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Why did Hitler order a shift in strategy after the Luftwaffe began bombing British cities?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Hitler realized that an invasion of Britain could succeed if Germany gained control of the air. In the beginning of August 1940, the Luftwaffe -the German air force- launched a major offensive attack. The British fought back wit determination. They were supported by an effective radar system that gave them early warning of German attacks. In September, in retaliation for a British attack on Berlin, Hitler ordered a shift in strategy. Instead of bombing military bases, the Luftwaffe began massive bombing of British cities. Hitler hoped in this way he would be able to break British morale. Instead, because military targets were not being hit, the British were able to rebuild their air strength. Soon, the British air force was conflicting major losses on Luftwaffe bombing. At the end of September, Hitler postponed the invasion of Britain indefinitely.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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What happened in the spring of 1940?
The British air force, the RAF, fought the Nazi German air force, the Luftwaffe. The British won, and so Hitler could not invade Britain.
Why did Hitler form a Luftwaffe?
"Luftwaffe" is simply the German word for "air force." Nearly all countries have an air force; Germany was and is no different.
What did operation sea lion gain or lose?
Operation sea lion never actually happened. It was Hitler's planned invasion of Britain, but when Goering's Luftwaffe failed to destroy the British RAF in the Battle of Britain, Hitler postponed iit several times, and then canceled it.
The luftwaffe was the German?
...Airforce. Commissioned by Hitler in 1936, and headed by Hermann Goering. It was set up in 26 February 1935 by Adolf Hitler
What was the strategy of giving in to Hitler's demands?
Appeasement
What had the Luftwaffe become by 1939?
By 1939, the Luftwaffe had become Europe's premiere air force, and the linchpin of Hitler's Blitzkrieg strategy.
What did the German ground troops do after the Luftwaffe took control?
they came in and destroyed because of Hitler's blitzkrieg strategy heehehehehheheh
What is a sentence for Luftwaffe?
The Luftwuffe were defeated at the Battle of Britain.The British Royal Air Force, by the end of the war, had wiped out 90% of Hitler's air force, the Luftwaffe.
What happened in the spring of 1940?
The British air force, the RAF, fought the Nazi German air force, the Luftwaffe. The British won, and so Hitler could not invade Britain.
Who was in charge of the Luftwaffe?
Hermann Goerring was put in charge of the Luftwaffe, although Adolf Hitler was the commander in chief.
What was Hitler's air force was called?
They were called the Luftwaffe.
Who led the Luftwaffe during World War 2?
Adolf Hitler ordered Hermann Goering to create the Luftwaffe in 1935.
Who is hemann goering?
He was the head of the Luftwaffe under Adolf Hitler.
How did Hitler try to break the morale of the British people?
Mainly through air attacks and attacks on its navy and army's in other places.
What did Hitler have to with the bombing of hiroshima?
Hitler had no connection with the bombing of Hiroshima, and in fact, was dead at the time. You need to do some reading on history.
What was the purpose of Hitler bombing Britain in the Battle of Britain?
Well the traditional view is that the Luftwaffe accidentally bombed London, the British retaliated against Berlin and thus began the cycle bombing of civilian targets by both sides. This view is naive to say the least. Firstly, let's not forget that Germany had practiced indiscriminate bombing of London from Zeppelins during the First World War. Also, the Luftwaffe had been "unleashed" against Warsaw, Rotterdam, etc so the precedent already existed. Until the bombing of London German attacks were mainly confined to legitimate targets - shipping, airfields, radar stations, factories, dockyards, etc. Obviously some civilian targets were hit as well but this is what would today be called co-lateral damage. This tactic was working. The RAF was suffering heavy losses, particularly on the ground and essential industrial production such as aero engines suffered. So why then did Hitler change the strategy to unrestrained bombing of London? The answer is that Hitler appreciated power and force more than tactics and although the Luftwaffe was gaining a slight upper hand it was taking them too long. At the rate they were going by the time they had complete air superiority they would have lost the opportunity for the invasion. By targeting the population of London he anticipated the British would quickly want to accept peace terms. The first raid on London (in my opinion) was no mere accident by a lost aircraft but was specifically designed to test the water - how will the British react? By retaliating the British appear to have played into his hands. Now, he could (as he always did) play the aggrieved victim and launch massive raids against civilians in order to terrorize them into surrender. His belief was flawed however, because the attacks merely spurred on the British to face whatever came next. Worse still British fighter bases were left alone and RAF loses fell. The Luftwaffe had further to go, making them open to attack for longer. Their fighters lacked sufficient fuel to engage in combat over London for more than a few minutes leaving the bombers largely unprotected. Luftwaffe loses rose as dramatically as RAF loses fell. Tactically it was a failure and more to the point, Luftwaffe bombers lacked the bomb loads necessary to make the raids truly devastating on the scale and with consistency needed to succeed.
When did Hitler's invasion on Poland happen?
September 1939. Warsaw was blitzed by the Luftwaffe conducting over 1100 bombing sorties in one raid. Artillery was also used against the civillians. Ground troops then moved in to capture the city.
