Kampfgeschwader
Encyclopedia
Kampfgeschwader were specialized bomber
units in the Luftstreitkräfte
during World War I
and the Luftwaffe
during World War II
.
, the German Army's high command, rather than by army, corps, or division commanders.
Each Kagohl consisted of a headquarters element and six flights
, or Kampfstaffeln, of bomber aircraft. Originally intended as strategic bombers
, they were repurposed as tactical bombing
units when it became apparent their aircraft did not have the range to reach strategic targets.
In 1917, the Kagohls were reorganized into Bombengeschwader der Obersten Heersleitung (Bogohl) of three Bombenstaffeln (Bosta), each of six heavy bombers and several additional light bombers.
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
units in the Luftstreitkräfte
Luftstreitkräfte
The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte , known before October 1916 as Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches , or simply Die Fliegertruppen, was the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In World War I
Formally known as Kampfgeschwader der Obersten Heersleitung, or Kagohl for short, they were assets directly controlled by Oberste HeeresleitungOberste Heeresleitung
The Oberste Heeresleitung or OHL was Germany's highest echelon of command of the German Army in World War I, while the Navy was led by the Seekriegsleitung or SKL ....
, the German Army's high command, rather than by army, corps, or division commanders.
Each Kagohl consisted of a headquarters element and six flights
Flight (military unit)
A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
, or Kampfstaffeln, of bomber aircraft. Originally intended as strategic bombers
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
, they were repurposed as tactical bombing
Tactical bombing
Tactical bombing is the aerial bombing aimed at targets of immediate military value, such as troops, military installations or equipment. This is in contrast to strategic bombing, attacking enemy's cities and factories to debilitate the enemy's capacity to wage war, the enemy's future military...
units when it became apparent their aircraft did not have the range to reach strategic targets.
In 1917, the Kagohls were reorganized into Bombengeschwader der Obersten Heersleitung (Bogohl) of three Bombenstaffeln (Bosta), each of six heavy bombers and several additional light bombers.