5418: 5409: 5400: 5391: 5382: 5373: 5364: 5355: 5346: 5337: 5328: 5319: 5310: 5301: 5292: 5283: 5274: 5256: 5247: 5238: 5229: 5220: 5211: 5202: 5193: 5181: 5169: 5160: 5151: 5139: 5130: 5118: 5109: 5097: 5088: 5079: 5070: 5056: 5047: 5035: 5026: 5017: 5008: 4999: 4990: 4981: 4972: 4963: 4954: 4945: 4936: 4927: 4918: 4909: 4900: 4886: 4877: 4868: 4859: 4850: 4841: 4832: 4823: 4809: 4800: 4791: 4782: 4773: 4761: 4752: 4743: 4734: 4722: 4708: 4699: 4690: 4678: 4669: 4655: 4643: 4634: 4625: 4616: 4607: 4598: 4589: 4580: 4571: 4562: 4553: 4544: 4535: 4526: 4517: 4508: 4499: 4490: 4481: 4472: 4463: 4454: 4445: 4436: 4427: 4418: 4409: 4400: 4391: 4382: 4368: 4359: 4350: 4341: 4332: 4323: 4314: 4305: 4293: 4280: 4271: 4259: 4250: 4241: 4232: 4210: 4201: 4175: 4158: 4157: 4156: 4151: 4148: 4117:Main article: 4114: 4111: 4109: 4106: 4005: 4002: 3968:Fairey Fulmars 3852:or during the 3836:Kola Peninsula 3824:Kola Peninsula 3810:. The port of 3789:Main article: 3786: 3783: 3676:Dnepropetrovsk 3625:Dnepropetrovsk 3592:Main article: 3589: 3586: 3538:Battle of Uman 3536:Main article: 3533: 3530: 3489:Leningradsovet 3471:Atis Kronvalds 3345:and attacking 3295:Main article: 3292: 3289: 3273:Boris Pogrebov 3255: 3252: 3206: 3203: 3153:encircled the 3113:Main article: 3110: 3107: 3061:Caproni Ca.135 3046:Kurt Pflugbeil 3033:Alexander Löhr 3024: 3021: 2972:Franz Landgraf 2968:Velikaya River 2886: 2883: 2819:Heinz Guderian 2772:Dmitriy Pavlov 2694: 2691: 2686:Main article: 2683: 2680: 2678: 2675: 2655:Atlantic Ocean 2646: 2643: 2631:Heinkel He 115 2599:Junkers Ju 52s 2567: 2564: 2505:Junkers Ju 52s 2484: 2481: 2466:Bernhard Waber 2386: 2383: 2381: 2378: 2373:Main article: 2370: 2367: 2346:Petlyakov Pe-2 2338:Yakovlev Yak-1 2287: 2284: 2221: 2218: 2216: 2213: 2199: 2196: 2182: 2179: 2175:Pavel Zhigarev 2171:Pavel Rychagov 2144:Theodor Rowehl 2132:Dornier Do 217 2128:Heinkel He 111 2118:Theodor Rowehl 2111: 2108: 2075: 2072: 2004: 2001: 1999: 1996: 1938: 1935: 1907:Heinkel He 177 1897: 1894: 1871:Auftragstaktik 1813: 1810: 1688:Main article: 1685: 1682: 1680: 1677: 1671:consigned the 1556: 1553: 1466:Ural Mountains 1436:British Empire 1428:Western Europe 1415: 1412: 1408:medium bombers 1388:Ural Mountains 1367:Russian Winter 1313: 1312: 1310: 1309: 1304: 1293: 1292: 1287: 1282: 1277: 1272: 1271: 1270: 1260: 1255: 1250: 1243: 1232: 1231: 1226: 1221: 1216: 1211: 1206: 1201: 1196: 1191: 1180: 1179: 1174: 1173: 1172: 1156: 1155: 1150: 1145: 1140: 1135: 1130: 1125: 1111: 1108: 1107: 1096: 1095: 1088: 1081: 1073: 1064: 1063: 1061: 1060: 1059: 1058: 1048: 1041: 1036: 1031: 1026: 1021: 1019:East Pomerania 1016: 1009: 1004: 999: 994: 989: 981: 980: 976: 975: 970: 965: 960: 955: 950: 945: 940: 935: 928: 921: 916: 909: 904: 899: 894: 889: 884: 878: 877: 873: 872: 867: 862: 855: 854: 853: 843: 838: 833: 828: 821: 816: 811: 