Rearming the Germans 1946

[crudebuteffective]

Here's an idea I had about the topic above.

Here's the backstory, models to follow later.

Phase 1

Op Redemption 1946

In 1946 during the occupation of Germany, an idea was conceived by a young RAF
Lieutenant, to avoid the attitude of "hard done by" created by the sanctions and
Limitations imposed after the First World War amongst the German people that
served as a factor in the rise of national socialism and the Second World War,
especially since if war were to be waged a third time the weapons used would
change the face of the planet.  Plus, with the impending threat of the soviets
to the east the allies would need all the friends they could get.

The idea was basically a PR stunt to show the German citizen that the allies
presence was a liberation of Germany from the third Reich rather than an
occupation, and that if German forces were seen to be assisting the allies with
the liberation the citizens would see that Germany was going to recover from the
war rather than suffer for it, and where would this forces be more visible than
in the air. This whole scheme was given the rather dramatic name "op redemption".

To distance it's self from the Nazi Luftwaffe, this new German air force would
draw its insignia, emblem and roots from the German states the operated from and draw its pilots from these respective areas to create a "joining your local regiment" ethos.

The operation ended being solely a British endeavour with the Americans and
French strongly against the idea of rearming the Germans so soon, so the op
redemption was limited to the British controlled sector of Germany. The
operation was put in command by a young  RAF officer FLT LT Edward "curly"
Thompson an officer who was known for his rebellious nature was given the
assignment almost as a punishment and to keep him out of the way. The new units were called the Luftgarde (air guard) but got given the name "Curlys misfits"

The new Germany air force consisted of three flights,  

The Duchy of Brunswick's flight (the black dukes)
The kingdom of Hanover's flight (the white horses)
The Duchy of Oldenburg' flight (the fighting third)

Each flight to begin with we're small with the largest consisting of just four
aircraft, piloted by former low ranking Luftwaffe pilots from the states they
flew for. Each with a British wing commander flying to operate under
They flew German built aircraft , ME109s of various marks, according to the posters and pamphlets strewn across  town centres this was to allow the Germans to use the technology that it had created, in truth it was still a case of mistrust on the allies part. All there advanced jet technology had been crated up and shipped off for the allies benefit and if they were to be given British equipment the operation may have had an negative effect back home on the British public.

So in mid 1946 the PR campaign began not in the air but in town squares, in the
town squares of Braunschweig, Oldenburg  and Hanover the new German airforce ( the luftguade) displayed there aircraft (transported there by road at great
difficulty) and the selves in the their new colours and uniforms these shows
came with newspaper flyers poster and radio broadcasts telling of there
formation, even newsreel footage was produced to show in cinemas across the
sector and back at home in Britain of a ME109G of the royal squadron of the
kingdom of Hanover and a spitfire XVI flying in formation.  

As the PR campaign was successful the truth was that's all the new German
air force was, with the British hierarchy still not fully supportive of the
operation in reality the flights were limited to low fly pasts of towns and
villages no real support was given to the allies even to the point that the
flights were more often than not grounded by the powers that be sometimes for
little or no reason at all and the flights that did make it to the air rarely
had ammunition and In late 1946 the project was cancelled the flights were disbanded
some of the pilots found employment a year later in the Berlin air lift)



models built to follow later (having issues with decals)

[NARSES2]

This is a nice idea - look forward to the rest of it 

Interestingly in the 20's France offered tacit support when the Rhineland broke away from the Weimar Rep. Didn't last very long though. A Germany reconstituted into it's pre 1871 form after WWI is an interesting idea and one I've occasionally mulled over in my head

[pyro-manic]

An interesting idea. The only problem I can see is a logistical one - where do you get spares for the '109s? The German industrial base and supply chain was smashed, and re-starting production of engines and parts would be difficult and expensive, and not really a priority (or even possibility?) for a country in ruins. Though perhaps the short-term nature of the project would limit the effects of this (and perhaps be a contributing factor to winding it up after a short time). Maybe add a Spitfire IX or a Typhoon to the line-up as well? Or even a surplus P-47 would look good.

Looking forward to seeing what these look like.

[darthspud]

there were literally hundreds of aircraft abandoned on airfields throughout the Reich, mainly for lack of fuel.
I can see no problem equipping the small numbers needed for the scenario, indeed spares would be relatively easy to come by too. Just have a few Hangar queens around to rob spares from.

