The Hs 123 first experienced combat in the Spanish Civil war and helped define the role of the close air support aircraft for the Luftwaffe. The type proved to be exceptionally useful during the Polish campaign and even though production had ceased before WWII the Hs 123 soldiered on through 1944. The type proved so useful in it's role that it was deployed to the Balkans in 1941 where it proved readily adaptable to the harsh conditions found in that theatre. Although threatened with imminent replacement, no type was developed that could completely replace this aircraft and the type was used until there were none left.