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It was the Germans who began bombing civilian populations rather than military targets as a terror tactict calculated to destroy civilian morale. Visionary military planners in the 1930s built the world's most advanced air force at the time--the Luftwaffe. [Corum] Germany was the first European World War II combatant to use bombers to terrorize urban populations. This began even before World War II during the Spanish Civil War. Luftwaffe units were dispatched to Spain (November 1936). Both the German Luftwaffe Condor Legion and the Italian Fascist Aviazione Legionaria conducted the attacks. Republican cities for the most part did not have air defenses. Madrid was heavily bombed throughout much of the War. It was, however, a large city and the force of the bombing dipersed. It is the Luftwaffe's bombing of Guernica that has most endured in the popular mind (April 1937). This is probably because Guernica was a small town of very little military importance. The town had no air defense. Estimates of the number of deaths range from about 200-1,600 people. The small size of the town allowed the Luftwaffe to concentrate its force. The results were devestating, although only a small taste of what would transpire during World War II itself. We are not sure at this time who planned the Luftwaffe bombing raids and what was military assessment of the impact. We also are unsure how Goebbels Propaganda Ministry handeled the Luftwaffe's activities in Spain. The bombing was, however, heavily reported by the Western media and depicted in the movie newsreels. Perhaps most importantly, the fledgling Luftwaffe learned a great deal from the Spanish War in the way of strategy, tactics, logistics, and operations.
It was the Germans who began bombing civilian populations rather than military targets as a terror tactict calculated to destroy civilian morale. Visionary military planners in the 1930s built the world's most advanced air force at the time--the Luftwaffe. [Corum] Germany was the first World War II combatant to use bombers to terrorize urban populations. This began even before World War II during the Spanish Civil War.
Luftwaffe units were dispatched to Spain (November 1936). Both the German Luftwaffe Condor Legion and the Italian Fascist Aviazione Legionaria conducted the attacks.. The Fascist powers (Germany and Italy) provided substantial air forces, essentially transffering whole units to Spain. The Germans introduced their new modern Heinkel bombers and Messerschmidts Fightrs. The Hartmann BF-109 and the subsequent Messerschmidt ME109 were the most advanced fighters in the world at the time. The Italian introduces their Chabolotos and Bredas.
Republican cities for the most part did not have air defenses. The Republic also received foreign aid, but not in the same quanity. Nor did other countries transfer whole units to Spain. The Republics obtained some American, French, and Soviet planes, although arms embargos made it difficult for the Republic to obtain aircraft. Foreign pilots desiring to fight Fascism formed an international brigade of pilots.
Madrid was heavily bombed throughout much of the War. It was, however, a large city and the force of the bombing dipersed. It is the Luftwaffe's bombing of Guernica that has most endured in the popular mind (April 1937). This is probably because Guernica was a small town of very little military importance. The town had no air defense. Estimates of the number of deaths range from about 200-1,600 people. The small size of the town allowed the Luftwaffe to concentrate its force. The results were devestating, although only a small taste of what would transpire during World War II itself.
We are not sure at this time who planned the Luftwaffe bombing raids.
We are not sdure what the Luftwaffe's assessment was of the impact of its operations.
We also are unsure how Goebbels Propaganda Ministry handeled the Luftwaffe's activities in Spain.
The bombing was heavily reported by the Western media and depicted in the movie newsreels.
The fledgling Luftwaffe bebefited a great deal from the Spanish campaign. There is no doubt that the Luftwaffe commanders and air crews gained invaluable experience. [Oppenheimer] An indisputable military maximum is that there is no training that can rival actual combat. Luftwaffe commanders gined invaluable experience in strategy, tactics, logistics, and operations. It was one reason that they outclassed the British and Frrench air forces in the all important Western campaign (May-June 1940).
Corum, James S. Luftwaffe: Creating the Operational Air War, 1918-1940 (University Press of Kansas, 2000).
Oppenheimer, Peter H. "From the Spanish Civil War to the Fall of France: Luftwaffe Lessons Learned and Applied," Institute for Historical Review.
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