804: 799: 794: 786: 785: 781: 780: 773: 766: 761: 754: 749: 744: 739: 732: 727: 722: 717: 712: 710:Toropets–Kholm 707: 700: 695: 689: 688: 684: 683: 678: 673: 668: 663: 662: 661: 654: 649: 644: 639: 634: 629: 624: 617: 612: 607: 602: 597: 592: 587: 582: 577: 572: 559: 558: 554: 553: 548: 543: 537: 536: 532: 529: 528: 519: 518: 511: 504: 496: 488: 487: 476: 466: 465: 461: 460: 455: 451: 450: 446: 445: 432:Jarl Lundqvist 375:Kurt Pflugbeil 331:Alexander Löhr 298:Hermann Göring 288: 286:Fyodor Polynin 275:Boris Pogrebov 231:Pavel Zhigarev 220: 219: 215: 214: 119: 117:United Kingdom 93: 92: 88: 87: 84: 83: 80: 76: 75: 70: 68: 64: 63: 60: 52: 51: 35: 34: 23: 22: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 6316: 6305: 6302: 6300: 6297: 6295: 6292: 6290: 6287: 6285: 6282: 6280: 6277: 6275: 6272: 6270: 6267: 6265: 6262: 6260: 6257: 6255: 6252: 6250: 6247: 6246: 6244: 6233: 6229: 6227: 6223: 6219: 6215: 6212: 6208: 6206: 6202: 6198: 6194: 6192: 6188: 6184: 6180: 6177: 6173: 6169: 6165: 6162: 6159: 6155: 6151: 6147: 6145: 6141: 6137: 6133: 6131: 6127: 6123: 6119: 6116: 6112: 6108: 6106: 6102: 6098: 6094: 6092: 6088: 6084: 6080: 6078: 6074: 6070: 6066: 6064: 6060: 6056: 6052: 6048: 6042: 6038: 6033: 6031: 6027: 6023: 6020:Hooton, E.R. 6019: 6016: 6012: 6008: 6005:Hooton, E.R. 6004: 6001: 6000:1-56098-071-0 5997: 5993: 5989: 5986: 5983: 5981: 5977: 5973: 5969: 5966: 5963: 5959: 5955: 5951: 5949: 5945: 5941: 5937: 5935: 5934:0-283-98516-X 5931: 5927: 5923: 5921: 5917: 5913: 5909: 5906: 5902: 5898: 5894: 5891: 5889: 5885: 5881: 5877: 5874: 5871: 5868: 5865: 5864:0-531-03733-9 5861: 5857: 5854: 5850: 5846: 5842: 5840: 5836: 5832: 5828: 5826: 5822: 5818: 5814: 5811: 5807: 5803: 5799: 5797: 5793: 5789: 5785: 5783: 5779: 5775: 5771: 5768: 5765:Bailes, K.E. 5764: 5761: 5757: 5756: 5751: 5750: 5742: 5733: 5731: 5721: 5712: 5703: 5694: 5685: 5683: 5681: 5671: 5662: 5653: 5651: 5641: 5632: 5623: 5614: 5605: 5603: 5593: 5591: 5581: 5579: 5577: 5567: 5558: 5556: 5546: 5544: 5534: 5525: 5516: 5507: 5498: 5496: 5494: 5484: 5475: 5466: 5464: 5454: 5445: 5443: 5441: 5431: 5422: 5413: 5404: 5395: 5386: 5377: 5368: 5359: 5350: 5341: 5332: 5323: 5314: 5305: 5296: 5287: 5278: 5269: 5267: 5265: 5263: 5261: 5251: 5242: 5233: 5224: 5215: 5206: 5197: 5188: 5186: 5176: 5174: 5164: 5155: 5146: 5144: 5134: 5125: 5123: 5113: 5104: 5102: 5092: 5083: 5074: 5065: 5063: 5061: 5051: 5042: 5040: 5030: 5021: 5012: 5003: 4994: 4985: 4976: 4967: 4958: 4949: 4940: 4931: 4922: 4913: 4904: 4895: 4893: 4891: 4881: 4872: 4863: 4854: 4845: 4836: 4827: 4818: 4816: 4814: 4804: 4795: 4786: 4777: 4768: 4766: 4756: 4747: 4738: 4731: 4726: 4717: 4715: 4713: 4703: 4694: 4685: 4683: 4673: 4664: 4662: 4660: 4650: 4648: 4638: 4629: 4620: 4611: 4602: 4593: 4584: 4575: 4566: 4557: 4548: 4539: 4530: 4521: 4512: 4503: 4494: 4485: 4476: 4467: 4458: 