“Luftwaffe in 45. Recent flights and projects. Continued. Part of 2
This text is a continuation of the abridged translation of the book “Luftwaffe'45. Letzte Fluge und Projekte ”, made by a colleague of NF68, is the author of translations of many interesting topics related to the German air force. The illustrations are taken from the original of the book, the literary processing of the translation from German was made by the author of these lines.
Technical problems encountered in the development of new weapons, such as the Bachem BP 20 "Natter", jet fighters such as HeS 11, Hütter 8-211 or DFS 228, and Lippisch L11 with more powerful engines like BMW and Jumo, were still far from being eliminated. Before 20 January 1945, it was found that Me-type 262 A-1 aircraft could be produced in an amount equal to no more than 50% of the planned one. Meanwhile, as a result of the actions of the enemy, X-NUMX fighters of the Ta-14 type were lost. Due to the loss of the aircraft manufacturing company Focke-Wulf in Posen, the further production of FW-152 D-190 fighters has declined dramatically. At the same time, the shortage of aviation fuel had an increasing effect, so it was necessary to rely only on a small reserve stock. For example, this concerned the J9 aviation kerosene required for Me-262 aircraft. But an even greater catastrophe was looming, especially with regard to Me-2 A-262-type airplanes in southern Germany, since they could not fly because of the severe frost. In addition, the Luftwaffe could use only a relatively small number of jet planes to combat enemy bombers. 1 January 25 Reichsmarschall Goering ordered to produce monthly 1945 two-seater Do-24 aircraft in the version of a long-range reconnaissance aircraft and 335 aircraft of type Si 120D in near and night reconnaissance aircraft.
Remains Do 335.
Meanwhile, the aviation and other factories near Posen were lost, which meant a decrease in the production of automatic guns of the MK-108 type, as well as various ones used in the production of materials and drawing equipment. The same was true for the production of automatic guns of the MG-151 type in Upper Silesia and the gyro sights of the EZ 42 type manufactured in Posen. At the end of January 1945, the production of the Panterblitz anti-tank missiles that had just begun was also affected. By the end of January 1945, only 2 of these missiles were fired, but the generals whose aviation units were engaged in the fight against tanks enemy, demanded for the current battle only with Soviet tanks at least 80 of these missiles. However, the lack of supply of fuses for these missiles did not allow the continued production of missiles. But this was far from all, since other small and big problems arose in the production of aircraft. For example, by January 000, 27, when flying He-1945 type aircraft, low efficiency of horizontal rudders and roll rudders was revealed, which arose due to too high loads in horizontal and vertical control systems, so all production of these planes was suspended at the end of January 162. Due to further advance to the west of the Red Army, flight tests of Ar-1945 B-234 aircraft had to be moved from Sagan to Alt-Lönnewitz. The cessation of deliveries of DB-2 LA engines did not allow the start of production of Ta-603 C fighters, and the production of Do-152 aircraft also had to be stopped. At the Heinkel-Süd aircraft factory near Vienna (Wien), the production of He-335 A-219 fighters was reduced by 7%, and it was decided to use the released materials for the production of He 50 fighters. Jet fighter designs, for example, HeS, Me P 162 and all-weather jet fighter type Ju EF 1110, as well as fighters with high performance characteristics, on which piston engines such as Jumo-128 and Jumo-213 were installed, could not be produced. Attempts to organize the production of powerful engines such as Jumo-222 had to be stopped even earlier.
