TSOMAYA H. F. Luftwaffe role in creating anti-soviet armed forces

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            Presented article deals with the role of Luftwaffe in creation of the anti-Soviet armed groups. Main goal of the work is to discuss involvement of the armed forces from occupied territories in Nazi German air forces during the Second World War.

            Paper gives detailed descriptions of collaborationist parties who were active members of newly created forces. It also gives explanation that main military groups created were infantry, as their training was way much easier comparing, for example to tanker or pilot. But nevertheless Luftwaffe was vigorously working on creation of air forces within occupied countries, including Soviet Union.

            Also analyzed the principles of recruitment and replenishment of military equipment. Majority of collaborators military formations established on occupied territories and recruited by citizens of Soviet Union. Most part of these organizations were infantry units. This is consistent  with the logic, so it is much easier to train infantry or tankman than, sailor or airman. The RLA air force was led by Aviation Colonel Viktor Ivanovich Maltsev, who personally selected pilots, radio specialists, mechanics, and navigators to be a part of the air division. In the beginning, the RLA’s air force was used for three purposes: delivery of newly-made planes from factories to airfields, repair (The engineer team consisted of about forty people.), and conducting tests with Soviet aircraft, but would later participate in hostile actions against the Soviets, mostly over Belarus.

This is when the air force was divided into the fighter, light bomber, and reconnaissance (Flak regiment, parachute battalion, and signal battalions, respectively.) Figures estimate 5,000 Vlasovites were involved in the air force. The technology the air force was given was mostly captured Soviet planes from an airfield in 1941 or whatever was claimed from the German invasion. This was beneficial in two ways: the first was it gave the Germans the ability to get to know the Soviet Union’s aerial technology and fighting qualities at a closer distance and the second reason being the volunteers were already familiar with the planes from their time prior to being captured.

            Alongside with general information about ongoing processes, creation and participation of Air Forces of Russian Liberation Army with leadership of Viktor Maltsev is deeply discussed. Relationship with lieutenant-colonel of General Staff Holters and their convincing work between October 1943 and December 1944 is once again debated.  

            The article also concentrates on describing the creation of different air forces rather than AFRLA. For instance in Estonia and Latvia same type of military forces were created. In Estonia project went well and soon after the creation of the air forces were under control of Luftwaffe by itself. But the scenario in Latvia was dramatically different – the air forces were dismissed due to the lack of recourses. Article gives a bright notion about outbreak and importance of Luftwaffe in creation of Anti Soviet military groups on the soil of Soviet Union and other occupied countries.

            Keywords: Luftwaffe, armed formations, anti-Soviet armed formations, flight formations, AFRLA, AF, collaborators minded citizens, squadron, Viktor Maltsev, Holters, Aschenbrenner, Bychkov, Antilevsky.