217 - How the Luftwaffe Lost the skies over Germany

Starting with small raids at the start of the war, the aerial offensive grew into a massive operation. Huge air armadas would eventually pulverise Germany, with the Mighty Eigth Airforce flying by day and the Lancasters of Bomber Command by night. This 24-hour campaign seriously damaged Germany’s ability to make war and killed hundreds of thousands.

Joining me is Jonathan Trigg, whose new book is The Air War Through German Eyes: How the Luftwaffe Lost the Skies over the Reich, which looks at the air war from the point of view of the Germans.

[seavee]

One of the most interesting episodes you have done (not to suggest the others aren't). The German perspective and the fatigue aspect is well known, but the piecemeal thinking of their defensive strategy was new to me. Quite how they thought they were going to "win" doing this is beyond me.

[lexington]

You know I like what your guest brought up. lack of mass for the luftwaffe. It totally makes sense now that I've actually heard someone say it. Of all the reading of books and watching a documentaries, I've never heard anybody say that I've never even remotely thought of it myself. 5 out of 5 video Angus!

[CA]

What a coincidence... The episode of masters of the air is about to be broadcasted.... 😮

[Splattle]

Your guest said the US never really embraced the reality of area bombing and made some vague psychological arguments about national identity. I think it's very clear that the US did embrace it in fact if not in word. Semi permanent overcast over Germany with ubiquitous use of H2X for blind bombing and bombing on the leader are proof enough. The ultimate expression of it was the fire bombing of Tokyo, so the USAAF grabbed the concept of area bombing with both hands then finished it off with nukes for good measure, but I understand that's beyond the scope of your episode.