4449: 4440: 4431: 4422: 4413: 4404: 4395: 4386: 4377: 4375: 4373: 4363: 4354: 4345: 4336: 4327: 4318: 4309: 4300: 4298: 4290: 4284: 4275: 4266: 4264: 4254: 4245: 4236: 4227: 4225: 4223: 4221: 4219: 4217: 4215: 4205: 4196: 4194: 4192: 4190: 4188: 4186: 4184: 4182: 4180: 4170: 4168: 4166: 4164: 4159: 4154: 4153: 4147: 4145: 4141: 4136: 4134: 4130: 4126: 4120: 4105: 4101: 4099: 4095: 4092:, the German 4091: 4090:Blue Division 4086: 4082: 4077: 4075: 4071: 4067: 4062: 4060: 4056: 4052: 4048: 4047:Lisunov Li-2s 4044: 4040: 4039:Krasnoye Selo 4036: 4031: 4028: 4024: 4019: 4016: 4010: 4001: 3999: 3998: 3994: 3990: 3986: 3985:134 Squadrons 3982: 3976: 3973: 3969: 3965: 3961: 3957: 3956: 3951: 3950: 3946: 3942: 3938: 3937:Fleet Air Arm 3934: 3929: 3927: 3922: 3917: 3913: 3909: 3908: 3902: 3900: 3896: 3890: 3888: 3884: 3879: 3875: 3871: 3867: 3861: 3859: 3855: 3851: 3847: 3846: 3839: 3837: 3833: 3829: 3825: 3821: 3817: 3813: 3809: 3805: 3797: 3792: 3782: 3778: 3776: 3770: 3768: 3764: 3760: 3756: 3751: 3749: 3745: 3744:Joseph Stalin 3741: 3737: 3731: 3729: 3725: 3721: 3715: 3712: 3708: 3704: 3703:Fydor Polynin 3700: 3696: 3692: 3688: 3687:Bryansk Front 3683: 3681: 3680:Macchi C.200s 3677: 3673: 3669: 3661: 3656: 3652: 3650: 3646: 3642: 3638: 3634: 3630: 3626: 3622: 3616: 3612: 3608: 3605: 3601: 3595: 3585: 3583: 3579: 3574: 3570: 3568: 3563: 3561: 3556: 3554: 3549: 3545: 3539: 3529: 3526: 3522: 3517: 3513: 3508: 3506: 3502: 3498: 3494: 3490: 3486: 3482: 3478: 3477: 3472: 3468: 3464: 3460: 3456: 3453:. During the 3452: 3449: 3445: 3444: 3439: 3435: 3430: 3428: 3424: 3419: 3415: 3411: 3407: 3398: 3393: 3389: 3387: 3382: 3378: 3374: 3369: 3367: 3366:Staraya Russa 3362: 3360: 3356: 3350: 3348: 3344: 3340: 3336: 3332: 3328: 3327:Markian Popov 3324: 3319: 3317: 3308: 3303: 3298: 3288: 3286: 3281: 3277: 3274: 3269: 3267: 3266:Georgy Zhukov 3262: 3251: 3248: 3244: 3238: 3234: 3232: 3227: 3225: 3224:Stodolishsche 3221: 3217: 3213: 3202: 3200: 3195: 3191: 3186: 3184: 3178: 3176: 3172: 3168: 3164: 3160: 3156: 3152: 3147: 3141: 3138: 3134: 3130: 3121: 3116: 3106: 3103: 3098: 3094: 3090: 3086: 3082: 3077: 3074: 3070: 3066: 3062: 3058: 3053: 3051: 3047: 3042: 3038: 3034: 3030: 3020: 3017: 3013: 3009: 3005: 3001: 2997: 2992: 2990: 2985: 2984:night fighter 2979: 2977: 2973: 2969: 2963: 2961: 2957: 2951: 2949: 2945: 2940: 2936: 2932: 2927: 2925: 2919: 2916: 2911: 2907: 2903: 2899: 2895: 2894:Alfred Keller 2891: 2890:Aleksey Ionov 2882: 2880: 2876: 2871: 2867: 2863: 2859: 2855: 2850: 2846: 2844: 2840: 2836: 2830: 2828: 2824: 2823:Martin Fiebig 2820: 2816: 2815:Bruno Loerzer 2811: 2806: 2804: 2801: 2800:Ilyushin Il-2 2797: 2793: 2788: 2784: 2780: 2775: 2773: 2769: 2765: 2760: 2756: 2755:Pavlov Kobrin 2752: 2743: 2739: 2737: 2733: 2728: 2725: 2721: 2715: 2712: 2708: 2704: 2700: 2689: 2674: 2672: 2668: 2664: 2660: 2656: 