Fliegerführer Atlantik
| Fliegerführer Atlantik | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1939–1945 |
| Country | Germany |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Luftwaffe |
| Type | Luftflotte |
| Role | Tactical and Strategic anti-Shipping naval attack interdiction operations |
| Size | Air Fleet |
| Engagements | Operation Rheinübung Operation Berlin Last battle of the battleship Bismarck |
| Battle honours | Battle of the Atlantic |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Martin Harlinghausen |
Fliegerführer Atlantik (German: "Flyer Command Atlantic"), was a Second World War Luftwaffe naval command Luftflotte ("Air Fleet"). It was designed to support the German Kriegsmarine U-Boat operations in the Battle of the Atlantic.[1] The command had jurisdiction over all Luftwaffe operations in the Atlantic and supported German surface raiders. During the German battleship Bismarck's sortie Operation Rheinübung in May 1941, Fliegerführer Atlantik was tasked with providing cover for its return to port. Kampfgruppe 100, Kampfgeschwader 1, Kampfgeschwader 54 and Kampfgeschwader 77 were made available for this purpose. They failed and Bismarck was sunk. The Command's commanding officer, Martin Harlinghausen, came in for much criticism for failing to help the ship.[2]
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Martin Harlinghausen, 31 March 1941 – 5 January 1942
- Generalmajor Wolfgang von Wild (acting), 30 October 1941 – 5 January 1942
- General der Flieger Ulrich Kessler, 5 January 1942 – 1 April 1944
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- National Archive. The Rise and Fall of the German Air Force, 1933-1945. 2000. ISBN 978-905615-30-8
- Jackson, Robert (2002). The Bismarck. Weapons of War: London. ISBN 1-86227-173-9.