The Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL) served as the high command of the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War, functioning as the operational counterpart to the Oberkommando des Heeres and the Oberkommando der Marine within the overall structure of the Wehrmacht. Established in connection with the formal creation of the Luftwaffe on 26 February 1935, it operated initially under the broader authority of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) headed by Hermann Göring, who held the dual positions of Reichsminister der Luftfahrt and Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe. A major reorganization on 5 February 1944, driven by General der Flieger Günther Korten and General der Flieger Karl Koller, more clearly separated the OKL as a pure military high command from the administrative and industrial functions of the RLM. The OKL directed the Generalstab der Luftwaffe, the Luftwaffenführungsstab, weapons inspectorates including the General der Jagdflieger, quartermaster services and signals units, while training, technical development and civil aviation largely remained under RLM control. Successive Chefs des Generalstabes der Luftwaffe included Generalleutnant Walther Wever, General der Flieger Albert Kesselring, Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff, Generaloberst Hans Jeschonnek, General der Flieger Günther Korten and finally General der Flieger Karl Koller. Hermann Göring retained overall command until his dismissal on 23 April 1945, after which Generalfeldmarschall Robert Ritter von Greim briefly assumed the role of Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe until the German surrender. The OKL coordinated the Luftflotten and lower formations throughout the war and was dissolved following the unconditional capitulation in May 1945.
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INSPEKTEUR DER DEUTSCHEN LUFTVERTEIDIGUNG
Oberst Hans-Joachim "Hajo" Herrmann was born on 1 August 1913 in Kiel and died on 5 November 2010 in Düsseldorf. He joined the Hamburger Polizei in May 1933 and transferred to the Luftwaffe on 1 August 1935. After training he served with Kampfgeschwader 253, later Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever". From 1936 to 1937 he flew as a bomber pilot with the Legion Condor in the Spanish Civil War, completing about 50 missions. At the outbreak of the Second World War he flew with 7. Staffel of Kampfgeschwader 4 over Poland and Norway. On 20 June 1940 he became Staffelkapitän of 7./KG 4 and took part in the Battle of Britain. For his achievements as a bomber pilot, including attacks on Polish concentrations in the Kutno pocket and the fortress at Drøbak during the Norwegian campaign, he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 13 October 1940 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of 7./Kampfgeschwader 4. His Staffel later transferred to Kampfgeschwader 30. In April 1941, operating from Sicily, he scored a direct hit on the ammunition freighter Clan Fraser in the harbour of Piraeus; the resulting explosion destroyed eleven ships totaling over 40,000 GRT and rendered the port unusable for months. As Gruppenkommandeur of III./KG 30 he attacked Arctic convoys, including PQ-17. In 1942 he joined the Luftwaffenführungsstab. Concerned by the limitations of conventional night fighters, he developed the "Wilde Sau" tactic of using single-engined day fighters over illuminated cities at night. He formed and commanded Jagdgeschwader 300, scoring nine victories against four-engined bombers. For the Clan Fraser attack, the creation of Wilde Sau tactics and his aerial victories he received the Eichenlaub on 2 August 1943 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 300. Appointed Inspekteur der deutschen Luftverteidigung, he was awarded the Schwerter on 23 January 1944 as Oberst for his nine victories and innovative fighter tactics. He later commanded the 1. Jagddivision and 9. Flieger-Division and initiated the Rammjäger of Sonderkommando Elbe. Altogether he flew roughly 320 to 370 combat missions, sank twelve ships of about 60,000 to 70,000 GRT, and was shot down four times. Captured by Soviet forces in May 1945, he remained a prisoner until October 1955. After studying law he practised as a Rechtsanwalt in Düsseldorf.
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberkommando_der_Luftwaffe
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