2652: 2649:Commanded by 2642: 2640: 2636: 2635:Heinkel He 59 2632: 2628: 2624: 2620: 2616: 2612: 2608: 2604: 2600: 2595: 2593: 2589: 2585: 2581: 2577: 2573: 2563: 2561: 2557: 2553: 2549: 2544: 2542: 2538: 2534: 2530: 2526: 2522: 2518: 2514: 2510: 2506: 2501: 2499: 2495: 2491: 2480: 2478: 2474: 2471: 2467: 2463: 2459: 2455: 2451: 2447: 2443: 2439: 2435: 2431: 2427: 2422: 2420: 2416: 2412: 2408: 2404: 2400: 2396: 2392: 2376: 2366: 2362: 2360: 2355: 2351: 2347: 2343: 2339: 2335: 2334:Ilyushin Il-2 2331: 2327: 2322: 2320: 2315: 2310: 2308: 2304: 2300: 2295: 2293: 2283: 2281: 2277: 2276:Giulio Douhet 2273: 2268: 2265: 2264:Yakov Alksnis 2261: 2255: 2251: 2246: 2243: 2239: 2235: 2231: 2226: 2212: 2208: 2205: 2195: 2193: 2187: 2178: 2176: 2172: 2168: 2164: 2160: 2155: 2153: 2149: 2145: 2141: 2140:Rostov-on-Don 2137: 2133: 2129: 2125: 2124:Junkers Ju 86 2116: 2107: 2105: 2104: 2097: 2093: 2091: 2085: 2082: 2071: 2069: 2063: 2059: 2057: 2051: 2049: 2045: 2038: 2033: 2029: 2027: 2022: 2018: 2009: 1995: 1993: 1989: 1983: 1981: 1977: 1976:Ilyushin DB-3 1973: 1969: 1965: 1964:Junkers Ju 88 1960: 1958: 1954: 1949: 1948:Vic formation 1945: 1934: 1932: 1927: 1923: 1919: 1914: 1912: 1908: 1904: 1893: 1891: 1890:Rostov-on-Don 1885: 1883: 1879: 1874: 1872: 1867: 1865: 1862: 1861: 1856: 1852: 1848: 1844: 1843:Junkers Ju 87 1840: 1839:Junkers Ju 88 1836: 1835:Dornier Do 17 1832: 1823: 1818: 1809: 1807: 1803: 1797: 1795: 1788: 1784: 1780: 1777: 1772: 1767: 1763: 1759: 1755: 1751: 1746: 1744: 1740: 1736: 1732: 1728: 1724: 1720: 1716: 1715:Joseph Schmid 1712: 1711: 1706: 1702: 1700: 1699: 1691: 1676: 1674: 1670: 1666: 1662: 1658: 1654: 1650: 1645: 1643: 1638: 1634: 1630: 1626: 1622: 1617: 1613: 1609: 1604: 1602: 1598: 1594: 1593:Dnieper River 1590: 1586: 1584: 1583: 1578: 1574: 1573:Joseph Stalin 1570: 1561: 1552: 1550: 1546: 1542: 1538: 1534: 1530: 1525: 1523: 1522: 1517: 1513: 1509: 1505: 1501: 1500: 1495: 1491: 1487: 1483: 1479: 1478: 1473: 1472: 1467: 1463: 1459: 1454: 1452: 1447: 1443: 1441: 1437: 1434:(leaving the 1433: 1429: 1425: 1421: 1411: 1409: 1403: 1401: 1397: 1393: 1389: 1385: 1381: 1377: 1372: 1368: 1364: 1359: 1357: 1353: 1349: 1345: 1341: 1337: 1333: 1329: 1328:air supremacy 1325: 1321: 1308: 1305: 1303: 1300: 1299: 1298: 1297: 1291: 1288: 1286: 1283: 1281: 1278: 1276: 1273: 1269: 1266: 1265: 1264: 1261: 1259: 1256: 1254: 1253:Donbas–Rostov 1251: 1249: 1248: 1244: 1242: 1239: 1238: 1237: 1236: 1230: 1227: 1225: 1222: 1220: 1217: 1215: 1212: 1210: 1207: 1205: 1202: 1200: 1197: 1195: 1192: 1190: 1187: 1186: 1185: 1184: 1178: 1175: 1171: 1168: 1167: 1166: 1163: 1162: 1161: 1160: 1154: 1151: 1149: 1146: 1144: 1141: 1139: 1136: 1134: 1131: 1129: 1126: 1124: 1121: 1120: 1119: 1118: 1114: 1109: 1104: 1094: 1089: 1087: 1082: 1080: 1075: 1074: 1071: 1057: 1054: 1053: 1052: 1049: 1047: 1046: 1042: 1040: 