Kraus, Jürgen/Birker, Wilhelm Luftstreitkräfte. Band 1

Part 12 of the series "Handbuch der Verbände und Truppen des deutschen Heeres 1914-1918". This first volume deals with the airship and aviation troops, which still existed separately at the outbreak of war. The airship troops comprised airship detachments for airships and field airship detachments for tethered balloons. In the first years of the war, motorised airships undertook extensive reconnaissance flights and bombing raids, primarily against England. Due to the high losses, their use was discontinued in 1917. The majority of the airship troops were made up of a total of 53 field airship detachments. Equipped with tethered balloons, they were used for close reconnaissance of enemy positions and to support artillery fire. In 1917, the approximately 185 balloon platoons became independent and were only combined into detachments according to tactical requirements. The 33 field aviation detachments set up at the beginning of the war were initially only used for reconnaissance. From 1915 onwards, the aviation troops became increasingly specialised, initially with special artillery aviation detachments for better cooperation with the artillery, individual combat single-seater detachments for their protection and OHL combat squadrons for launching a bombing campaign. In autumn 1916, the army's entire aviation system was placed under the command of a commanding general and the "air forces" were established as a new branch of the armed forces. A reorganisation initiated in 1917 led to a major expansion programme for aircraft and units. This resulted in the creation of 54 new aviation divisions for tactical reconnaissance and 98 aviation divisions (A) for intensive artillery observation. Their security was now provided by 30 Schutzstaffeln, which were renamed Schlachtstaffeln in 1918. More than 80 fighter squadrons took over the fight for air supremacy, while seven OHL bombing squadrons continued to wage the bombing war. At home, numerous specialised schools provided training for aircrew. From small beginnings, the air force had grown tenfold over the course of the war and developed into a significant branch of the armed forces, without whose participation operations were no longer conceivable. The essential data on the organisation of all troops and departments is presented in a clear and concise form, especially on their formation, reorganisation and disbandment. This makes it possible to follow the progress of the troops during the war almost seamlessly.