Luftwaffe order of battle August 1940 facts for kids

The Battle of Britain was a huge air battle during World War II where the German air force, called the Luftwaffe, tried to gain control of the skies over Great Britain. This article explains how the Luftwaffe was set up for this important fight in 1940.

The Luftwaffe divided its forces into different "air fleets" (called Luftflotten). Each air fleet had a specific job and area to attack.

• Luftflotte 2 was in charge of bombing southeast England and the area around London. Its bases were in the Pas-de-Calais region of France.
• Luftflotte 3 focused on targets in the West Country, Midlands, and northwest England. Its bases were a bit further north in France.
• Luftflotte 5 attacked northern England and Scotland. This fleet operated from bases in Norway.

Other air fleets, Luftflotte 1 and Luftflotte 4, were based in Germany. Most of their bomber planes were sent to help the three main air fleets fighting in the Battle of Britain. Some fighter planes stayed behind to protect Germany.

Luftflotte 2: Targeting Southeast England

This air fleet was based in Brussels, Belgium. Its commander was Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring. It was organized this way from August 13, 1940.

Luftflotte 2 had many different types of units. These included:

• Weather reconnaissance units: These planes, like the Dornier Do 17 and Heinkel He 111, flew ahead to check the weather.
• Bomber units (Kampfgeschwader): These were the main attacking forces. They used planes like the Heinkel He 111 and Dornier Do 17. Some units also flew the faster Junkers Ju 88.
• Dive bomber units (Sturzkampfgeschwader): These units used Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" dive bombers. These planes were famous for their loud sirens as they attacked.
• Special attack units (Erprobungsgruppe 210): This group tested new tactics. They flew Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters and some Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters.
• Fighter units (Jagdgeschwader): These groups flew the fast Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter planes. Their job was to protect the bombers and fight enemy fighters.
• Heavy fighter units (Zerstörergeschwader): These units used the twin-engine Messerschmitt Bf 110. They were meant to be long-range fighters or bomber escorts.
• Reconnaissance units (Aufklärungsgruppe): These planes, like the Junkers Ju 88 and Heinkel He 111, flew missions to gather information.
• Pathfinder bombers (Kampfgruppe 100): This special unit used Heinkel He 111s to find targets and drop flares. This helped other bombers find their way in the dark.
• Minelaying units (Küstengruppe 126): These units used Heinkel He 111s to drop mines into the sea.

Some of the famous fighter units in Luftflotte 2 included Jagdgeschwader 26 and Jagdgeschwader 51. These units had many skilled pilots.

Luftflotte 3: Covering Western England

Luftflotte 3 had its headquarters in Paris, France. Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle was its commander. Its organization was set from August 13, 1940.

This air fleet also had a mix of different aircraft and units:

• Weather reconnaissance: Similar to Luftflotte 2, they had units like Wettererkundungstaffel 51 using Dornier Do 17 and Heinkel He 111 planes.
• Bomber units: These included Lehrgeschwader 1 and Kampfgeschwader 27, flying Junkers Ju 88 and Heinkel He 111 bombers.
• Long-range reconnaissance and maritime bombers: Kampfgeschwader 40 used Focke-Wulf Fw 200 planes for long-distance flights. Kampfgruppe 806 flew Junkers Ju 88s for attacks over the sea.
• Dive bomber units: Sturzkampfgeschwader 1, Sturzkampfgeschwader 2, and Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 used Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers.
• Fighter units: Jagdgeschwader 2, Jagdgeschwader 27, and Jagdgeschwader 53 flew Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters.
• Heavy fighter units: Zerstörergeschwader 2 used Messerschmitt Bf 110 aircraft.
• Reconnaissance units: Several Aufklärungsgruppe units, like Aufklärungsgruppe 31 and Aufklärungsgruppe 121, flew planes such as the Dornier Do 17 and Junkers Ju 88 to gather intelligence.

Luftflotte 5: Striking the North

Luftflotte 5 was based in Stavanger, Norway. Its leader was Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff. This fleet's setup was also from August 13, 1940.

This air fleet was responsible for attacks on northern England and Scotland. Its units included:

• Weather reconnaissance: A special unit under the X. Fliegerkorps used Heinkel He 111s to check weather conditions.
• Bomber units: Kampfgeschwader 26 and Kampfgeschwader 30 were the main bomber groups. They flew Heinkel He 111 and Junkers Ju 88 planes.
• Heavy fighter units: A group from Zerstörergeschwader 76 flew Messerschmitt Bf 110s.
• Fighter units: Jagdgeschwader 77 provided fighter cover with its Messerschmitt Bf 109s.
• Coastal air units (Kustenfliegergruppe 506): These units used Heinkel He 115 seaplanes for coastal patrols and attacks.
• Reconnaissance units: Several Aufklärungsgruppe units, like Aufklärungsgruppe 22 and Aufklärungsgruppe 120, used planes such as the Dornier Do 17 and Heinkel He 111 for scouting.
• Air-sea rescue (Seenotdienst): This important unit used Heinkel He 59 seaplanes to rescue downed pilots from the sea.

Other Important Units

The overall command of the Luftwaffe was in Berlin, Germany, led by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring. Some special units reported directly to this main headquarters:

• High-level reconnaissance: The Aufklärungsgruppe Ob.d.L flew various advanced planes, including Blohm & Voss BV 142, Dornier Do 215, and Junkers Ju 86P, for very long-range scouting missions.
• Central weather reconnaissance: The Wettererkundungskette Ob.d.L also flew weather missions from different bases.
• Maritime patrol units (Seefliegerverbände): Several Küstenfliegergruppe units, like Küstenfliegergruppe 406 and Küstenfliegergruppe 606, used planes such as the Dornier Do 18 and Heinkel He 115 for patrols and attacks over the sea.

Images for kids

• Heinkel He 111 H-6 of 5./KG 4.jpg

  A Heinkel He 111 bomber, a common aircraft used by the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.

• Dornier Do 17Z-2 of KG 2.jpg

  A Dornier Do 17Z-2 bomber, another key aircraft in the Luftwaffe's arsenal.

• Junkers Ju 88A-5 of KG 54.jpg

  A Junkers Ju 88A-5 bomber, known for its speed and versatility.

• Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 of JG 26.jpg

  A Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 fighter, the main German fighter plane.

• Messerschmitt Bf 110C of ZG 26.jpg

  A Messerschmitt Bf 110C heavy fighter, used for long-range escort and attack.

• Junkers Ju 87B-2 of StG 77.jpg

  A Junkers Ju 87B-2 "Stuka" dive bomber, famous for its siren.

See also

• German Air Fleets in World War II
• Luftwaffe Organization