Wilhelm Mohr

Wilhelm Mohr. On World War II
the skies in the same way the Army had towards territory and the Navy
at sea.
Independence not only in terms of mastering the craftsmanship of
flying and all technical assistance of the like. But also independence in
terms of thinking on how to organize and use airpower. It was on the
basis of this – in 1936, while shimmers of clouds were gathering on
the horizon – that Colonel Ruge, 46 then Army Chief-of-Staff, could
develop a plan for establishing a united Air Force. The lack of an Air
Force felt pressing – an Air Force where airplanes and ground-based air
defence would supplement each other, with an integrated surveillance
service. But the plan from Colonel Ruge went much further than that.
For the first time one could see a clear strategic thought of how a united
Air Force could be organized and used. Not only could an Air Force be
used as point and regional defence, but also for reconnaissance and the
inherent offensive ability to strike the enemy’s base area and invasion
targets.
The enthusiasts had influenced this process. There were critical voices,
of course. Conformist attitudes will always be on the alert. But
when this suggestion of a unified Air Force was stopped it was probably
more due to the heavy expenditure this would include, together with the
societal and security policy development at the time, when hopeful trust
and political manoeuvring to ensure our nations security held a higher
currency than to meet the demands of our Defence Forces. When some
time later, one rather extraordinarily decided to buy aircraft – it was too
late.
In retrospect, we must allow ourselves to reflect upon what role and
impact German airpower had on the attack on Norway 9 April 1940.
We know the effect on Poland, but considering the distance to Norway,
and with the build-up and organization Ruge’s air plan contained, it is at
least my perception that the entire German enterprise would have been
46 Refers to Otto Ruge, who Mohr later met for one hour close to Otta when Ruge had
become the Commanding General for the Norwegian Defence Forces, and who shortly
thereafter was appointed Norwegian Chief of Defence.
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