1037: 1035: 1032: 1030: 1027: 1025: 1022: 1020: 1017: 1015: 1014: 1010: 1008: 1005: 1003: 1000: 998: 995: 993: 990: 988: 987: 983: 982: 978: 977: 974: 971: 969: 966: 964: 961: 959: 956: 954: 951: 949: 946: 944: 941: 939: 936: 934: 933: 929: 927: 926: 922: 920: 917: 915: 914: 910: 908: 905: 903: 900: 898: 895: 893: 890: 888: 885: 883: 880: 879: 875: 874: 871: 868: 866: 863: 861: 860: 856: 852: 849: 848: 847: 844: 842: 839: 837: 834: 832: 829: 827: 826: 822: 820: 817: 815: 812: 810: 809: 805: 803: 800: 798: 795: 793: 792: 788: 787: 783: 782: 779: 778: 777:Little Saturn 774: 772: 771: 767: 765: 764:Velikiye Luki 762: 760: 759: 755: 753: 750: 748: 745: 743: 740: 738: 737: 733: 731: 728: 726: 723: 721: 718: 716: 713: 711: 708: 706: 705: 701: 699: 696: 694: 691: 690: 686: 685: 682: 679: 677: 674: 672: 669: 667: 664: 660: 659: 655: 653: 650: 648: 645: 643: 640: 638: 635: 633: 630: 628: 625: 623: 622: 618: 616: 613: 611: 608: 606: 603: 601: 598: 596: 593: 591: 588: 586: 583: 581: 578: 576: 573: 571: 568: 567: 566: 565: 561: 560: 556: 555: 552: 549: 547: 544: 542: 539: 538: 535:Naval warfare 534: 533: 530: 525: 524:Eastern Front 517: 512: 510: 505: 503: 498: 497: 494: 486:8,453 wounded 484:2,028 missing 477: 474: 468: 467: 462: 456: 453: 452: 447: 444: 439: 433: 428: 422: 417: 411: 406: 399: 394: 387: 386:Bruno Loerzer 382: 376: 371: 365: 360: 354: 349: 343: 342:Alfred Keller 338: 332: 327: 321: 316: 310: 305: 299: 294: 289: 287: 282: 276: 271: 265: 264:Aleksey Ionov 260: 254: 249: 243: 238: 232: 227: 222: 221: 216: 213: 200: 186: 173: 160: 146: 132: 120: 118: 106: 95: 94: 89: 81: 78: 77: 73: 69: 66: 65: 61: 58: 57: 53: 49: 41: 36: 33: 29: 28:Eastern Front 24: 19: 16: 6231: 6217: 6210: 6196: 6182: 6167: 6149: 6135: 6121: 6110: 6096: 6082: 6068: 6054: 6036: 6021: 6006: 5991: 5971: 5953: 5939: 5925: 5911: 5896: 5893:Corum, James 5879: 5876:Corum, James 5870:Corum, James 5844: 5830: 5816: 5801: 5787: 5773: 5766: 5759: 5752:Bibliography 5741: 5720: 5711: 5702: 5693: 5670: 5661: 5640: 5631: 5622: 5613: 5566: 5533: 5524: 5515: 5506: 5483: 5474: 5453: 5430: 5421: 5412: 5403: 5394: 5385: 5376: 5367: 5358: 5349: 5340: 5331: 5322: 5313: 5304: 5295: 5286: 5277: 5250: 5241: 5232: 5223: 5214: 5205: 5196: 5163: 5154: 5133: 5112: 5091: 5082: 5073: 5050: 5029: 5020: 5011: 5002: 4993: 4984: 4975: 4966: 4957: 4948: 4939: 4930: 4921: 4912: 4903: 4880: 4871: 4862: 4853: 4844: 4835: 4826: 4803: 4794: 4785: 4776: 4755: 4746: 4737: 4729: 4725: 4702: 4693: 4672: 4637: 4628: 4619: 4610: 4601: 4592: 4583: 4574: 4565: 4556: 4547: 4538: 4529: 4520: 4511: 4502: 4493: 4484: 4475: 4466: 4457: 4448: 4439: 4430: 4421: 4412: 4403: 4394: 4385: 4362: 4353: 4344: 4335: 4326: 4317: 4308: 4289:Franz Halder 4283: 4274: 4253: 4244: 4235: 4204: 4137: 4133:Volga region 4122: 4102: 4078: 4063: 4042: 4032: 4020: 4011: 4007: 3996: 3977: 3971: 