Hartmann: claims vs. victories

[Andrei Demjanko]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

it is about how Göring, Kesselring and Flifü Afrika set priorities and deployed their forces.

They were correct in their assesment. There was no question of effective night fighter activity, no matter how much units involved, without adequate ground organisation and ground control, non-existent in the theatre. It is not coincidence that I./N.J.G. 2, "Intruder" unit, least dependent from GC, was sent to the Mediterranean. Decision to rely on Flak units was sound.

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

And Rommel's fault for pursuing objectives that his supporting air forces could not meet

I'm completely agree with you.

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

Equally, without functioning ports the ground forces couldn't be sustained in Africa either, so air cover at the front was, in that sense, a secondary issue.

I think this is wrong dilemma. With the limited forces at their disposal the Axis only faced the choise of where their supplies would be lost - at sea, during unloading from ships (or MFP's at Mersa Matruh), in M/T convoys on a road to the frontline or at supply dumps in the vicinity of the frontline.

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

We are, incidentally going way off-topic as regards Hartmann's career.

Agree