Was "Jagdwaffe" a wartime term?
 

The term Jagdwaffe is often used to describe the Luftwaffe's fighter arm; however, I have my doubts about it actually being used during the war, especially since i have reviewed thousands of Luftwaffe documents. Galland certainly uses it enough in his book, however, I am thinking that it may a term that was created after the war. Can anyone point to a wartime document that shows the term being used? Thanks in advance!

Barry

Re: Was "Jagdwaffe" a wartime term?
 

Good morning Barry !

Interesting question. In contemporary print media like "Der Adler", the term "Jagdwaffe" doesn't show up. Those media name Luftwaffe arms "Jagdflieger", "Kampfflieger" or "Transportflieger".
Both, "Nachtjäger" (nightfighter) and "Jäger" (dayfighter) are doing the same job in German terminology and should be concentrated into the general term "Jagdwaffe", but only hooked up to the Luftwaffe.
On my individual believe, the term "Jagdwaffe" could be a very late war-stage term in discussions like "Die Jagdtwaffe der Luftwaffe hat versagt" or/and post-war terminology in memorandi of Luftwaffe high-scored.

All the best !

Horst Weber