With regard to the production of 4-x motor jet bomber type He P 1068 (later designation He 343), presumably, in addition to the prototypes, also failed to organize. At the end of February, 1945 stopped the production of blades for jet engine compressors such as Jumo 004 at Wismare plants, Arado factories in Warnemünde, Malchin (Malchin-e, Tutow-e and Greifawald). These aircraft were rarely used on the high performance characteristics of FW-190 F aircraft in the final phase of the war. At the end of the war, the enemy attacked German airfields at less and less space around the clock, because of the advancing opponents deep into Germany. early xnumx myself loty type FW-1945 F-190 managed by experienced pilots are dangerous weapons. These aircraft were armed with two MG-131 type machine guns mounted in the fuselage behind the engine and two MG-151 type automatic guns mounted in the roots of the wings. Part of the weapons from these aircraft, to improve the performance characteristics, was dismantled. Over time, it was found that the FW-190 type aircraft that had accelerated before taking off on the airfield of limited size were easy targets for the enemy, after which part of the German aircraft designed to fight the enemy’s tanks were used to strike allied aircraft with fragmentation bombs in containers.
The German fragmentation bombs reset system consisted of ETS 501, ETC 502 or ETC 503 locks and bomb racks, suspended under the fuselage, and locks and bomb racks of ETC 50 or ETC 71 type installed under the wings, which allowed to use all available means against enemy aircraft. Small fragmentation and cumulative bombs dropped from containers turned out to be very effective against both stationary and mobile targets. The fight with the help of these bombs with large connections of enemy aircraft allowed to use the great potential of these weapons. When attacking enemy aircraft, it was possible to use all the attack aircraft compounds, but due to the lack of aviation fuel, only a small number of these aircraft participated in the battles, and, moreover, were also used for reconnaissance and observation of meteorological conditions. Only at the beginning of 1945, the SG 4 SG assault squadron was able to simultaneously use more than 100 FW-190 F aircraft that attacked the enemy at minimum altitude, as a result of which the enemy advance was slowed down. The presence of a large number of enemy fighters led to the fact that in some cases even on the approach a large number of FW-190 F-8 and FW-190 F-9 aircraft were lost. Among the assault air squadrons numbered from 1 to 10, the SG 4 SG squadron most frequently used FW-190 fighter-bombers.
Misted by FW-190.
Only the SG 1 assault squadron was in service during certain periods before the 115 aircraft. In the SG 10 assault squadron at the beginning of 1945, there were more than 70 aircraft. Almost all of the significant attacks of the enemy troops were carried out as part of the units. At the same time, German airplanes gathered in groups on the way and away from the targets, while the attacks themselves were often carried out by separate planes. During February, 1945 supplies of everything necessary for waging war in the west began to decline markedly in favor of the Eastern Front, but these measures did not produce a noticeable result, since the last reserves were already exhausted. This led to the fact that the army units and SS troops, meeting the first columns that came in the way, delivering supplies and materials necessary for the troops, took everything that could be useful for combat operations and this led to the fact that the armored vehicles often did not receive all necessary. 10 January 1945 The SG 4 attack squadron, armed with FW-190 aircraft, consisted of a squadron headquarters and three air groups.
FW-190 or F-9 of F-9 II / SG 4.
In addition, as part of the air fleet "Reich" were night attack aircraft groups (NSGr.) 1, 2, and 20. Along the line of the Eastern Front, starting in January 1945, air units were deployed that were designed to strike from a minimum height. The Reich air fleet included the 3rd air group of the SG 3 assault squadron and a group of night attack aircraft, which were armed with outdated low-speed Ar-65 Go-145 aircraft. The 4th air fleet consisted of attack air squadrons SG 2, SG 10 and group 4 / SG 9. Most of these formations included aircraft of the FW-190 and Ju-87 type. Attack air groups 1 and 2 had a total of 66 FW-190 type aircraft. The crews of the 3 / SG 2 air group were still flying the Ju-87 D, while the SG 10 used the FW-190 A and FW-190 F. In the far north, the SG 10 could still use 33 Ju-87 aircraft. The 6th air fleet consisted of assault squadrons SG 1 and SG with two groups each, and in the assault squadron SG 77 there were 3 groups. Especially for use at night, the NSGr 4 squadron was intended, which had 60 aircraft of the Ju-87 and Si-204 D type. On January 11, 1945, Soviet tanks in East Prussia were already standing in front of Gumbinnen and Goldap.
