Lipetsk fighter-pilot school
The Lipetsk fighter-pilot school (
Background
The Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919, prohibited Germany from operating any form of air force after the country had lost the First World War. Initially, it also prohibited the production and import of any form of aircraft to the country. In 1922, the clause on civilian aircraft was dropped and Germany was able to produce planes again, followed in 1923 with the country regaining control of its airspace. The operation or production of aircraft for military means was however still prohibited.[1]
The German military, the Reichswehr, was well aware of the value of air warfare and was determined not to fall too far behind in knowledge and training. For this purpose alternative means, outside Germany, were explored.[1]
Germany had normalised its relations with Soviet Russia in 1922, with the signing of the
Initially, Germany was unwilling to break the Treaty of Versailles. This attitude changed however in 1923, when French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr area after Germany defaulted on reparations payments. In light of the events of the Ruhrkampf, the German Army ordered 100 new aircraft from Fokker in the Netherlands, among them 50 newly developed Fokker D.XIIIs. Additionally, the German Navy had also ordered a small number of planes.[1]
With the end of the Ruhrkampf in September, Germany was at a loss as to how to utilize the planes which were due for delivery in 1924. The Soviet Union was approached and showed an interest in allowing Germany to develop aircraft in the country; the German manufacturer Junkers had already been operating a production facility for military aircraft near Moscow since 1923.[1]
In June 1924, retired Colonel Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen became a permanent representative of the Reichswehr's Truppenamt, the secret General Staff of the German Army, in Moscow. At the same time, seven German instructors were sent to the Red Air Force. On 15 April 1925, Lieth-Thomsen signed a contract to establish a German fighter-pilot school at Lipetsk.[1]
Fighter school
Extensive works were required at Lipetsk to prepare for the German fighter-pilot school,
In addition to the school at Lipetsk, Germany operated a tank school, the
Closure
In the early 1930s, the political situation for the flight school began to change. The Soviet Union opened itself to the West while Germany attempted a closer approach to France. Additionally, the Soviets were unhappy about the lack of development carried out at the school.[1]
In December 1932, Germany achieved being viewed as an equal at the
In popular culture
The fighter school at Lipetsk is referenced in the German crime drama series Babylon Berlin, Season 2 - episodes 3, 4, 5 and 6.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j [1] (in German) German Federal Archives, accessed 1 July 2011
- ^ Schulterschluss mit Moskau (in German) Der Spiegel: Solidarity with Moscow, accessed 1 July 2011
- ^ Geheimvertrag mit der Roten Armee (in German) Der Spiegel: Secret contracts with the Red Army, accessed 1 July 2011
- ISBN 9780714632025.
- ISBN 3-87943-709-2.
External links
- Lipetsk. The secret flying school and test site of the Reichswehr in the Soviet Union [2] (in German) German Federal Archives - History and pictures of the fighter-pilot school