When German Generals Realized The Battle Of Britain Was a Disaster | WW2 Story

Описание: This narrative chronicles the gradual and painful realization among German military leaders during August-September 1940 that the Battle of Britain was failing, that air superiority necessary for Operation Sea Lion—the invasion of Britain—would not be achieved, and that Germany faced its first clear strategic defeat of World War II. The story opens in the Luftwaffe operations room in France on September 17, 1940, as staff officers compiled casualty reports showing German aircraft losses over forty-eight hours had exceeded one hundred planes, with many experienced pilots and aircrew who could not be easily replaced. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, who had promised Hitler that the Luftwaffe would destroy the Royal Air Force, was confronting evidence the air campaign was failing, British fighter strength was not declining as predicted, and German losses were mounting at unsustainable rates.
General Hans Jeschonnek, Chief of Luftwaffe General Staff, compiled intelligence assessments showing British fighter production exceeded German estimates, RAF pilot training maintained operational strength despite losses, and the integrated air defense system linking radar stations, observer corps, sector stations, and fighter squadrons proved remarkably resilient. Jeschonnek's assessments contradicted Göring's optimistic pronouncements that Fighter Command was on the verge of collapse, but raising these contradictions was becoming increasingly dangerous as Göring refused to accept information challenging his promises to Hitler.