Until the end of January, 1945 was a large compound of Soviet troops that occupied the whole territory between Königsberg and Königsberg and Lötzen, trying to move further west. The Red Army also sought to encircle Graudenz and Thorn, for which she advanced to Elbing with the clear intention of taking Wartheland. Until 22, January 1945, the Red Army advanced westward between the Polish Lodz (Lodz, German Litzmannstadt) and Czestochowa (Tschenstochau). Brieg, Breslau and Steinau were next in line. By January 25, due to the threat of further advancement of the Red Army in the western direction, the Wehrmacht had to undermine airfields in Kornau (Kornau) and Rostken. On the same day, German airfields were attacked by enemy aircraft.
During the air strikes on the Red Army units, some of the crews were lost. 2 February 1945, during the attack of the Soviet units, 5 armored personnel carriers were lost, a 151 truck, a 3 special vehicle with boilers, a lot of anti-aircraft guns, an ammunition depot and a fuel depot. In addition, German aircraft managed to burn 160 enemy vehicles, having also achieved numerous hits in the advancing tanks. The daily losses of the FW-232 aircraft involved in striking the enemy 190 were only 4 FW-190. The next day, February 3, the Luftwaffe 6 air fleet could use not only Me-165 and 109 fighter planes like the FW-144 fighter, but also FW-190 fighter planes to attack the incoming enemy.
FW-190 I./SG in winter 1944-1945
For these attacks, the 1 Fighter Division used all available combat aircraft. Commander German Attack compound could be used not only based in Shtaakene (Staaken) 14-squadron SG 151 with 17-th aircraft type FW-190 and based at Döberitz (Döberitz) 15-squadron with 19-th aircraft type Ju-87, but also the 2 / SG 151 air group, which was armed with FW-190 aircraft. Not only FW-190 with, but also airplanes capable of carrying uncontrolled anti-tank missiles were carrying restraining strikes with dropping ammunition. A part of the SG 6 assault aviation squadron was then assigned to the 3 air fleet, while the assault air group 3 / SG was part of the 1 air fleet and fought in the surrounded opponents of Courland. The 1-I and 2-I SG 4 assault squadron air teams from February 6 1945 were based at the Rosenborn airfield, and the 3-I aviation group of this squadron was based at Weissdelndorf airfield.
All assault air squadrons were subordinate to 6-th air fleet. The 3-I SG 5 squadron aviation group was then given the designation 3 / KG 200. SG 9 squadron was engaged exclusively in striking enemy tanks, successfully using primarily unguided anti-tank missiles Panzerblitz and Panterschreck. In the battles in southeastern Hungary, the 4 th assault squadron was part of the 10 air fleet. The headquarters and 1-I and 2-I aviation squadron groups SG 10 were located in Tötrascöny, the 3-I aviation group of the same squadron was based in Papa (Papa). The SG 77 assault squadron was also used in the area of responsibility of the 6 air fleet.
From the beginning of 1945, the reserve 10 th air fleet received an SG 151 assault aviation squadron, which attacked enemy forces on the Western and Eastern fronts. Since 13 February 1945, the situation at Glogau-on-Oder has become complicated, and heavy fighting has begun. Last but not least, thanks to the Luftwaffe, the German forces managed to hold their positions until 2 on April 1945. In February, 1945, the situation became more difficult in the Posen area. Since the end of January, the Red Army has concentrated there a powerful grouping of troops, eventually managing to surround the city. In the period between 19 and 23 in February, 1945 defended German troops, relying on the fortress of Posen, successfully repelled the attacks of the Soviet troops, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. Meanwhile, powerful connections of Soviet tanks managed to break through the German defense on the Oder. 3 weeks before this, the Red Army in the area between Kystrin (Küstrin) and Frankfurt-Oder (Frankfurt / Oder) managed to seize bridgeheads on the west bank and proceed with the deployment of reinforcements.
