Tony’s Scrapbook: Junkers G38

This newspaper clipping in Tony’s scrapbook, dated May 1933, holds significant historical value for the airplane and the people credited. It’s a sensitive subject, but unfortunately, it’s a part of history, and I mean no disrespect to anyone reading this post.    

It depicts the christening of a Junkers aircraft named in honor of Field Marshal von Hindenburg, likely the Junkers G 38, a prominent German transport aircraft from the late 1920s and early 1930s. The caption mentions Hermann Göring, a well-known Nazi figure who, at the time, was Germany’s Aviation Minister and an influential leader in the development of the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force. The event took place at Tempelhof Field in Berlin, one of the world’s earliest airports, and held significant importance during that era.

The plane itself was named “Field Marshal von Hindenburg” after Paul von Hindenburg, the President of Germany at the time and a key figure during World War I. This Junkers G 38 was a remarkable aircraft for its time. It was one of the giant land planes with two passenger decks, a testament to Germany’s aviation innovation in the interwar period.

The Junkers G 38 was a revolutionary German aircraft developed in the late 1920s by Junkers, a pioneering aviation company known for its metal aircraft designs. The G 38 was notable for being one of the largest land planes of its time and is often remembered for its unique and innovative design. Here are some critical details about the Junkers G 38:

Development and Design:

• Designer: Hugo Junkers, a visionary aircraft engineer, and his team.
• First Flight: November 6, 1929.
• Purpose: Initially developed as a long-range transport aircraft for civilian and military use.

Size and Capacity:

• Dimensions:
  • Length: 23 meters (75 ft 6 in).
  • Wingspan: 44 meters (144 ft 4 in), making it one of the most expansive wingspans of the era.
  • Height: 7.2 meters (23 ft 7 in).
• Capacity: It was designed to carry up to 34 passengers. It had a two-deck cabin, with the lower deck reserved for passengers and the upper deck containing crew and additional seating.
• Crew: A crew of 7, including pilots and mechanics, was typically required for its operation.

Unique Features:

1. Passenger Seating in Wings: One of the G 38’s most unusual and distinctive features was that passengers could sit inside the broad wings. Viewing windows were built into the wings, allowing passengers to enjoy a view directly from the wing.
2. Construction: The aircraft was made entirely of duralumin, a lightweight yet strong aluminum alloy typical of Junkers’ groundbreaking design. This all-metal construction was more durable than the fabric-covered planes standard in the 1920s.
3. Engines:
   • The original G 38 version was powered by four Junkers L55 engines, two mounted in the nose and two on the wings.
   • Later versions used improved engines like the Junkers L88.

Civilian Use:

The G 38 was initially employed by Lufthansa, the German national airline, on routes between Germany and other European destinations. It was designed for long-distance travel and featured a comfortable passenger cabin, a smoking lounge, and ample space for cargo and mail.

Military Use:

During World War II, the Luftwaffe pressed the remaining G-38s into military service as military transport planes. They were used for carrying personnel, cargo, and sometimes special missions. The military version was designated as the Junkers G 38d.

Limited Production:

• Only two G 38s were built:
  1. D-2000 (later re-registered as D-AZUR).
  2. D-2500 (later re-registered as D-APIS).
• Both aircraft saw service until the outbreak of World War II, after which they were used by the Luftwaffe until being destroyed or retired due to damage.

Legacy:

Only two units were constructed, but the Junkers G 38 significantly impacted aviation design. Its size, innovative passenger arrangements, and duralumin as a construction material were steps forward in aviation technology. The G 38 also influenced later Junkers designs, especially military transport aircraft.

The Junkers G 38 can be seen as a precursor to larger commercial aircraft in later decades. It blended passenger comfort with robust construction. Lufthansa’s and later the Luftwaffe’s use made it an important part of Germany’s aviation history during the interwar period.

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Paul von Hindenburg (1847–1934) was a prominent German military officer and statesman who played a critical role in World War I and the interwar period of the Weimar Republic. He was best known as a Field Marshal during World War I and later as the President of Germany, a position that placed him at the center of Germany’s political crisis, leading to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Here’s a detailed overview of his life and historical significance:

Early Life and Military Career:

• Born: October 2, 1847, in Posen (now Poznań, Poland), then part of Prussia.
• Military Background: Hindenburg came from a noble family with a long history of military service. He entered the Prussian army as a cadet in 1866 and fought in the Austro-Prussian War (1866) and the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871).
• Rise through the Ranks: Hindenburg steadily rose through the military ranks over the decades, gaining respect for his professionalism and dedication. He retired in 1911 after a long career, having reached the rank of general.

World War I:

Hindenburg was called out of retirement in 1914, at the age of 66, shortly after the outbreak of World War I, and this is where he gained international fame.

