{"id":58,"date":"2012-03-13T21:15:21","date_gmt":"2012-03-13T20:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chronicles-of-the-luftwaffe.de\/?page_id=58"},"modified":"2013-08-03T07:08:58","modified_gmt":"2013-08-03T06:08:58","slug":"the-geschwader-organization-structure","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.chronicles-of-the-luftwaffe.de\/?page_id=58","title":{"rendered":"The “Geschwader” – Organization & Structure"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Geschwader<\/h2>\n

The Geschwader<\/em> was the Luftwaffe’s largest organizational unit on a tactical level – it was the equivalent to the Wing<\/em> in the United States Air Force or Royal Air Force. The Geschwader<\/em> itself would be named according to its purpose: a Kampfgeschwader<\/em> (bomber wing) would typically carry out bombing missions, ground support and – to a lesser extent – supply missions, a Jagdgeschwader<\/em> (fighter wing) would be providing the home for the versatile fighter force.<\/p>\n

Each Geschwader<\/em> was assigned an Arabic number – for example Jagdgeschwader 52<\/em> (abbr. JG 52) or Kampfgeschwader 100<\/em> (abbr. KG 100) and – in many cases but not always – an additional title or nickname.<\/p>\n

Each Geschwader<\/em> had a special Stabsstaffel<\/em> (see Staffel<\/em> further down) which held the aircraft of the Wing Commander and his associated staff (typically four aircraft).<\/p>\n

The Gruppen<\/h2>\n

A Geschwader<\/em> was divided into Gruppen<\/em> – independent units that might even end up in different theaters of war but usually where seen fighting together in a similar geographic area. The Gruppen<\/em> received Roman numerals as designators – I, II, III and IV (and on some cases V and VI).<\/p>\n

Combined with the Geschwader<\/em>designator, you would for example see II.\/JG 52 or I.\/KG 100. Like the Geschwader<\/em>, each Gruppe<\/em> had its own Stabsstaffel <\/em>with the aircraft associated to the group commander and his staff – again, typically four aircraft.<\/p>\n

The Staffeln<\/h2>\n

The Gruppen<\/em> were organized in Staffeln<\/em>, similar to the Squadron in the US Air Force. On paper, each Staffel<\/em> consisted of 12 aircraft but that number was rarely reached, especially in the later years of the war.<\/p>\n

Each Gruppe<\/em> typically had three Staffeln<\/em>, later in the war four. The Staffeln <\/em>received consecutive\u00a0 Arabic numbers from 1..n, in the following pattern:<\/p>\n