Last Days of the Luftwaffe - comments

[edwest]

This new book by author Manfred Griehl is for the specialist reader only. It is enjoyable to read because of his concise and clear writing style. I hesitate to call what I am about to write a proper review since I lack the necessary expertise to truly evaluate the information cointained therein.

The book begins by outlining the changes being made to the process which decided which aircraft would be be produced, encouraging production with the fewest changes and procuring the necessary raw materials and personnel. This included flak weapons as well. This streamlining included the addition of a figure who would eventually head most of the German secret weapons programs, SS-Gruppenfeuhrer Hans Kammler.The production goals for each aircraft type are then given, running a little past the middle of 1945. The introduction ends with a photo of the interior of one of the Kuno manufacturing facilities. This is the first time I've seen such a photo.

The first chapter covers which aircraft would be assigned to which Gruppe(n), Geschwader, etc. This covers plans to the end of 1945. For example: "Two Gruppen of LG 1 would receive the Ju 388 K-1 instead of Ju 88 A-4."

And...

"It was believed that two Jabo Gruppen could be formed between August and the end of December 1945 using Ju 388 J-1s or J-3s."

There is a photo of two rows of Fw 190s discovered by American troops in a railway tunnel. I am unfamiliar with this photo. I am almost certain that these aircraft could be recognized by their camouflage pattern alone. No numbers are visible.

But, many of these plans would come to nought. "Once the rearrangement of the bomber formations was given up as impossible, the fighter and Jabo units were given absolute priority."

By page 17, one wonders why the author presented these plans since the book is peppered with references to most of the plans never coming to fruition. The aura of futility permeates the book.

Chapter Two gives references to the Luftwaffe's successes against Allied bombers in 1943 and the resulting decline. Reference is made to "railway tunnel Objekt 217 B-C at Tischnowitz" which began producing the Bf 109, protected from Allied bombs. Production information is given for the Bf 109 K-4. "Most of the machines of this type had a DB 605 DCM engine." Production of the K-6 is also discussed, which was planned for the summer of 1945. A list of units supplied with the Bf 109 K-4 is given as of mid-April.

This is followed with a discussion of plans for the Fw 190 A-8 to D-15. A particularly bad photo of an Fw 190 D-9 is included. This is followed by other bad photos that make me wonder what the author was thinking or perhaps the publisher is to blame. Next, the Ta 152 is discussed. Example: "Most of the 21 Ta 152 H-0s were received at KdE; Luftwaffenkommando Reich took seven more and another went directly to III./JG 301." Accounts are given about attacks against the Russians using D-9s with AB 250 and AB 500 containers. Mention is also made of a few activities of II.(Sturm)/JG 300 against Allied bombers.

Ram-Fighters are covered next. Hitler went along with the concept "if unwillingly," but refused to order it. He would not stand in the way of those who wanted to volunteer.

Chapter 3 covers the Me 262 and some operations over the Reich. Production and aircraft actually distributed to various units is covered. A list covering all types delivered as of 10 April 1945 is given, including those used in testing, industry and research.

Next is the 1 TL fighter. A wind tunnel model is shown with a single engine attached to a short spacer along the lower midline, just ahead of the fuselage center. The Ta 183 is discussed, followed by the Me P 1101, the P 1110, P 1112, the Lippisch DM 1 and P-13a, and finally, a mixed power Focke-Wulf design. But, by 12 April 1945, work had to be given up.

Chapter 4 covers He 162 development, testing complications, including the loss of twenty pilots of JG 1. Then the rush to retreat by members of Heinkel Sued in the face of the Russians. Problems with fuel, Allied fighters, and the final disposition of delivered aircraft are given.

Chapter 5 gives the disposition of the Jabos and Blitzbombers. "In the last few nights of April 1945, crews of SG 1, who had been at Gatow/Mecklenburg until 26 April, sortied to relieve the pressure on Berlin."

And...

"... on the night of 1 May, some of the 39 Fw 190 F-8s attached to III./KG 200 dropped containers of supplies to the defenders."


continued...