Here is a good one for you for think about.

What if Werner Molders or Adolf Galland had been the commander of the Luftwaffe when the war started in 1939?

What do you think would have happened?

Matt

A strong focus on fighter production as well as on training programs. They probably would have assigned competent generals in the proper positions. The Battle of Britain may have been won but the invasion not taken place. The luftwaffe would have been able to provide a better defense in the Reich and perhaps the Allies would have encountered the Me262 a lot earlier.

Do not know what the strategic focus would have been like. Anybody would have been better than the "Iron Man". A bette replacement would have been Erhart Milch.

__________________

American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

I totally agree with PzJgr, and would go even as far into saying that the Luftwaffe would have won the Battle of Britain (had Galland decided to have that kind of a battle to begin with) Molders, Galland, Hajo Herrmann, Erich Alfred Hartmann--now THATS a dream team. [img]smile.gif[/img]

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Adolf Galland loved the Me-262! He would have cancelled all production of piston powered fighters (except for the Fw-190d, and Ta-152. He needed these to protect the jets during landings and take offs!), to concentrate entirely on 262 production.

Let us not forget Walther Wever, who wanted to produce the "Ural bomber". Basically this was a German version of the Landcaster or B-17. If Molders was in charge, I think he would have agreed with this type of bomber, and the Germans would have stopped building twin engine bombers (except for the Ju-88, and its night fighter versions).

I think the battle of Britan would have definately been won. An invasion???? Quite possible. With complete air superiority the Luftwaffe could invade England. Just like they succeeded in Crete!

Matt

Remember guys one thing.........everyone who was under a close relationship with der Führer bowed to his will and scrutiny. No-one and I mean no-one could do anything without his permission. What if's are nice but Fatty bowed out and therfore reamined quite ineffective after the Battle of Britain; all being good for to lamblast his brave pilots. there are many cases where leading aces would find excuses to not be on base when he arrived during late 1944. A moral booster he was not.....

E

Also, Gallands two brothers might not have been killed in action and could have been used very well as high up members of the Luftwaffe--specially the Fighter wings. All three Gallands were excellent aces, and the younger duo could have done what the older bro wanted for the beloved fighters--and simply made it a one of a kind and unbeatable force. Bad part is as you pointed out--Hitler was in charge.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Hermann Göring was a very good politician as Hitler was. Göring was also a very good organiser, but he was not a good war commander as Hitler was...

He achieved to finance with foreign and national capital the Heinkel, Junkers, Arado, Messerschmitt... enterprises and made the most powerful air force in the world from nothing.

But you are right. He shoed himself as a bad tactician during the battle of Britain and Dunkerke. He believed his own lies...

Perhaps there would have been better if any other commander would have commanded the Luftwaffe in war time.

__________________
"As long as the Panzers suceed, there will be a victory"

Heinz Guderian

(sigh) All I can say is Where is Manfred von Richthoffen, when he would have been needed? Damn shame he was killed in WK1.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Actually Boelecke would of been a better substitute. sorry for the mis-spell. manfred was an excellent solo hunter do to his autonomous background. An un-canny eye and had a excellent feel for the air action around him. A bit self-possesive but so what. His victory sheet shows that he still is one of the all time greats.

Göring served his purpose as a general stooge to Hitler and his will and wishes were generally ignored from November 44 onward even with all his guff in the Geschwader Kommodore's faces and pilots/crews. Göring was totally out of touch with reality of what was going on in the air and so was Hitler.

E

Thats Boelcke (heck, I cant spell his name correctly either)

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

What could have gone differently:

1. Dunkirk: 400 000 British POW´s captured
2. Maybe no BoB but at least no 1,000 planes and good crews lost
3. Hitler´s idea of revenge with bombers until 1944 stopped and fighter plane production increased massively earlier
4. Me 262 production full ahead from early 1943
5. Not sending the flying school teachers to battles as reserve and thus weakening the pilot teaching ( very bad!)

That´s just some points.I think Dunkirk would have been enough to kick his butt to other duties!

__________________

I honestly don't believe the outcome would not have been any different, due mainly to Hitler. I have no idea how much of a backbone Galland had, but I think an all out effort at Dunkirk, and continuing to concentrate on radar and airfields in the BoB against Mein Fuherers wishs would have made for a brief career.

A bigger what if may be if the 4 engine bombers had been developed, which I don't think would have been a priority under Galland. Galland was a great tactician, and thus probably better suited in his actual role, not devising strategy and pushing paper in Berlin.

In the end though, just about anyone but Goring would have been better, his lambasting and bravado cost the Germans the Sixth Army at Stalingrad.

I don't think Goring's boast had that much effect on Hitlers thinking.
To Hitler the British were already beaten, and he was more interested in defeating the remains of the French Army.
In my view he would have still left the British to "wither on the vine" without Goring's boast.
Whoever was the leader of the Luftwaffe the result would have been the same.
The British air-defense system was too powerful for the Germans to have a realistic hope of winning
When you stop building bombers, you are admitting only one thing, the war is already lost!
You cannot win wars with just fighter aircraft
What would you use them as, gliders ???
The main reason the Me 262 did not get into service until 1944 was that the engines were unfit for service until the Germans had ironed out some major faults with them. Even then they only had a service life of 6 hours.

The trouble with this was that Hitler wanted as many combat aircraft as he could in the shortest time and from the very beginning the Luftwaffe had no proper reserve as such (it was all in the shop window, as they say).
If the Germans had built up a proper reserve they would have had far less aircraft available for the battles of 39-40

ps on the same theme.
Goring always gets the blame for cancelling the Luftwaffe heavy bomber program, but he had nothing to do with the decision!
It was Kesselring the Luftwaffe Chief of Staff in 1936 who cancelled the program due to resourse constraints on the German aircraft industry.

[ 23. December 2002, 04:44 PM: Message edited by: redcoat ]

__________________
if in doubt....Panic!!!!

Hi Interesting idea ! I dont claim to be to have 1/2 the knowelledge you guys do but on an interestng counter argument after reading Ulrich Steinhilpers book Spitfire on my tail i would be tempted to say the ex legion condor pilots especially Galland did a lot to stunt the luftwaffes ability during the battle of britain in terms of radio development without Goring im sure tactics would have undoubtabley been better but Galland may have had to modernise his ideas if he had been in control ( I hasten to add this is not what i nessicarliy believe it is just the conclusion that can be drawn from the book)