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From first to "wurst": the erosion and implosion of German technology during WWII: the German management system, especially in terms of the technological industry, was a complex and convoluted bureaucratic nightmare
Air Force Journal of Logistics, Summer, 2004 by Charles A. Pryor, III
In the Beginning
At the outset of the German buildup for World War II, the Germans were, arguably, the most technologically advanced nation in the world. Despite the limitations in the Treaty of Versailles, they secretly designed and built some of the most advanced aircraft in the world. From research into all metal aircraft, such as the Junkers Ju 52, (1) to the Messerschmitt Me 262, the world's first jet fighter, (2) the Germans were on the technological front lines. Yet, in a scant 10 years, the German nation ceased to exist. After the war, with its country divided in two, the technological advances were divided among the conquering powers. Indeed, the battles 5 years later between the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 15 and the F-86 were more among German engineers than among the nations actually at war. (3) The reasons for the implosion of the German state are manifold, two of which are addressed herein.
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From a technological standpoint, many of the German designs and innovations remain valid. They were the true innovators of some of the world's current aircraft. Indeed, the Germans pioneered the use of wind tunnels, jet aircraft, pusher propellers, metal aircraft, and rockets in an attempt to overwhelm their Allied adversaries. Under the guise of Operation Paperclip, many German scientists and engineers were brought to America to work their magic on the American industry. Despite all this talent and its potential, few of the German designs were actually used during the war. Although their relevance is unquestioned, especially in view of current American (and worldwide) aircraft, they were untapped by the German leadership.
The German management system, especially in terms of the technological industry, was a complex and convoluted bureaucratic nightmare. Their system of committees and rings, coupled with a lack of centralized control at the top, served to undermine an economy that was resource-poor, in terms of both monetary and natural resources. This mismanagement, exacerbated by the effects of the Combined Bomber Offensive, transformed the German industry from one of the best to one of the worst, a system ready to implode had it not been helped on by the Allies. Further compounding the situation was the influence of Adolf Hitler. A man with a continental worldview and a penchant for doing things his way, Hitler was more of a hindrance to industry than a help. His constantly changing requirements led to costly and lengthy delays to the production of many aircraft. His inability to look beyond continental Europe from a practical standpoint ensured the German state never had a practical long-range bomber until it was too late. Indeed, the Germans ended the war with the same fighter and bomber with which they began the war, with only minor modifications and a dwindling ability to mass-produce them.
Many of the lessons from the German experience with technology and management are applicable today to the US Air Force. Without a doubt, today, the United States is the technological superpower of the world, yet it is plagued by many of the same problems that the Germans faced. Many of America's technological advances seem to be done for the sake of technology, rather than for an operational military need. Indeed, many of the needs of the American military may be met, in the short term, with existing technology or modifications thereto, rather than new programs. The true transformation of the American military and its technology will be a departure from the stovepipes of military acquisition, in which each service acquires its own (often redundant) systems, to a process of standardization among the equipment used to meet each service's needs. Furthermore, American military management is becoming as complex as that of the Germans. True, Americans have much more to worry about than the Germans; for example the whole, poorly understood realm of space. The United States tends to solve its lack of understanding with additional bureaucracy, which exacerbates the overall situation. Alignment under a specific, overarching unified command could eliminate some of the waste and ensure an interoperable, standardized force for the future. Indeed, if the Department of Defense (DoD) does not learn and heed the lessons of the past, it is doomed to repeat them.
This article examines the efforts and impacts of German technology, both during World War II and today. Furthermore, it examines the impact and folly of German management of the technological industry and that industry's subsequent implosion. Finally, this work draws some parallels between the World War II German system and the current American system, fully recognizing the difference between the totalitarian German state and the democratic American state. Despite the glaring and obvious difference between the two, there are similarities that could have a negative impact on America's ability to wage war.
Technical Marvels
At the outset of World War II, the Luftwaffe was, undoubtedly, the world's supreme air force. It had the most advanced fighter and bomber aircraft and the best trained crews. Despite this, the Luftwaffe suffered severe losses during the course of the war, including the loss of air superiority over continental Europe, which led to the downfall of the Third Reich. Its loss can be attributed to several factors, not the least of which was its inability to take advantage of, or maintain, the technological superiority enjoyed at the outset of hostilities. The technological superiority was not limited to aircraft fielded during the war but includes some interesting technical innovations that arose during the war but not fielded by the Luftwaffe. Many of these technical innovations are just now being exploited to their fullest potential. Indeed, many of the technological innovations taken for granted today were first developed in the factories and design laboratories of Messerschmitt, Heinkel, Arado, Focke-Wulf, Henschel, and Junkers. These companies--and the designers for whom they are named--were at the forefront of technical innovation during not only their time but also current times. Many of their innovations--such as canards, boundary layer control, sweptwings, variable wings, jet engines, and more--are widely used today and accepted as industry standards. By examining Luftwaffe technological innovations, we can see a clear inspiration and technological marvel that transcends the aircraft industry today and whose impact is just being realized.
