Strategic Culture in the Luftwaffe – Did it Exist in World War II?

[edwest2]

The word Strategic in the title does not belong there. This is more like an anthropological study along the lines of 'Certain Lost Tribes of the Amazon: Their Leaders, Culture, Rituals, and Symbols with Related Commentary.'

It reduces the wartime Luftwaffe to a series of formulas and borders on the mathematical. A list of the activities of these people, read as inputs, and the results. It lacks sufficient examples to place all persons, events
and activities mentioned into meaningful contexts which would provide enough information to prove the writer's points/conclusions, and increase the knowledge of the reader. It has little evidentiary value.

To put it another way, it is a look back at the wartime Luftwaffe and how they failed at efficient business management.

[Broncazonk]

Agreed. Beyond a few interesting anecdotes:

Originally Posted by edwest2

It has little evidentiary value.

But, I would be interested in reading other Luftwaffe research if anyone has a link to it.

Bronc

[egbert]

The Jagdflieger had a love of good food and of quality wine and spirits. Whenever poor weather or the operational tempo permitted, pilots would frequent high quality restaurants, eat expensive local delicacies and drink the best alcohol available.
Many of the less successful ‘flirters’ used prostitutes as a source of entertainment........Contemporary German aircrew share many of their forefathers’ traits and characteristics

Well I am a former wing commander Lw and certainly address my RAF colleague as biased, unfair and not applying the principles of scientific work codes while on staff college. I have serious comments on every para I actually wanted to stop at first page when he states the Lw was founded in 1954 (it was actually Jan 1956). It is not worthy a wing commander RAF to blubber such sociopathy nonsense and claiming unproven, unfounded bs. Most likely he was an exchange pilot with a Lw unit and could not cope with the pace of life, thus-----revenge 2006.

[Chris Goss]

Dean is a Tornado Navigator and yes, did an exchange tour at Lechfeld. He is now an Air Cdre

[egbert]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Dean is a Tornado Navigator and yes, did an exchange tour at Lechfeld. He is now an Air Cdre

This makes sense. The Lw units are not shy with rough jokes. They used to have 2 toilets in the Tornado casinos, one for pilots and one for navigators. Using the "other" toilet the air cdre
most likely has an everlasting trauma. But seriously this "academic" product is not worth the paper it was written on. I think it is an insult for the proud RAF to carry such a guy through the service.