German Air Fleets in World War II

A list of Luftwaffe "Luftflotten" (Air Fleets) and their locations between 1939 and 1945.

Timeline

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DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy # European date format Period = from:01/01/1939 till:08/05/1945 # TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/1939 ScaleMinor = grid:blue unit:month increment:3 start:01/01/1939

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 color:red width:10
 bar:Luftflotte1 from:01/02/1939 till:08/05/1945 text: Luftflotte 1 
 bar:Luftflotte2 from:01/02/1939 till:29/09/1944 text: Luftflotte 2
 bar:Luftflotte3 from:01/02/1939 till:26/09/1944 text: Luftflotte 3 
 bar:Luftflotte4 from:18/03/1939 till:21/04/1945 text: Luftflotte 4 
 bar:Luftflotte5 from:12/04/1940 till:08/05/1945 text: Luftflotte 5 
 bar:Luftflotte6 from:05/05/1943 till: 08/05/1945 text: Luftflotte 6 
 bar:LuftflotteReich from:05/02/1944 till: 08/05/1945 text: Luftflotte Reich

LineData =

 layer:front                  # all lines in front of bars unless stated otherwise
 at:01/09/1939 color:yellow

</timeline>

1939

Before the invasion of Poland.

• Luftflotte 1 (Northeast Germany)
• Luftflotte 2 (Northwest Germany)
• Luftflotte 3 (Southwest Germany)
• Luftflotte 4 (Southeast Germany and Austria)

1940

Luftwaffe Order of Battle August 1940.

• Luftflotte 1 (Poland)
• Luftflotte 2 (The Netherlands, Belgium, Northern Germany)
• Luftflotte 3 (France, Luxembourg, Middle Germany)
• Luftflotte 4 (Austria and Czech Republic)
• Luftflotte 5 (Norway and Denmark)

1942

During operations on the Eastern and African fronts.

• Luftflotte 1 (Russian Northern front)
• Luftflotte 2 (North Africa, Southern Italy and Greece)
• Luftflotte 3 (France, the Netherlands and Belgium)
• Luftflotte 4 (Black Sea coast, Ukraine, the Caucasus)
• Luftflotte 5 (Norway and Finland)
• Luftflotte 6 (Central Russian front, Belarus)

1944

During the last stages of the Eastern front, the Balkans, North Italy and West area.

• Luftflotte 1 (Baltic coasts)
• Luftflotte 2 (Northern Italy)
• Luftflotte 3 (France, Belgium and the Netherlands)
• Luftflotte 4 (Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania)
• Luftflotte 5 (Norway and Finland)
• Luftflotte 6 (Russian Central front, Belarus)
• Luftflotte Reich Deutschland (Germany)
• Luftflotte 10 (Ergänzungs- und Ausbildungseinheiten; replacement and training units) (Berlin)

1945

During the last period of conflict on the European front.

• Luftflotte 1 (Lithuania)
• Luftflotte 2 (Northern Italy)
• Luftflotte 3 (West Germany and the Netherlands)
• Luftflotte 4 (Hungary and Yugoslavia)
• Luftflotte 5 (Norway and Finland)
• Luftflotte 6 (East Germany)
• Luftflotte Reich (Central Germany)
• Luftflotte 10 (Berlin)

See also

• Luftwaffe Organization