WW2 German Aircraft Colors (Luftwaffe)

The Luftwaffe, the German air force, stood as a pinnacle of innovation, technology, and power as it took flight in 1933 under the leadership of Hermann Göring, playing a crucial role in the early stages of World War II.

Formation of the Luftwaffe

Preceding the Luftwaffe, the Imperial German Air Force, or Luftstreitkräfte, emerged in 1910 with the advent of military aviation. Post the First World War and the restrictions imposed by the Versailles Treaty of 1919, Germany was barred from possessing its own military and civilian aviation. However, by 1922, restrictions on civilian aviation were lifted with certain limitations. Military aviation interest persisted, operating under the guise of aviation clubs and civilian entities.

By the mid-1920s, Germany boasted a highly efficient aviation industry with notable establishments like Focke-Wulf in Bremen, Dornier in Friedrichshafen, Heinkel in Warnemünde, Junkers in Dessau, and Messerschmitt in Augsburg. While Allied forces still flew outdated wooden biplanes, German engineers crafted modern metal monoplanes with retractable landing gear.

The restructured airline, Lufthansa, granted permission for commercial flights in Western Europe, emerging as the world's most technologically advanced airline, albeit in violation of the Versailles Treaty. Combat crews received training in four Lufthansa flight schools, gaining expertise in night and all-weather conditions.

When Hitler assumed office in 1933, he inherited a substantial financial base to create new military air forces. Significant investments were allocated for Luftwaffe construction. Deputy Führer Hermann Göring, a distinguished World War I pilot, was appointed Reich Commissioner for Aviation with unrestricted powers. Göring enlisted the expertise of Erhard Milch, former director of Lufthansa, to spearhead the development of the world's most potent air fleet.

Luftwaffe in Action

The baptism of fire for Luftwaffe pilots and aircraft occurred in the skies of Spain, where the Condor Legion fought alongside Nationalist forces led by General Franco.

September 1, 1939, marked the initiation of World War II, with the Luftwaffe playing a pivotal role in the Blitzkrieg strategy during the invasion of Poland. Two air fleets, commanded by Kesselring and Löhr, deployed 807 and 627 aircraft, respectively. The infamous Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers, integral to the Luftwaffe, claimed the first aerial victory, shooting down a Polish fighter. Despite initial resistance, the Polish Air Force succumbed in just over two weeks due to logistical challenges, ground attacks, and Luftwaffe air superiority. The Stuka emerged as a symbol of German warfare, supporting Panzer divisions and contributing to the surrender of Polish forces.

In April 1940, the Luftwaffe executed Operation Weserübung, a campaign in Scandinavia. Equipped with 527 aircraft, including 50 Stuka dive-bombers, German air forces swiftly subdued Denmark with its limited air defense. Norway witnessed a notable aerial failure, but Luftwaffe support allowed the Wehrmacht to gain a foothold, damaging the Royal Navy and achieving air superiority.

The invasion of France and the Low Countries commenced on May 10, 1940, in Fall Gelb. The Luftwaffe aimed to neutralize the Royal Air Force in preparation for Operation Sea Lion. Learning from the Polish campaign, the Luftwaffe no longer prioritized the immediate elimination of enemy air power on the ground. French and British air forces faced a formidable opponent with 1,562 and 680 aircraft, respectively. While the Luftwaffe attacked some airfields in France, the focus shifted to ground support. The Battle of Dunkirk showcased Luftwaffe dominance, inflicting heavy losses on Allied attempts to halt the German advance. Despite victories, the Luftwaffe couldn't prevent the evacuation of most of the British Expeditionary Force. In the subsequent Fall Rot, Luftwaffe support allowed the rapid German advance into southern France. The Battle of France cost the Luftwaffe 28% of its front-line strength, with 1,428 aircraft destroyed, setting the stage for the impending Battle of Britain.

Anticipating the invasion of Britain, the Luftwaffe aimed to neutralize the RAF. Göring, overconfident due to prior successes, underestimated the RAF's resilience. The Battle of Britain unfolded with strategic operations that stretched the Luftwaffe beyond its designed capabilities. Committing three Luftflotten to different regions, the Luftwaffe sought air supremacy over southeast England. The Bf 109E and Hawker Hurricanes engaged in evenly matched dogfights, with the Bf 109 slightly superior at high altitudes and the Hurricanes excelling at medium heights. Despite early successes, the RAF stabilized the situation in August 1940, increasing pilot numbers. Göring's shift to targeting London and underestimating the RAF's resilience proved detrimental. The Luftwaffe's terror bombing campaign ensued, but Hitler postponed the invasion. The Battle of Britain cost the Luftwaffe 873 fighters and 1,014 bombers, leading to its strategic failure and a turning point in World War II.