The main direction of the attacks of the Soviet units was the area located north of Furstenberg (Fürsteberg). North of Stettin (Stettin) concentrated another powerful grouping of the Red Army. Despite this, the German troops could at first hold a bridgehead on the east coast near Altdamm. Due to the significant advantage of the Soviet troops in tanks and artillery, the support of German troops from the air was crucial. It was quickly established that for such purposes, small SD-4HL and SD 10 bombs discharged from containers are particularly effective. The SC 50 bombs were also partially used, since there were no other types of discharged ammunition. In early March, the 1 Air Division destroyed the enemy’s 74 tank and damaged another 39. On the first day of the fighting, the commander of 3 / SG 1, Major K. Shepper (Karl Schepper), made his 800 20th sortie. A few weeks later on 28 on April 1945, he became the 850 soldier of the Reich, awarded with oak leaves to the Iron Cross. In Lower Silesia in Lauban, the German troops managed to achieve victory in the confrontation with the Red Army units. In early March, 1945 was partially destroyed there 7-th Soviet Guards Tank Corps. Successes in these battles were also achieved due to the support of the German troops from the air.
Meanwhile, in the period from 6 to 12 in March 1945, a powerful group of Soviet troops attacked in the direction of Stolpmünde and Danzig, and only thanks to the extreme tension of all forces did the German forces manage to stop enemy units before the final goal of their attack. Oberfeldfebel Mischke from the 3 / SG 1 air group fired nine enemy tanks at two sorties. During the next four air battles, he fought with a full bomb load. 18 March 1945 Mr. Mishka also achieved 5 victories. Since 23 in March 1945. The 4 Air Division attacked not only important targets in enemy bridgeheads and troop congestion: units subordinated to the SG 1 aviation squadron, attacked the enemy’s important railway lines, paying special attention to the destruction of locomotives.
In mid-March, the Luftwaffe carried out another important operation. It is about dumping containers surrounded with German ammunition and equipment, suspended on ETS holders under the fuselage of FW-190 aircraft. For the first time, these containers were dropped from Klessin (Klessin) under Reitweiner Sporn. In the first such operation on the Oder of 39, the 21 discarded containers reached the target. In the second such operation, the 7 FW-190 aircraft with containers suspended under the fuselage flew to Küstrin, but due to bad weather, only 5 aircraft came out to the city announced by the fortress. 21 March 1945 The crews of the 3 / SG aviation group 10 received a very unusual order, according to which they would hang containers with their FW-190, with the help of which it was planned to supply Budapest with necessary equipment. According to the pilots' reports, all the containers were dropped by them into the place indicated by the command. The next day, a large number of German airplanes were to deliver a massive blow at low altitudes against Soviet formations. In addition to the 3 / JG 1 and 3 / JG 6 air groups, two air groups from the JG 51 and JG 52 fighter squadrons took part in this raid. In this case, only the fighter squadron JG 77 used 72 aircraft. In all assault aircraft squadrons, up to the 1 / SG 1 air group, ETS bomb racks were installed on all FW-190 aircraft under the wings, which allowed these aircraft to carry dropped armaments.
During the 73 departures, the 1 / SG and 2 / SG air assault aircrews at their FW-190 in the Görlitz area (Görlitz) hit the enemy troops, as a result, at least two SD 500 bombs hit the bridge on the Nice River (Neise) ), and four more hits on other ground targets. Pilots of the 1 / SG 1 air group attacked other targets using 500 SD, 500 and AB 250 bombs.
The process of hanging a bomb AB 500.
During this period, to combat the enemy’s armored targets, the SD 70 bombs came to the fore, which turned out to be an effective weapon against enemy planes. According to the reports of pilots of the 3 / SG 1 aviation group, when attacking with air bombs against low-flying Soviet fighters, the chances of damaging the enemy were the highest.
