Yuri wrote: ↑12 Jul 2020 11:51
stg 44 wrote: ↑07 Jul 2020 14:14
Plus again that leaves out the navy and Luftwaffe/air defense.
The latter is particularly important as of 4th quarter 1941 it was already consuming 24% of the entire Wehrmacht weapons budget and 35% of total ammo production per the book "Flak: 1914-1945". Even in 3rd quarter 1941, i.e. in the first 3 months of Barbarossa, it was 19% and 34% respectively.
And that was just FLAK.
Reading books about the Luftwaffe anti-aircraft artillery (FLAK) of the Wehrmacht is useful.
You can learn a lot of interesting things. I read such books, too. Here, for example, is a scan of the cover of a book about FLAK from my library.
GBF_Title_сut.jpg
However, if you limit yourself only to reading such books and do not study documents, you can with a high probability get an erroneous idea of what this animal is - FLAK - and what it is eaten with.
So first a few documents about the Luftwaffe in General and about the FLAK in particular.
let's start with the General.
42-01-29 Diary of a Lw_Officer_.jpg
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Excerpts from the diary of a German officer.
Lieutenant Gerngard Ebbing, company commander Inf. Reg. 412 227.ID / Ebbing's diary, soldier's book and letters were found near his body in the area of Rabochy poselok No. 8 (
Work settlement No. 8 - Yuri).
Ebbing in the rank of Feldwebel in mid-1941 sent to the school of officers of the German air force in Gatow near Berlin, after graduating from school, in January 1942, as an officer candidate, sent to a three-month course in rifle training in Grossborn /Pomerania/.
29.1.42. Extract from the diary. "One thing is already clear, they want to turn us into foot soldiers within three months. This is the end of the good times in the air force. Housing is not what we are used to seeing in flight units. We are 15 people in one room, and we are struggling to get through. But there are 2,000 more officers and officer candidates in this position. And the fact that I am not the only one who is not lucky is a consolation."
3.2.42 . "On Sunday, we were addressed by
Colonel Geiderich of the 3rd airborne regiment, who is also the head of our courses. We will be trained as platoon and company commanders in order to be sent to the Eastern front after completing our three-month training courses. Reichsmarschall Goering put us at the disposal of the Fuhrer for the next offensive. Now the hour of trial is approaching for us too. But before that time, we have a lot of things to learn. But it will work.
We have already reorganized, removed the blue uniform of the air force and put on the gray uniform of the infantry, only we still wear the badge of pilots on our chest.
The service is not easy. Fortunately, the cold is already giving up. We study the carbine of the 1898 model, the 08 pistol, the 1940 submachine gun. A lot of activities on the ground, which I previously had no idea about. I hope that we will learn a lot here to stand up for ourselves in the upcoming battles."
13.3.42. ".... Today is the first inspection of the commander of the 10th flying division,
major General Peterson.
We are very much in the courtyard. The power supply does not match the current load. In all my time at school, I was never really fed. If only the food had improved?"
29.3.42. "The food has improved noticeably. Last week came
General aviation Student along with
chief of staff Stomach."
20.4.42. "The Führer's birthday! A day of serious joy. I was promoted to Lieutenant. My long-term wish was fulfilled. To be a Lieutenant is to be an example in life and in death. Thank you, Lord God. You've always favored me so much. Don't leave me in the future."
21.4.42. "Speech of
ReichsMarshal Goering at the graduation of courses: "For 3 months, you were gathered here for courses in order to prepare you, officers and candidates for officers, for combat. What was possible to achieve in 3 months is achieved.
This was at the climax of the battle, when the Führer asked me to allocate from my air force two thousand more young men, called as officers and young leaders to take part in various bridgeheads of future battles. With this I was instructed, as far as possible, to help the fraternal type of weapons - the infantry, young officers of the air fleet, to fill in the heavy losses that the winter brought us.
In addition, the air force has created combat regiments from its own ranks, which also require the presence of young officers. All those selected for this purpose are collected in these courses. Each of you individually will be put in your place, and he, as a young officer and as a young chief, must do his duty, mostly as a young chief, for this is what we are called to do and what you have been taught to do. Each of you will lead German men in the future. What does it mean? What is the first duty of management?
It is the first duty, everywhere and always, as a leader, to be an example to those whom you lead, in order to reach their blind trust, wherever it leads them.
It was a difficult decision for me to select hundreds of young officers from my air force. But everywhere we must take into account the common great interests. You can't think in small terms. We must understand that today, at the time of the greatest battle that our country is waging, everyone must do their duty wherever the Fuhrer's orders put them. And it is to those who are now leaving for the land army that I appeal. You go as a representative of the air force. So you will be considered. And you should always and everywhere carry with you the feeling that in a new place you need to show your spirit, the spirit of aviation. You should stand out especially. It's hard for you, of course. But I am sure that you will soon grow into a new environment. You are our messengers in the land army, and therefore I ask you to show that the people of aviation everywhere can fight and lead.
.... /
cut - Yuri/
The enemy is hard and ruthless, but it will be defeated as it has been hitherto. In a few more weeks, his only ally at home – the cold, the swamps, the snow and ice – would be gone. Then the German soldier will show the world that only the weather prevented him from rushing forward, that we are now paying off and that the enemy will learn that the new addition is worthy of the old fighters and that above all-courage.
.../
cut - Yuri/
Be and remain national socialists and brave soldiers. That you will be, we swear! Glory to victory!".
18.9.42. "My hour of departure for the 227th division has come."
20.9.42. "I found out where the 227th division is located. It is located in Pukhalovo, South of Mga."
11.1.43. "That was a day. Throughout the morning until dinner, the enemy did not leave us alone. At 06: 30, the mortar attack began. About 500 ruptures lay down near our strong point. At 11: 30, after heavy gunfire, a reconnaissance group appeared. We recaptured it, but it only started after that. For 2 hours we were bombarded by 122 and 152 mm guns. There are no losses yet." The diary ends here.
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... or marks.