In 1941, Hitler's Directive 21 initiated Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. Exploiting the Soviet Union's weakened air force, the Luftwaffe sought air superiority with 4,389 aircraft. The surprise attack on June 22 devastated the Red Air Force, contributing to the Soviets' staggering losses. Effective against Soviet armored divisions, the Luftwaffe faced challenges with overextended supply lines. Despite initial victories, the harsh Russian winter and logistical issues significantly reduced Luftwaffe strength by the end of 1941. The failure to quickly defeat the Soviets marked a turning point. Despite support in Operation Citadel in 1943, the Luftwaffe faced attrition, and by October 1943, it had only 425 operational fighters on the Eastern Front.

The Luftwaffe's role extended beyond traditional warfare. Supporting sea operations during the Norwegian Campaign, its involvement in the Battle of the Atlantic from 1940 to 1944 featured reconnaissance planes like the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 and the Junkers Ju 290 maritime patrol aircraft. Despite early success with the Fw 200 claiming 365,000 tons of shipping in 1941, increased efforts by RAF Coastal Command diminished the Luftwaffe's effectiveness. The strain on resources from the Eastern Front, North Africa, and British bombings affected the Luftwaffe's capabilities. The Nachtjagd, Germany's night fighter force, evolved with radar-equipped planes like the Messerschmitt Bf 110 and Junkers Ju 88. Aces like Helmut Lent and Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer excelled in night fighting. The U.S. and RAF's daylight bombing campaign forced the Luftwaffe to focus on homeland defense. The introduction of long-range US fighters like the P-51D in 1944 led to a decline in the Luftwaffe's defensive capabilities. Desperate measures like Operation Bodenplatte in January 1945 further depleted the Luftwaffe's resources. Fuel shortages, pilot losses, and the Allied advance into Germany hastened the Luftwaffe's decline. The introduction of revolutionary jet fighters like the Me 262 came too late. Galland's Jagdverband 44, comprising top German aces, defended southern Germany using Me 262s until the war's end. Ultimately, the Luftwaffe's once-impressive arsenal fell into Allied hands as Germany faced defeat in 1945.

Luftwaffe Aircraft Camouflage

At the outset of its existence and into the mid-1930s, Luftwaffe aircraft were uniformly painted in shades of gray or silver. This adherence was a consequence of the constraints imposed by the Versailles Agreement, which limited Germany's military aviation capabilities.

However, a shift occurred in 1936 following the commencement of the Spanish Civil War. A new three-color splinter camouflage for aircraft was introduced, soon replaced by a two-tone green camouflage used by both fighters and bombers. The maritime aviation division, under the Luftwaffe's jurisdiction, adopted a two-tone camouflage with a predominant hint of blue tones for enhanced concealment over water.

In 1941, the two-tone green camouflage persisted solely for bombers, reconnaissance planes, transport aircraft, and auxiliary aviation. Fighters adopted a new gray camouflage, recognizing that dominance in the skies necessitated better aerial concealment rather than ground camouflage.

That same year saw the introduction of new colors for tropical camouflage, responding to the demands of warfare in North Africa.

Also in 1941, combat operations in the snowy landscapes of Russia necessitated aircraft camouflage. However, instead of a complete white camouflage, planes were temporarily coated with easily washable white paint. This temporary measure was practical as the need for white camouflage diminished with the melting snow in spring.

By 1944, as the German air force definitively lost air superiority, a new need arose for camouflage that provided better concealment on the ground. The decision was made to reintroduce green camouflage, including for fighters. However, due to resource shortages, constant bombardments, and other challenges, a complete transition to new colors did not occur until the end of the war. Many planes featured transitional schemes, incorporating partial or complete use of the old colors.

Luftwaffe Color Standards

The German Air Force, known for its meticulousness and organizational prowess, extended this precision to color standards. In the mid-1930s, paints were actively used. Initially, up to 1935, the RLM (Reichsluftfahrtministerium) employed colors from the RAL standard. However, by 1935, the RLM had shifted to its proprietary standards.

The Flw system, introduced by the RLM in 1935, revolutionized the procurement of materials for German aviation. The system provided detailed codes ranging from 0000 to 9999, offering information on material grade, treatment, or color. Within the 7100-7199 range, two-digit codes denoted base lacquer colors for aircraft later recognized as RLM colors. This included codes 00-19 for base colors, 20-39 for marking colors, 40-59 for special colors, and 60-79 for camouflage colors. The earliest documentation dates back to 1935, with L.Dv. 521 issued in 1936 providing guidelines for color shade, production, and application. Subsequent revisions introduced new colors in November 1941. Despite its evolution, some colors retained associations with the RAL 840 R system, underscoring the Flw system's role in streamlining aviation material procurement for the German military.