Figure 1.--Here an unidentiofied German boy sits on the wheels of the massive Ju-G38 which was used as a commercial airliner and transport plane by Lufthansa in the 1930s for flights to London and Paris. The photograph was probably taken at Berlin's Templehof airport.

Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG / Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works was one of Germany's great aviation companies. It is usually referred to as just Junkers. Which is a little confusing because that is the term for Prussia's land owning and military-oriented aristocracy. Junkers became famous during World War I and after the War for shifting to all metal aircraft construction. Junkers also manufactured aircraft engines. The company was founded by Hugo Junkers in Dessau, Germany (1895). Initially Junkers had nothing to do with aircraft, but manufactured boilers and radiators. It was in World War I that the company turned to aircraft construction. The Junkers J 9 was an innovative monoplane fighter, significant for being first all-metal fighter. After World War I with the Versailles restrictions, Junkers turned to commercial aircraft construction. Junkers made several attempts to produce a commercial airliner transport. The Ju-F13 was the world’s first all-metal commercial aircraft capable of carrying passengers, mail and cargo. It was ordered destroyed by The Allied Control Commission. The Ju-A50 Junior was the world’s first sports aircraft (1929). The massive six engine Ju-G38 appeared at the same time. Lufthansa used the plane, but only two were actually built. Junkers planes wee innovative, but no commercial successes and the company experienced financial problems, exacerbated by the Depression (1929). The company was an important aircraft manufacturer during World War II. The company's most notable military aircraft were the Ju-52 transport, Ju-87 Stuka dive bomber, and Ju-88 Schnellbomber/Fast Bomber. The Stuka with its terrifying siren and accuracy became the symbol of NAZI aggression early in the War, but had to be retired as the War continued. The Fast Bomber was Germany's most effective bomber and used throughout the War. The Ju-86, Ju-188, Ju-288, and Ju-388 did not meet expectations and were compromised by the need to build fighters as Allied Strategic Bombing began to become increasingly defective (1942). The Junkers Ju-290 was developed late in the War as a transport and heavy bomber, but not produced in quantity as Germany's fortunes deteriorated. The Junkers Ju-390 was designed as the America Bomber, but never flown. Other than the Stuka and Fast Bomber, Junkers in World War II is best known for its work on transport aircraft. The company did extensive research on jet aircraft, but did not produce jets in any number. It did produce jet engines. Here it was handicapped by Germany's limited access to the metals needed to make the alloys needed for high-performance jet engines. The advanced Me-262 jet, for example, used the Junkers Jumo 004 axial-flow turbojet engine--the first production turbojet engine in operational use. The Arado-234 bomber also used the Junkers Jumo 004 engine. The company is also notable for the degree to which the NAZI Party seized control of private corporations, even before the War. Hugo Junkers had is company seized by Luftwaffe head Herman Göring when he refused to follow NAZI directions. He died soon after in unexplained circumstances (1935). It was after the company was taken over by the NAZIs that it made its name with the Stuka. 【Chambers】

Sources

Chambers, Mark A. Junkers: Military Aircraft of World War Two (The History Press: 2017).

Created: 5:57 PM 1/3/2024
Last updated: 5:57 PM 1/3/2024