Under the Lebschutz-Neustadt (Leebschütz-Neuestadt) 1 / SG 4 air group, which counted 69 airplanes, attacked enemy tank units. At the same time, the attack of seven FW-190 F-8 aircraft from the 8 th assault squadron of the SG 6 squadron was unsuccessful due to the opposition of the Soviet fighters. Starting from 28 in March 1945, daytime departures for FW-190 F-8 and FW-190 F-9 aircraft have become even more dangerous due to the increased opposition from enemy fighters. So, on that day, several Me-109 and FW-190 aircraft were shot down.
Under Kolberg, the entire aviation group was lost, after which all combat-capable FW-190 aircraft began to be used on the Western Front. Technicians, fortunately, at night managed to evacuate from a surrounded city on a transport plane such as Ju-52. By 28 March 1945, the most powerful assault aviation squadrons were located on the front line of Army Group Center and the Army Group Weichsel. The 8 aviation corps was stationed there with the SG 2 assault aviation squadron, whose headquarters and the entire 1 aviation group were based in Großenheim. The 3 / SG 2 aviation group was based in Kamenets (Kamenz), and in Dresden-Klotsche - the headquarters of the assault squadron SG 4 and 2-I air group of this squadron.
The 3 Air Corps provided airborne support to the Weichsel Army Group, including SG 1, 3, 9, 77, and 151 SG assault squadron units. Of these units, the headquarters squadron of the 1 / SG aviation group temporarily, reinforced by the 5 / SG 151 group, was based at the Fürstenwalde airfield. 2-I group squadron SG 1 based in Vernoyhene (Werneuchen), a squadron of SG 9 based in Schönefeld (Schönefeld), the entire staff of the squadron SG 77, and within this squadron group, and one squadron of anti-attack aircraft based in Altenove (Altenow), Cottbus (Cottbus) and Gatow. The 3 Tank Army's air support was carried out by the 1 Air Division and part of the SG 3 assault squadron. In addition, ground crews were supported by crews of the 2 group with subordinate aircraft of the 13 / SG 151 group, based in Finow. The entire 3 / SG group 3 was then based in Oranienburg (Oranienburg).
During the battle in Silesia, part of the pilots flying on the FW-190 attack aircraft of the anti-tank version provided particularly significant air support, hitting enemy troops from low altitudes with small fragmentation bombs in AB 250 containers. In March, the 1945 Aircraft Division alone on the Eastern Front carried out 1 combat missions in March, while the crews announced the destruction of the enemy's 2190 tanks and more 172 trucks. More 250 enemy tanks were damaged. In addition, applications were submitted for the destruction of 70 Soviet aircraft and damage still 110 one enemy aircraft. The 21 Air Division in March 4 was the assault squadron SG 1945, 1 and 3, which had, in total, 77 combat-ready aircraft. Only SG 123 squadron pilots dropped 1 1, 295 tons of bombs and drop containers with a total weight of 6 tons on the enemy, managing to hit some enemy tanks and vehicles and achieving 36,25 hits on the bridges.
At the beginning of April, the 1945 SG 2 was armed with X-NUMX aircraft such as the Ju-89 and FW-89 aircraft. In addition, as part of this squadron was a 190 aircraft type FW-91 A-190 and FW-8 F-190. The SG 8 squadron headquarters and its 3-group had a total of slightly more than 2 FW-40 F-190 aircraft. Three more groups of SG 8 squadron had 77 combat-ready aircraft. But due to the lack of aviation fuel, these squadrons could not be fully used for attacking the enemy, and some of the planes stood idle on the outskirts of the airfields. 99 April 8. The 1945 th Air Corps deployed 8 attack aircraft for enemy attacks, which managed to destroy at least 55 trucks. But all these blows were similar to a drop of water falling on a hot stone. During these raids, about 25 Soviet fighter aircraft "Aviacobra" managed to push the German aircraft.
