Luftstreitkräfte

The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte (German: [ˈdɔʏtʃə ˈlʊftˌʃtʁaɪtkʁɛftə], German Air Combat Forces)—known before October 1916 as Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (The Imperial German Air Service)—was the air arm of the Imperial German Army. In English-language sources it is usually referred to as the Imperial German Air Service, although that is not a literal translation of either name. German naval aviators of the Marine-Fliegerabteilung were an integral part of the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine). Both military branches operated aeroplanes, observation balloons and airships.

German Air Combat Forces
Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte
Form of the Tatzenkreuz used on German military aircraft in 1915
Founded1 May 1910 – 8 May 1920
Country German Empire (1910–1918)
 Weimar Republic (1918–1920)
Allegiance Kaiser Wilhelm II
Branch Imperial German Army
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size1918:
2,709 front line aircraft
56 airships
186 balloon detachments
About 4,500 aircrew
EngagementsWorld War I
Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen
Ernst von Hoeppner
Insignia
1914–1915
1916 – March 1918
March/April 1918 – 1919
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