Battle of Tannenberg (1914):

• Hindenburg, alongside his chief of staff Erich Ludendorff, became a national hero after their decisive victory against the Russian army at the Battle of Tannenberg in East Prussia in August 1914. This battle was a critical win for Germany in the early stages of the war. It cemented Hindenburg’s reputation as one of Germany’s most outstanding military leaders.

Supreme Command:

• Following his success, Hindenburg was promoted to Chief of the General Staff (essentially the supreme commander of the German armed forces). He worked closely with Ludendorff to direct Germany’s war strategy.
• Under Hindenburg, Germany pursued an aggressive military strategy on both the Western and Eastern fronts, including the U-boat campaign and large-scale battles on the Western Front, like Verdun and the Somme.

Hindenburg Line:

• The defensive fortifications built by Germany on the Western Front in 1916 became known as the Hindenburg Line. These fortifications were designed to be impenetrable, but they were eventually breached in 1918, contributing to Germany’s defeat.

Total War Strategy:

• From 1916 onward, Hindenburg and Ludendorff effectively ran Germany as a military dictatorship, implementing the Hindenburg Program, which mobilized the entire German economy for the war effort. This led to widespread hardship and shortages at home.

End of the War:

• By 1918, it became clear that Germany was losing the war. Hindenburg and Ludendorff initially resisted negotiations for peace. Still, the German leadership eventually agreed to an armistice in November 1918, ending the war.

Post-World War I and the Weimar Republic:

• After World War I, Hindenburg retired again but remained respected in Germany. His reputation as a war hero provided him with significant influence over German society.

Presidency of Germany (1925–1934):

• Elected President: In 1925, at the age of 78, Hindenburg was persuaded to run for the presidency of the Weimar Republic. He won the election and became President of Germany, serving as the head of state of a deeply divided country still recovering from the devastation of World War I and struggling with political instability, economic crises, and growing radicalism.

Support for the Republic:

• Initially, Hindenburg was not a supporter of the Weimar Republic. He was a monarchist and favored the restoration of the German Kaiser. However, he upheld the republic’s constitution and worked within its framework as president.

Chancellor Appointments:

• During his presidency, Hindenburg had the constitutional power to appoint and dismiss chancellors. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, as the Great Depression worsened Germany’s economic conditions, Hindenburg appointed a series of chancellors. Still, none could stabilize the situation or gain lasting political support.

Rise of the Nazi Party:

• The growing popularity of the Nazi Party and its leader Adolf Hitler during the early 1930s put Hindenburg in a difficult position. Hitler’s radicalism, combined with the Nazis’ electoral successes, forced Hindenburg to consider him for the position of Chancellor, though he was initially reluctant.
• Hindenburg ran for re-election in the 1932 presidential election and defeated Hitler, but the political crisis continued.

Hitler’s Appointment as Chancellor (1933):

• Despite his dislike for Hitler, Hindenburg was under immense political pressure to resolve the chaos in Germany. Influenced by conservative advisors, Hindenburg ultimately appointed Hitler as Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933, believing that Hitler could be controlled and that other conservative ministers in the government would temper his radicalism.
• This decision paved the way for Hitler’s dictatorship, as Hitler quickly consolidated power and dismantled the Weimar Republic.

Death:

• Hindenburg remained president during the early stages of Nazi rule but was increasingly sidelined as Hitler took control of the government.
• Died: August 2, 1934. Upon his death, Hitler combined the offices of Chancellor and President, declaring himself Führer of Germany, thus marking the formal end of the Weimar Republic and the beginning of the Third Reich.

Legacy:

Controversial Figure:

• Hindenburg is a complex figure in German history. On one hand, he was revered as a national hero for his military leadership during World War I. On the other, his actions as president, particularly his decision to appoint Hitler as Chancellor, are viewed as a critical turning point that led to the rise of Nazi dictatorship.

Monarchist and Conservative:

• Hindenburg was a staunch monarchist who never fully embraced the Weimar Republic. His traditionalist and conservative views, as well as his preference for authoritarian solutions, helped create the conditions that allowed Hitler to come to power.

Namesake:

• During his lifetime, Hindenburg was honored in numerous ways, including naming towns, ships, and even the famous airship LZ 129 Hindenburg. However, after World War II, many of these honors were reconsidered, given his role in enabling Hitler’s rise to power.

Hindenburg remains a pivotal figure in 20th-century German history, remembered for his military achievements and the critical misjudgments that contributed to the collapse of democracy in Germany.