3954: 3948: 3930: 3920: 3911: 3907:Stremitelnyy 3906: 3903: 3891: 3866:Eduard Dietl 3862: 3843: 3840: 3802: 3779: 3771: 3752: 3732: 3716: 3684: 3665: 3660:Zvenyhorodka 3641:Gornostaypol 3617: 3613: 3609: 3597: 3575: 3571: 3564: 3560:Bila Tserkva 3557: 3541: 3525:Arado Ar 196 3509: 3505:Serp i Molot 3504: 3500: 3496: 3493:Ivan Papanin 3492: 3488: 3484: 3480: 3474: 3470: 3466: 3462: 3441: 3431: 3427:minesweepers 3402: 3370: 3363: 3351: 3331:Finnish Army 3320: 3312: 3307:Luftflotte 4 3306: 3284: 3282: 3278: 3270: 3257: 3246: 3239: 3235: 3228: 3212:Kampfgruppen 3211: 3208: 3187: 3179: 3142: 3126: 3078: 3054: 3026: 2993: 2988: 2980: 2964: 2952: 2928: 2920: 2888: 2869: 2865: 2861: 2857: 2853: 2851: 2847: 2843:Franz Halder 2831: 2826: 2807: 2802: 2776: 2758: 2748: 2729: 2716: 2696: 2648: 2645:Luftflotte 5 2621:(KG 76) and 2596: 2572:East Prussia 2569: 2566:Luftflotte 1 2545: 2502: 2486: 2483:Luftflotte 2 2458:Hans Speidel 2423: 2388: 2385:Luftflotte 4 2363: 2328:fighter and 2323: 2318: 2311: 2306: 2296: 2289: 2271: 2269: 2256: 2253: 2248: 2234:Daimler-Benz 2227: 2223: 2209: 2203: 2201: 2188: 2184: 2162: 2158: 2156: 2151: 2147: 2121: 2101: 2098: 2094: 2086: 2077: 2067: 2064: 2060: 2055: 2052: 2040: 2035: 2030: 2014: 1984: 1961: 1940: 1930: 1925: 1915: 1911:heavy bomber 1899: 1886: 1877: 1875: 1868: 1858: 1850: 1827: 1821: 1805: 1798: 1790: 1786: 1781: 1775: 1770: 1765: 1747: 1743:Kriegsmarine 1735:Regia Marina 1726: 1722: 1708: 1705:Erhard Milch 1703: 1696: 1693: 1672: 1664: 1660: 1656: 1648: 1646: 1632: 1628: 1624: 1620: 1611: 1607: 1605: 1600: 1589:Barbarossa's 1588: 1587: 1580: 1566: 1548: 1544: 1540: 1532: 1526: 1519: 1497: 1481: 1475: 1469: 1458:Soviet Union 1455: 1446:Adolf Hitler 1444: 1417: 1404: 1360: 1317: 1302:Air war 1941 1301: 1294: 1246: 1233: 1181: 1157: 1115: 1043: 1024:Lake Balaton 1012: 997:East Prussia 986:Vistula–Oder 984: 930: 923: 911: 857: 846:2nd Smolensk 823: 807: 790: 776: 769: 756: 734: 702: 681:Air war 1941 680: 656: 619: 595:1st Smolensk 562: 551:Arctic Ocean 482:3,231 killed 443:Enrico Pezzi 105:Soviet Union 91:Belligerents 72:Soviet Union 32:World War II 26:Part of the 15: 4144:Nitel plant 3895:Freya radar 3870:Liinahamari 3714:defensive. 3709:, from the 3521:Arado Ar 95 2900:, then the 2879:V formation 2875:Finger-four 2314:Great Purge 2081:Army Fronts 2021:Soviet Navy 1944:Finger-four 1760:and in the 1750:Netherlands 1577:Great Purge 1537:German Army 1471:Third Reich 1430:and in the 1424:Scandinavia 1352:Great Purge 1330:, to offer 1241:1st Kharkov 1229:Sea of Azov 819:Gorky Blitz 814:3rd Kharkov 730:2nd Kharkov 632:1st Kharkov 627:Sea of Azov 6243:Categories 6039:. Osprey. 4150:References 3972:Victorious 3949:Victorious 3854:Winter War 3775:Kirovograd 3711:Moscow PVO 3629:Zaporozhye 3501:Kazakhstan 3395:Ju 88A of 3285:Blitzkrieg 3231:Lend-Lease 3188:The tired 3097:Chernovsty 3073:Shepetovka 2996:Lake Ilmen 2910:Daugavpils 2868:made up a 2860:made up a 2803:Shturmovik 2562:(StG 77). 