The next day, close to Ratibor 17, FW-190 planes attacked the enemy from a low altitude. April 10 German pilots were able to use directly against enemy ground units only part of the aircraft, as they themselves. in turn, they were subjected to massive attacks by Soviet “aircrafts”, but nevertheless, the attack aircraft nevertheless completed part of their task. 11 April 1945. 17 attack aircraft FW-190 successfully hit the railroad track and the bridge at Rathstock (Rathstock). In addition to the conventional AC 500 bombs, in this case 5 SC 500 bombs, containing a mixture of trialene, as well as 16 SD 70 bombs were dropped. 16 April, the Soviet anti-aircraft artillery hit the 2 of the FW-190 F-8 aircraft attacking the Soviet positions. The 16 single-engine attack aircraft, without any support from the 17 April fighter jets, took off to assist their ground forces in Breslau in a difficult position. Another 30 aircraft attacked the Soviet bridgehead at Centendorf (Zentendorf), and the 131 aircraft at that time struck successful Soviet units that had broken through at Weißwasser. 18 April 552 German fighter and attack aircraft shot down at least 27 enemy planes on the Eastern front, hit 29 tanks, 8 SAU, 3 BTR, 125 trucks and at least 4 pontoon bridges. At the same time, 28 pilots did not return to the airfield (23 of them went missing). After 24 hours, the 250 attack aircraft of the 6 air fleet attacked the enemy, mostly FW-190 F-8 aircraft and relatively small numbers of Ju-87, which were accompanied by 135 Me-109 from the JG 4 X X-NUMX X-NUMX fighter squadrons . 52 April 77 German attack aircraft took to the air, 23 of them attacked the advanced units of the Soviet troops in the area Weissenburg-Bautzen-Dresden (Weißenburg-Bautzen-Dresden).
Also, strikes using airborne weapons and bombs were inflicted on the enemy’s infantry, some pilots at Bautzen and Dresden sent their planes to Soviet tanks. On the autobahn at Radeberg (Radeberg) German aircraft managed to destroy three enemy tanks. In addition, an 62 attack aircraft attacked Soviet artillery in the Cottbus-Finsterwalde-Lübben area and attacked an enemy airfield at Bronkow, dropping 59,5 tons of bombs, destroying XNHX bomb, destroying XNHX. In addition to attacking enemy troops, attack aircraft were used to conduct weather and conventional reconnaissance, while one German pilot was able to accidentally shoot down a single biplane U-11. According to reports from the returning pilots, the Soviet units lost many cars, a pontoon bridge and one anti-aircraft gun. In the zone of responsibility of Army Group Center, 2 German aircraft took part in the attacks of the enemy troops. In addition, attacks on the enemy were carried out in areas near Brunn (Brno) (Brünn / Brno), Hoyerswerda (Hoyerswerda), Shenftenberg (Senftenberg) and Ratibor (Ratibor). In the area of Cottbus and Bautzen, ground targets were hit by a Me-175 fighter jet 31.
In the area of responsibility of Army Group West, in the area between Ulm and Passau, German fighters with bombs hanging at low altitude attacked the Allied troops moving forward. Due to the reduction in the length of the front lines, the Allies could concentrate more and more close to the advanced anti-aircraft artillery, thereby being able to better defend their advanced units with mobile air defense systems. These well-camouflaged anti-aircraft batteries caused numerous losses on FW-190 F aircraft. In part, the Allied night fighters also created an increasingly significant threat to German attack aircraft. But at the same time, the use of their own lighting bombs at night attracted enemy night fighters. Sometimes, the crews of the German Ju-88 and Ju-188 aircraft in the area of their aircraft were dropped by the directors of the Düppel radar jammers. On April 24, the 8 SG 2 and SG 77 assault squadrons, which included 4 groups along 3, SG 4 and SG 9 squadrons with three groups in each, and one attack squadron against each other, were opposed to the 190 air corps. Thanks to special missiles, the FW-1945 aircraft managed to inflict significant tank losses on the enemy. Despite the large numerical superiority of the enemy, the German pilots who supported the group of ground forces of General Schörner (Schörner), were able to provide him with effective assistance. In the last nights of April 1, the SG 20 assault squadron was based at the airfield in Gatow, relocating from the north-east to Berlin (Berlin). Every night, the squadron aircraft regularly made XNUMX sorties over the burning capital, but because of the power of the enemy, their activities could not have a decisive effect.