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Hermann Göring (1893–1946) was a high-ranking Nazi official and one of Adolf Hitler’s closest associates. He held numerous influential positions within the Nazi regime, playing a pivotal role in the rise of the Third Reich, the militarization of Germany, and the atrocities of World War II. His actions and leadership during this time have made him one of the most infamous figures of the Nazi leadership. Here’s an overview of his life and role in Nazi Germany:

Early Life and Military Career:

• Born: January 12, 1893, in Rosenheim, Bavaria, Germany.
• Military Background: Göring pursued a career in the military, joining the Imperial German Army in 1912 and serving as a pilot during World War I. He became a celebrated fighter pilot, earning the title of an ace with over 20 confirmed aerial victories.
• Blue Max: For his combat achievements, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite (commonly known as the Blue Max), one of the highest military honors in the German Empire.
• Command of Jagdgeschwader 1: He took command of the legendary “Flying Circus,” initially led by the famous Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, after Richthofen’s death.

Rise in the Nazi Party:

• After World War I, Göring became politically active and joined the Nazi Party in 1922, attracted by Hitler’s message of nationalism and revenge for Germany’s defeat in the war.
• Hitler’s Inner Circle: He quickly rose through the ranks and became one of Hitler’s most loyal supporters. Göring played a prominent role in the failed Beer Hall Putsch of 1923, where he was wounded.
• Reichstag President: By the early 1930s, Göring became President of the Reichstag (the German parliament), positioning himself as a critical player in the Nazi consolidation of power.

Roles and Responsibilities in Nazi Germany:

Reichsmarschall:

• Göring became Reichsmarschall, the highest rank in the German military, making him second only to Hitler in terms of prestige and authority in Nazi Germany.

Commander of the Luftwaffe:

• Göring was the chief architect of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), which he built into a formidable military force during the 1930s.
• Under his leadership, the Luftwaffe initially enjoyed great success during the Blitzkrieg campaigns in Poland, France, and other parts of Europe.
• However, Göring’s leadership during the Battle of Britain in 1940 led to the Luftwaffe’s failure to gain air superiority over Britain, marking a turning point in the war.

Four-Year Plan:

• Göring was appointed in 1936 in charge of Germany’s Four-Year Plan, which aimed to prepare the German economy for war. His role as the head of this plan gave him vast control over the country’s industrial and economic policies.
• He focused on rearmament and sought to make Germany economically self-sufficient in preparation for war, which included using forced labor and exploiting resources from conquered territories.

Plundering of Art and Wealth:

• Göring was heavily involved in the systematic looting of art and property from Jewish families, particularly after the Nazi occupation of France and other European countries.
• He amassed a vast personal fortune and a collection of valuable artwork during the war.

Persecution of Jews and Role in the Holocaust:

• In 1938, Göring was a central figure in the Kristallnacht pogrom, an organized wave of violence against Jews across Nazi Germany.
• He signed the order authorizing the creation of the Reich Central Office for Jewish Emigration, which was responsible for expelling Jews from Germany and later for the logistics of deportations to concentration camps.
• He also gave directives for the “Final Solution” (the Holocaust) in 1941, which led to the systematic genocide of six million Jews and millions of others during World War II.

Fall from Power:

• By the late stages of World War II, Göring’s influence and power began to decline. The Luftwaffe’s failure in the Battle of Britain, along with the defeats suffered by Nazi Germany in the later stages of the war, eroded its prestige.
• His extravagant lifestyle, rampant corruption, and deteriorating leadership led to a loss of Hitler’s trust. In April 1945, sensing the war was lost, Göring sent a message to Hitler proposing that he take over leadership of the Reich. Hitler viewed this as a betrayal and stripped him of all titles and ordered his arrest.

Capture and Trial:

• Allied forces captured göring in May 1945 after Germany’s surrender.
• He was one of the most prominent defendants at the Nuremberg Trials, where he was charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace.
• Göring remained defiant during the trials, justifying his actions and denying responsibility for many of the atrocities committed during the war. He defended his role in the war as a loyal officer carrying orders.

Death:

• Sentenced to death by hanging, Göring committed suicide in his cell on October 15, 1946, by taking cyanide. His death came just hours before his scheduled execution, preventing him from being publicly executed with the other convicted Nazi leaders.

Legacy:

• Göring is remembered as one of the most infamous figures of the Nazi regime. His role in militarizing Germany, leading the Luftwaffe, and his active participation in the Holocaust have made him a central figure in understanding the horrors of the Third Reich.
• His personal greed, arrogance, and ambition were coupled with moments of incompetence, particularly later in the war. He remains a symbol of the corruption and brutality that characterized the Nazi leadership.

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As much as I like exploring the history of aviation, this one was tough for me due to the historical nature of the people involved in the newspaper clipping. 

I hope this post provided a glimpse of positivity in such a dark period in history or offered some insight into the massive Junkers G 38 aircraft, which I find incredibly fascinating. 

So, until we meet again, have a good one, and I’ll see you in the next post.