ROTTE (pair) - This was the fundamental building block of all Luftwaffe fighter units. It consisted of a leader (the more experienced flier) and his wingman, 200 yards apart and slightly behind. In aerial combat situations, the wingman’s job was to protect the leader while the leader did the fighting. A less experienced pilot could learn the tactics of aerial combat in this role.

SCHWARM (flight) - Two ROTTEN comprised a SCHWARM. The second ROTTE flew slightly behind the first not unlike the four fingers of an outstretched hand. The terms ROTTE and SCHWARM are used only to describe the fighter units of the Luftwaffe.

KETTE (section) - Normally three aircraft constituting the staff of a squadron (Stabskette).

STAFFEL (squadron) - The number of planes in a STAFFEL was dependent on the function of the squadron and often fluctuated wildly. For fighters, normally three Schwärme (12 aircraft) comprised a STAFFEL. Later in the war this number was increased to 16. For 12-16 planes there would be 20-25 pilots and 150 ground crew. Typically bomber squadrons would have 9-12 aircraft while reconnaissance squadrons had 6-12 aircraft. The STAFFEL would be commanded by a Staffelkapitan typically holding the rank of Oberleutnant (second Lieutenant) or Hauptman (captain). STAFFEL was the lowest tactical unit showing up on a Luftwaffe organization chart.

GRUPPE (group) - The GRUPPE (group) consisted of three STAFFELN (squadrons). Later in the war this number became four. Often the 4th GRUPPE would be used mainly for training purposes. Typically a GRUPPE would consist of 30-50 aircraft. In addition there were 3 or 4 aircraft (Stab) for the staff (headquarters administrators). The GRUPPE was the basic unit for operational and administrative purposes. Typically mission orders or relocation orders were given at the GRUPPE level. The GRUPPE commander (Kommandeur) would typically have been a Hauptman (captain) or a Major (major). Under normal circumstances, an entire GRUPPE would be assigned to a single airfield.

GESCHWADER (wing) - Typically the GESCHWADER was made up of 3 GRUPPEN and a Stabgruppe (staff). Later in the war a 4th GRUPPE was added. We see this recurring pattern (going from 3 to 4) with many units. These changes were required as units were consolidated following enormous losses in combat. A GESCHWADER would typically consist of 90-160 aircraft depending on the type of unit and the date. The commander of the GESCHWADER, (Kommodore) would typically hold the rank of Major (major), Oberstleutnant (Lt. Colonel) or Oberst (colonel).

LUFTFLOTTE (air fleet) - This would translate roughly into an air force (e.g., 8th Air Force). At the beginning of the war the European continent was divided into 4 general areas, each containing a LUFTFLOTTE. By 1944 that number had increased to 7 areas including:

Luftflotte 1 - Baltic Countries
Luftflotte 2 - Northern Italy
Luftflotte 3 - France, Belgium & Holland
Luftflotte 4 - Balken Countries
Luftflotte 5 - Norway & Finland
Luftflotte 6 - Russia
Luftflotte Reich - Germany

Each of the LUFTFLOTTEN was a self-contained fighting force containing fighter, bomber, transport, reconnaissance, ground attack and other units depending on their mission. A LUFTFLOTTE would normally be commanded by an officer holding the rank of General der Flieger (3-star general). It was not unusual for GRUPPEN within the same GESCHWADER to be flying on different fronts at the same time. The LUFTFLOTTE was further subdivided into units called FLIEGERKORPS that were composed of several smaller units, FLIEGERDIVISIONS.

Kampfgeschwader (KG) - bomber wing
Jadggeschwader (JG) - day fighter wing
Nacht Jagdgeschwader (NJG) - night fighter wing
Lehrgeschwader (LG) - training wing
Zerstörergeschwader (ZG) - fighter bomber (twin engine) wing (literally Destroyer)
Stukageswader (StG) - Stuka dive bomber wing
Schlachtgeschwader (SG) - ground attack wing
Transportgeschwader (TG) - transport wing
Kampfgeschwader zur besonderen Verwendung (KG z.b.V) - bomber for special purposes (transport wing)
Aufklärungsgruppe (Aufkl. Gr) - reconnaissance group
Nahaufklärungsgruppe (NAG) - short range reconnaissance group
Fernaufklärungsgruppe (F) - long range reconnaissance group

[There will be many similar references to designations with Gr in place of G. This refers to the GRUPPE (group) as opposed to the GESCHWADER (wing). For example, KGr would be a BOMBER GROUP while KG would refer to a bomber wing].

GESCHWADER are officially designated by Arabic numbers. For example,

KG 200 (Bomber Wing 200)
JG 26 (Fighter Wing 26)
NJG 12 (Night Fighter Wing 12)
StG 2 (Stuka Wing 2) (Stuka is a contraction of STURZKAMPFFLEUGZEUG-dive bomber)

Frequently some of the GESCHWADER would also have honor titles (knicknames), frequently deriving from the names of famous World War I pilots. The shield or emblem representing the unit would be displayed under the cockpit or forward on the fuselage. Some of the better known examples include:

JG 1 Oesau	KG 1 Hindenberg
JG 2 Richthofen	KG 3 Blitz (Lightning)
JG 3 Udet	KG 26 Löwen (Lions)
JG 4 General Wever	KG 27 Boelcke
JG 5 Eismeer	KG 30 Adler (Eagles)
JG 26 Schlageter	KG 51 Edelweiss
JG 27 Afrika	KG 53 Legion Condor
JG 51 Mölders	KG 55 Greif (Condor)
JG 53 Pik As (Ace of Spades)	StG 2 Immelmann
JG 54 Grünherz (Green Hearts)	ZG 2 Wespen (Wasps)
JG 77 Herz As (Ace of Hearts)

GRUPPEN (groups) within a GESCHWADER (wing) were designated with a Roman numeral preceeding the unit designation.

I. KG 55 first Gruppe (group) of Bomber Wing 55
II. KG 55 second Gruppe (group) of Bomber Wing 55
III. KG 55 third Gruppe (group) of Bomber Wing 55

STAFFEL (squadrons) would be designated with an Arabic number preceeding the unit name. Together these three staffeln comprise I. Gruppe of Bomber Wing 55.

1. KG 55 First staffel (squadron) of Bomber Wing 55
2. KG 55 Second staffel (squadron) of Bomber Wing 55
3. KG 55 Third staffel (squadron) of Bomber Wing 55

The organization of the Luftwaffe can be illustrated by examining a snapshot of an actual Luftflotte at one date in time. Consider the compostion of Luftflotte 3 stationed in France, Belgium and Holland in June of 1941 as the Blitz on London was diminishing and Germany was preparing to invade the Soviet Union:

*The information in this Table was adapted from THE LUFTWAFFE DATA BOOK by Alfred Price, pp. 49-50.

REFERENCES

Alfred Price, THE LUFTWAFFE DATA BOOK, Greenhill Books, 1997.
Tony Wood & Bill Gunston, HITLER’S LUFTWAFFE, Salamander Books, 1997.
Barry Rosch & Richard Lutz, LUFTWAFFE CODES, MARKINGS & UNITS 1939-1945, Schiffer Publishing, 1995.

LINKS