2330:Tupolev SB 2319:Barbarossa 2307:Barbarossa 2299:Winter War 2272:Barbarossa 2204:Barbarossa 2198:In general 2056:Barbarossa 2044:Winter War 1953:Winter War 1926:Barbarossa 1903:Ernst Udet 1878:Barbarossa 1855:mechanised 1776:Barbarossa 1771:Barbarossa 1766:Barbarossa 1727:Barbarossa 1723:Barbarossa 1673:Luftwaffe' 1633:Luftwaffe' 1582:Blitzkrieg 1499:Mein Kampf 1477:Lebensraum 1414:Background 1396:Sevastopol 1348:operations 1280:1st Rostov 1268:Sevastopol 1263:1st Crimea 1214:Petrikowka 1133:1st Baltic 943:2nd Baltic 938:Dukla Pass 925:Doppelkopf 897:2nd Crimea 841:2nd Donbas 831:1st Donbas 808:Polar Star 758:Stalingrad 642:Sevastopol 637:1st Crimea 580:1st Baltic 564:Barbarossa 541:Baltic Sea 4155:Citations 3820:14th Army 3759:Lokhvitsa 3668:Chernigov 3633:Cherkassy 3448:Loksa Bay 3443:Karl Marx 3375:captured 3243:Partisans 3069:Polonnoye 2898:Lithuania 2810:Białystok 2673:(KG 26). 2613:(JG 54), 2428:(KG 51), 2419:Black Sea 2152:AufklObdL 1739:Gibraltar 1649:Luftwaffe 1612:Luftwaffe 1608:Luftwaffe 1601:Wehrmacht 1549:Wehrmacht 1545:Luftwaffe 1539:(German: 1533:Luftwaffe 1521:Wehrmacht 1486:Communism 1480:) to the 1390:, in the 1380:Leningrad 1371:Luftwaffe 1224:Leningrad 1138:Raseiniai 968:Gumbinnen 913:Bagration 752:Sinyavino 736:Case Blue 621:Leningrad 546:Black Sea 4066:Sosnovka 3941:Kirkenes 3916:Kola Bay 3816:7th Army 3812:Murmansk 3578:Boguslav 3523:and one 3516:Povenets 3503:and the 3461:steamer 3425:, three 3418:Saaremaa 3414:Nordwind 3359:Novgorod 3220:Korobets 3167:Bobruysk 3102:Moldavia 2948:Murmansk 2866:Schwarme 2796:Bobruysk 2792:Berezina 2603:Staffeln 2548:Staffeln 2531:and III 2444:(KG 4), 2393:and the 2238:Henschel 2136:Murmansk 1918:Voronezh 1864:division 1661:VVS-RKKA 1642:A-A line 1631:and the 1569:Red Army 1508:Slovakia 1462:A-A line 1376:Red Army 1338:, while 1199:1st Kiev 1165:Smolensk 1013:Solstice 973:Budapest 963:Courland 953:Debrecen 948:Belgrade 870:2nd Kiev 742:Caucasus 715:Demyansk 676:Chechnya 610:1st Kiev 449:Strength 199:Slovakia 67:Location 50:fighter. 6113:. RUSI 4059:Tikhvin 3993:carrier 3981:Nos. 81 3955:Furious 3928:(RAF). 3914:in the 3874:Petsamo 3858:Finland 3828:Swedish 3485:Kalpaks 3467:Lucerne 3463:Vironia 3451:Tallinn 3438:Estonia 3355:Tallinn 3341:in the 3333:in the 3175:Mogilev 3165:in the 3133:Vitebsk 3093:Dniestr 3091:on the 2870:Staffel 2862:Schwarm 2835:Polotsk 1806:Gruppen 1762:Balkans 1754:Belgium 1653:Russian 1597:Ukraine 1595:in the 1512:Finland 1504:Romania 1432:Balkans 1384:Ukraine 1296:Air war 1275:Tikhvin 1258:Bryansk 1247:Beowulf 1235:Phase 4 1209:Tallinn 1204:Lypovec 1183:Phase 3 1159:Phase 2 1153:Mogilev 1117:Phase 1 1007:Breslau 1002:Silesia 907:Karelia 859:Dnieper 725:Bamberg 666:Finland 615:Tallinn 