Snautzer01
Honourably banned
- 38,475
- Mar 26, 2007
Tlie intensification of Allied air attacks on the Gei^nan aircraft
industry, in Fehruary, IShk, caused a serious loss of production hut also
stirred the Germans to greater efforts. The responsihility for filter
production was taken over hy a "Fighter Staff" (jagerstah) under Albert Speer,
the Minister of Armaments and War Production, with Field Marshal Milch as his
deputy and Otto Eaur as the chief executive. Tlae Fi^iter Staff functioned
from. March to June 19^4, when Speer took over full control of the whole of the
aircraft production programme. At the same time, the post of Director General
of Equipment at the Air Ministry (held hy Milch since December 1941},
abolished.
was
During its existence, the Filter Staff was able to eiTect a remarkable
rise in fighter production, in spite of the heavy Allied air attacks on the
industry. This was achieved by taking drastic measures for the repair of dama,ged aircraft and for the protection of factories against air attacks,
including dispersal of plant. A review of the aircraft production programmes
was also undertaken, which led to a reduction in the nimber of aircraft types
produced. From the standpoint of industrial organisation, therefore, the Fighter Staff achieved considerable success. The effect on the fitting
strength of the Luftwaffe was, however, not very noticeable, as many of the
aircraft produced were destroyed by Allied air attacks,
argued that the German filter arm would have been better served if the
industry had concentrated its effort on the production of jet aircraft (the
Messerschmitt 262 in particular). General Galland, the A.O. for Fighters
put this point of view at this time when he said he would rather have one
Me, 262 than five Me, 109*s.
The translation which follows contains extracts from the verbatim reports
of the Figjiter Staff conferences, with particular reference to the effect
of Allied air attacks. These reports are part of the collection of Milch
documents which were captiired at the end of the War
industry, in Fehruary, IShk, caused a serious loss of production hut also
stirred the Germans to greater efforts. The responsihility for filter
production was taken over hy a "Fighter Staff" (jagerstah) under Albert Speer,
the Minister of Armaments and War Production, with Field Marshal Milch as his
deputy and Otto Eaur as the chief executive. Tlae Fi^iter Staff functioned
from. March to June 19^4, when Speer took over full control of the whole of the
aircraft production programme. At the same time, the post of Director General
of Equipment at the Air Ministry (held hy Milch since December 1941},
abolished.
was
During its existence, the Filter Staff was able to eiTect a remarkable
rise in fighter production, in spite of the heavy Allied air attacks on the
industry. This was achieved by taking drastic measures for the repair of dama,ged aircraft and for the protection of factories against air attacks,
including dispersal of plant. A review of the aircraft production programmes
was also undertaken, which led to a reduction in the nimber of aircraft types
produced. From the standpoint of industrial organisation, therefore, the Fighter Staff achieved considerable success. The effect on the fitting
strength of the Luftwaffe was, however, not very noticeable, as many of the
aircraft produced were destroyed by Allied air attacks,
argued that the German filter arm would have been better served if the
industry had concentrated its effort on the production of jet aircraft (the
Messerschmitt 262 in particular). General Galland, the A.O. for Fighters
put this point of view at this time when he said he would rather have one
Me, 262 than five Me, 109*s.
The translation which follows contains extracts from the verbatim reports
of the Figjiter Staff conferences, with particular reference to the effect
of Allied air attacks. These reports are part of the collection of Milch
documents which were captiired at the end of the War