German Bombers 1915-1945

Germany invented strategic bombing in 1914-18 with increasingly large biplane bombers and the giant Zeppelin and Schütte-Lanz airships. Modern bombing tactics were developed by the Condor Legion in Spain, where the name Guernica became synonymous with indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

In World War Two the Luftwaffe’s bomber arm was used more tactically, particularly in support of the Blitzkrieg campaigns of 1940. Adolf Hitler was enamoured with dive-bombers and thought just about every aircraft should have this capability, whether it was practicable or not. As a result, Germany never developed a true strategic bomber, although plans were drawn up for aircraft that could drop a token bomb load on New York. By 1944, Germany was on the defensive and desperate measures such as unguided flying bombs and drone bombers packed with explosives failed to stave off defeat.

From the Gothas of World War One to the jet projects of 1945, German Bombers 1915-1945 - No 75 in the Aviation Archive series - presents a range of bomber aircraft with the help of vintage photographs, cutaway drawings and colour profiles.