212:Croatia 172:Finland 159:Romania 145:Hungary 131:Germany 6224: 6203: 6189: 6174: 6156: 6142: 6128: 6103: 6089: 6075: 6061: 6043: 6028: 6013: 5998: 5978: 5960: 5946: 5932: 5918: 5903: 5886: 5862: 5851: 5837: 5823: 5808: 5794: 5780: 4043:Stavka 3832:Sweden 3701:under 3689:under 3635:. The 3631:, and 3604:Odessa 3567:Yampol 3347:Berlin 3247:Flivos 3183:Yelnya 2960:Ostrov 2915:Kaunas 2827:Flivos 2753:under 2724:Grodno 2677:Battle 2403:Kraków 2260:Gulags 2242:Mauser 2130:, and 2103:Stavka 1860:panzer 1758:France 1516:German 1420:Allies 1400:Moscow 1392:Crimea 1290:Moscow 1219:Yelnya 1194:Odessa 1051:Prague 1045:Berlin 1034:Vienna 851:Lenino 693:Lyuban 658:Moscow 647:Rostov 605:Odessa 209: 196: 182: 169: 156: 142: 128: 114: 102: 79:Result 4129:Gorky 3997:Argus 3921:Stuka 3912:Shtil 3883:Salla 3856:with 3755:Lubny 3724:Kursk 3649:Gomel 3497:Saule 3377:Narva 3159:Gorky 3137:Orsha 3012:Pskov 2989:taran 2858:Rotte 2854:Rotte 2839:Gomel 2783:Orsha 2759:Satan 2732:Minsk 2605:from 1922:Wever 1851:Flivo 1822:Stuka 1482:Reich 1143:Brody 1123:Brest 892:Narva 865:Nevel 825:Kursk 791:Iskra 720:Kholm 704:Rzhev 671:Kerch 652:Gorky 585:Brody 570:Brest 185:Italy 6222:ISBN 6201:ISBN 6187:ISBN 6172:ISBN 6154:ISBN 6140:ISBN 6126:ISBN 6101:ISBN 6087:ISBN 6073:ISBN 6059:ISBN 6041:ISBN 6026:ISBN 6011:ISBN 5996:ISBN 5976:ISBN 5958:ISBN 5944:ISBN 5930:ISBN 5916:ISBN 5901:ISBN 5884:ISBN 5860:ISBN 5849:ISBN 5835:ISBN 5821:ISBN 5806:ISBN 5792:ISBN 5778:ISBN 4068:and 3983:and 3952:and 3872:and 3818:and 3757:and 3720:Seym 3695:T-34 3553:Uman 3542:The 3222:and 3216:Orel 3192:and 3083:and 3016:Gdov 2904:and 2808:The 2709:and 2707:12th 2633:and 2582:and 2492:and 2413:and 2397:and 2348:and 2240:and 2161:and 2157:The 2138:and 2046:and 2037:ago. 1990:and 1955:and 1857:and 1841:and 1647:The 1629:Heer 1606:The 1541:Heer 1510:and 1488:and 1346:and 1189:Uman 979:1945 876:1944 784:1943 770:Mars 687:1942 600:Uman 557:1941 59:Date 4125:GAZ 3987:of 3459:grt 3039:'s 3014:to 3002:'s 2794:at 2703:3rd 2163:VVS 2159:PVO 2068:the 1665:VVS 1625:OKW 1575:'s 1422:in 1326:or 30:of 6245:: 6124:. 5970:. 5895:. 5878:. 5729:^ 5679:^ 5649:^ 5601:^ 5589:^ 5575:^ 5554:^ 5542:^ 5492:^ 5462:^ 5439:^ 5259:^ 5184:^ 5172:^ 5142:^ 5121:^ 5100:^ 5059:^ 5038:^ 4889:^ 4812:^ 4764:^ 4711:^ 4681:^ 4658:^ 4646:^ 4371:^ 4296:^ 4262:^ 4213:^ 4178:^ 4162:^ 3889:. 3860:. 3838:. 3499:, 3495:, 3349:. 3325:, 3218:, 2881:. 2837:. 2705:, 2594:. 2578:, 2421:. 2409:, 2344:, 2340:, 2336:, 2309:. 2236:, 2126:, 2050:. 1837:, 1756:, 1752:, 1659:, 1655:: 1623:, 1518:: 1506:, 1426:, 1402:. 6178:. 6160:. 6049:. 6017:. 6002:. 5964:. 5907:. 5866:. 5855:. 5812:. 3071:- 2150:( 1849:( 1800:( 1092:e 1085:t 1078:v 515:e 508:t 501:v 475:.

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Aerial warfare during Operation Barbarossa

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