Air armament of the Third Reich 1936

The Versailles Treaty, signed in 1919, imposed significant restrictions on Germany’s military capabilities following World War I. Among its provisions, Germany was forbidden from building or maintaining an air force, known as the Luftwaffe, as part of its armed forces. The treaty limited the German military to a small army, a navy with limited tonnage, and no air force.

However, despite these restrictions, Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler began to secretly rearm and rebuild its military forces in violation of the Versailles Treaty. The Luftwaffe was developed covertly, initially disguised as a civilian aviation organization called the German Air Sports Association (Deutscher Luftsportverband). Under this guise, Germany trained its pilots and developed its aircraft industry, preparing for the eventual expansion and militarization of the air force.

Once Hitler’s regime felt confident enough to reveal its true intentions, the Luftwaffe was officially established in 1935, with Hermann Göring as its commander-in-chief. The Nazis openly defied the restrictions set by the Versailles Treaty and rapidly built up their air force, eventually becoming one of the most formidable air forces in the world at the start of World War II.

The rearmament and development of the Luftwaffe by Nazi Germany were clear violations of the Versailles Treaty, which had been intended to prevent Germany from rebuilding its military to its pre-war strength. These actions ultimately contributed to the escalation of tensions in Europe and the outbreak of World War II in 1939.