The Russian Air Force in the Eyes of German Commanders

The Russian Air Force in the Eyes of German Commanders by Generalleutnant a. D. Walter Schwabedissen, is one of a series of historical studies written by, or based on information supplied by, former key officers of the GAF for the United States Air Force Historical Division.The overall purpose of the series is twofold: 1) To provide the U.S. Air Force with a comprehensive and, insofar as possible, authoritative history of a major air force which suffered defeat in World War II, a history prepared by many of the principal and responsible leaders of that air force; 2) to provide a firsthand account of that air force's unique combat in a major war, especially its fight against the forces of the Soviet Union. This series of studies therefore covers in large part virtually all phases of the Luftwaffe's operations and organization, from its camouflaged origin in the Reichswehr, during the period of secret German rearmament following World War I, through its participation in the Spanish Civil War and its massive operations and final defeat in World War II, with particular attention to the air war on the Eastern Front.In World War II the Russian Air Force came of age. The men most vitally concerned with this, aside from the Russians themselves, were commanders in the German armed forces. The experience of these commanders, then, constitutes a unique source for information on an organization whose capabilities, both past and future, are of vital concern to the world.The chief German experience with the Russian Air Force derives from World War II. It was during this period that the Russians learned most from the Germans and the Germans learned most about the Russians.This study exploits this broad German experience. Compiled from the official records of the German Air Force and from reports written by German commanders who saw action in the Russian campaign, it documents many of the Russian Air Force's achievements as well as its failures.