Fuel would have been the biggest logistical problem, but the Allies would have had that sorted fairly quickly for their own a/c and ground /occupation troops.

[crudebuteffective]

here you go as promised

first a BF109G (airfix retool)

Duchy of Brunswick's flight, The Black Dukes



and a BF109G (Academy)

The Kingdom of Hanover Flight, The White Horses






the Duchy of Oldenburg aircraft is yet to be made

Maybe add a Spitfire IX or a Typhoon to the line-up as well? Or even a surplus P-47 would look good.

response to you PYRO yeah I was considering the flight leader to operate a late griffon spitfire in British colours but with "luftgarde style" identification stripes i.e. yellow and blue "D-DAY stripes

[dumaniac]

nice concept

[crudebuteffective]

phase 2

to be continued with re-equipping the Kreigsmarine............

[NARSES2]

phase 2

to be continued with re-equipping the Kreigsmarine............

Interesting ? Now I can't see Britain letting them have anything more then some lightly armed fishing boats for inshore patrol/anti smuggling duties but to paraphrase "it's your theme" 

Like the 2 109's by the way. I've considered using French aircraft for Southern Germany and British for Northern in my 1920's scenario.

[crudebuteffective]

Phase 2

Re-equiping the Kreigsmarine

fast forward to 1947 with tensions with the soviet union over germany rising the decision to rearm the german armed forces was put through. The most interesting of the rearmament process was that of the kreigsmarine.

In 1947 the kreigsmarine took delivery of the escort carriers HMS Khedive and HMS Premier which was re-christened the SMS Blucher and the SMS Von Der Tann respectively

SMS Blucher
 

SMS Von Der Tann


each were equiped with second hand FAA aircraft and trained by the Royal Navy personel and in 1951 were deployed the th far east to take part in operations in Korea sailing with the british taskgroup supported troops with airstrikes.

Seafire 45, SMS Blucher Korea 1951



Helldiver, SMS Von Der Tann Korea 1951



the kreigsmarine operated the carriers until the decommisioning of the Von Der Tann in 1954 but the Blucher was converted to an helicopter carrier and soldiered on until being decommisioned in 1967.

[NARSES2]

I really do like this alternative timeline 

[Rheged]

I really do like this alternative timeline 

So do I!   I  wonder what comes next?  A panzer regiment with Churchills,  or even Centurions perhaps

[pyro-manic]

Cor! Those two are beautiful! And I must salute you for having tackled the pig that is the Airfix Helldiver.

Good types and names for the ships (great choices IMO), and Germany a monarchy again? Very interesting...

[rickshaw]

With six princes and one princess to choose from (from Wilhelm II), I don't doubt they could find someone to take the throne but I wonder if either the Germans themselves or the Allies would like that, considering Wilhelm's poor reputation in and outside Germany after WWI...

[scooter]

With six princes and one princess to choose from (from Wilhelm II), I don't doubt they could find someone to take the throne but I wonder if either the Germans themselves or the Allies would like that, considering Wilhelm's poor reputation in and outside Germany after WWI...

There *is* that possibility that the weren't as egotistic as Wilhelm.  When Prince William, Willy's grandson, died in the Battle of France in 1940, 50,000 mourners were at his service, prompting ol' Adolf to all members of the former Royal Houses from serving in the military.  So the possibility of a truly constitutional German monarchy, albeit guided by the Western Allies, could act as a bulwark against both Soviet aggression and the aspirations of the former Nazi regime.

[rickshaw]

With six princes and one princess to choose from (from Wilhelm II), I don't doubt they could find someone to take the throne but I wonder if either the Germans themselves or the Allies would like that, considering Wilhelm's poor reputation in and outside Germany after WWI...

There *is* that possibility that the weren't as egotistic as Wilhelm. 

One would hope so but there is the possibility that they may have been even worse...

I remember the remark by George V that he use to enjoy yacht racing at Cowes much more before Cousin Willie started taking part... 

Rather summed up Wilhelm II rather well, I thought.   He always reminded me of the borish cousin who you regret inviting to stay and who has to big note himself at every opportunity.  One can only hope losing the throne might have knocked a bit of sense into his off-spring.  Being installed again by the Occupying Powers should have.