Pilots III./SG200
The command of the 6 air fleet of 28 on April 1945 concentrated its efforts on supporting its own ground forces defending the Reich capital. Here, having a supply of aviation gasoline, we managed to use all the aircraft, including jet ones. After the last fuel depot was lost, Colonel General Desloch, as a representative of the Luftwaffe high command, told the commander of the 6 air fleet, General Ritter von Greim, that the supply of fuel should no longer be expected.
30 on April 1945 against the enemy troops in the Wischau area, only 18 attack aircraft were involved, which destroyed the 4 truck and 5 tractors of the Red Army. In the area of Bautzen-Shagan-Goerlitz (Bautzen-Sagan-Görlitz) in the attacks of the enemy troops from low altitudes, in addition to the FW-190 F attack aircraft, four jets took part. At the end of April, the 2 / SG 10 air group was relocated to Wels, the 3 / SG 2 air group in Milowitz, located in 35 km north of Prague. Together with jet planes based in Prague, attack aircraft from these 2 air groups in May 1945 intervened in the bloody battles of ground forces. 1 May FW-190 F-8 fighter planes from the 2 / KG 200 air group, taking off from the airfield at Blankensee (Blankensee), not far from Lübeck, dropped containers for ammunition and equipment to the Reich capital.
FW-190 D-9 in the version of the fighter-bomber.
In flight, Major X. Wiedebrandt, commander of the 3 / KG 200 group, suspended under the plane (Helmut Wiedebrandt), the parachute spontaneously opened the transport container VB 250. After the latter wrapped around the tail, the plane became unmanageable and fell to the ground, the pilot was killed. After that, the headquarters group decided to stop the operation and the aircraft returned to the airfield at Blankensee. Despite the difficult situation, the Luftwaffe 3 in May 1945 was still able to use attack aircraft, however, the effectiveness of their actions was markedly limited by the lack of aviation fuel and the number of ammunition discharged. 4-th German air fleet supported the troops of the Army groups South and South-West, for this purpose the SG 10 assault squadron was used. The first group of SG 9 squadron was based in Budvels (Budwels), the second group of this squadron was based in Wels (Wels) along with aircraft designed to fight enemy tanks. In Graz-Thalerhof (Graz-Thalerhof) based air group 1 / SG 2. These squadrons, organizationally included in the Weiss (“Weiß”) air force group, acted on the territory in the direction of the Alps, supporting the troops of the 16 Army. The Rudel air force group included the 3 / NSGr 4 night attack air group and the 2 / SG 77 air group. The compounds of the Air Force group “Rudel” were based in Niemens-Süd (Niemens-Süd). The 2 / SG 2 air group and the 10-I anti-tank squadron were also located there. Colonel H. Rudel (Hans-Ulrich Rudel) was the most efficient pilot of the German Air Force in the fight against enemy tanks. 29 December 1944. He, the only among all the military, for bravery received the highest award in the form of golden oak leaves to the knight's cross of the iron cross. Protection of his attack aircraft carried out fighter air group 2 / JG 6. The command of the Luftwaffe "West" 1 in May was renamed "Nordalpen", but it also included the remnants of the previously existing night attack units and the remnants of the defeated JG 27, 53 and 300 fighter squadrons. In the final phase of the war, these units more and more attacked the enemy from low altitudes. On the instructions of Reich President Dönitz of 6 in May 1945, the German armed forces ceased hostilities against the Western allies, but the hostilities against the Red Army continued. German aircraft continued to fight until the end of the war.
However, the general situation of well-equipped airfields near the capital of the Czech Republic deteriorated significantly by the end of the war, and most of the planes were blown up by German soldiers, since by this time there was almost no aviation fuel. German pilots managed to break through to the Americans and surrendered to them in captivity, thus escaping from the arbitrariness of the Czech population.
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