Luftwaffenführungsstab Ic der Gen.St.d.Lw. (5. Abt.)

Luftwaffenführungsstab Ic der Gen.St. der Lw. (5. Abteilung)

(Air Force Operations Staff Intelligence of the General Staff of the Air Force (5th Branch))

also as: Abteilung Fremde Staaten/Gen.St.d.Lw. (Foreign Countries Branch/ General Staff of the Air Force)

Chef

Gen.Maj. Joseph (Beppo) Schmid (1 Apr 39 - 14 Oct 42)

Obstlt. i.G. Josef Kögl (15 Oct 42 - c. 9 Mar 43)

Oberst i.G. Rudolf Wodarg (10 Mar 43 - c. 1 Oct 44)

Obstlt. i.G. Walter Kienitz (8 Aug 44 - Mar 45)

History

Generally, the intelligence branch of the general staff had 5 major subdivisions and 4 or 5 independent sections. The subdivisions were groupings of countries, usually by geographical region. In November 1944 the branch had 116 officers, 3 civilian officials and more than 281 others - responsible for collecting and evaluating all enemy intelligence, directing counterintelligence, the press, censorship, the air attachés, air photography, target maps, etc.^[1]