In World War II, Nazi Germany had a lot of star weapons. The Army has "Tiger" tanks and Ferdinand's own anti-tank guns. The air country has ME-109 fighters and JU87 dive bombers. The Navy has "Bismarck" battleships and U-type submarines.
In World War II, Nazi Germany had a lot of star weapons. The Army has "Tiger" tanks and Ferdinand's own anti-tank guns. The air country has ME-109 fighters and JU87 dive bombers. The Navy has "Bismarck" battleships and U-type submarines.
However, the quantity and quality of the Nazi German Navy cannot compete with the Anglo-American Navy, and it is difficult to be the same as the axis of Japan. The German aircraft carrier has never appeared in the war.
Is there really no carrier in Nazi Germany? What caused the Nazi German Navy’s “squatting”?
The "Z Plan" that turned out to be born
In fact, Nazi Germany once built an aircraft carrier. In 1935, Nazi Germany introduced the "Z Plan" aimed at significantly rebuilding the rebuilt ship. The plan includes the construction of two Zeppelin-class aircraft carriers. The aircraft carrier is 262.5 meters long and has a displacement of 33,500 tons. The maximum speed is 34 knots and the range is 14,000 kilometers. It is equipped with 6 double 105mm anti-aircraft guns, 11 double 37mm anti-aircraft guns, and 28 20mm organs. The gun is equipped with 12 ME-109T fighters and 30 JU87C dive bombers, totaling 42 aircraft.
On December 28, 1936, two aircraft carriers laid keel at the German shipyard in Kiel, Germany, and began construction. On December 8, 1938, the No. 1 ship "The Earl of Zeppelin" had completed 85% and began to dwell. In June 1940, 88% of the "Zeppelin Earl" was affected by World War II and was put into a state of suspension. The aircraft carrier "Peter Strasse" of the second ship was also cancelled due to the manufacturing plan and the hull was dismantled.
In May 1942, the return of the "Zeppelin Earl" began to install the flight deck and catapult. In January 1943, the fighting was urgent and the aircraft carrier construction was once again shut down. On April 25, 1945, on the eve of the surrender of Nazi Germany, 95% of the "Zeppelin Earl" was scuttled in the shallow water near the port of Szczecin, Poland. In 1946, the aircraft carrier was salvaged by the Soviet Union. As a trophy, drag it to Leningrad. On August 16, 1947, the restored "Zipel Earl" was used as a target ship and was sunk by Soviet ships and planes. The exact location is still unknown.
Lost in the first battle, restricted by the navy
Nazi Germany does not have an aircraft carrier for a number of reasons. One of the reasons for the short board in the top design. After the end of World War I, the Allies were wary of the defeated Germany. On June 28, 1919, the warring parties signed the "Versailles Peace Treaty" in Paris, whose purpose is to weaken and limit Germany's military strength.
With the "Crystals of the Treaty of Versailles", the development of aircraft carriers in Germany is undoubtedly a dream. In January 1933, the Nazi Party became the German ruling party. Hitler intended to reinvigorate the navy. On June 18, 1935, the two countries exchanged bargains and replaced the Versailles Peace Treaty with the British-German Naval Agreement.
The agreement stipulates that the Nazi German Navy can be equipped with submarines, which are 45% of the tonnage of the Royal Navy. The size of the surface ships is 35% of the total tonnage of the Royal Navy, accounting for about 400,000 tons, of which the total displacement of combat ships does not exceed 18 Ten thousand tons, that is to say, each battleship does not exceed 45,000 tons. Although the agreement loosened the Nazi German Navy, the aircraft carrier was still banned from equipping the army. After the Nazi Party came to power, the construction of the aircraft carrier was on the agenda.
Controversy continues to fall into the quagmire
The German military strategic approach restricts the development of the navy is also one of the reasons. Hitler pursued a military strategy on the ground. He believed that the Navy was an auxiliary force in coordination with the Army's operations. For this reason, limited military resources should focus on the development of the Army and the Air Force.
On May 26, 1941, the Bismarck battleship was smashed into the Atlantic Ocean by the British Royal Navy's eight battleships, battlecruisers and two aircraft carriers. The sinking of Bismarck has reinforced the wrong view of Hitler’s “uselessness of surface ships” and has brought the already disadvantaged navy into a more unfavorable situation.
Contradictions between sea and air, Goering
The contradiction between sea and air is one of the important reasons for the death of aircraft carriers. Admiral Ryder faced the mighty British Navy and made several occasions: "To protect the fleet from enemy air strikes, it is necessary to equip the aircraft carrier to compete for sea power." Air Force Commander Hermann Wilhelm Goering believes this is a weakening of the Air Force. , strengthen the navy. He repeatedly threatened: "All things that fly will belong to me."
Goering not only spoke madly, but also intended to obstruct the construction of the aircraft carrier. According to the plan, the hull part of the "Zeppelin Earl" was supervised by the Navy, while its apron and carrier aircraft were designed by the Air Force. Under the instigation of Goering, the apron and carrier aircraft that the Air Force is responsible for have not been matched in place, and the "Zipel Earl" faces the dilemma of "inorganic ship."