Summary
For the Luftwaffe January 1st, 1943 represented a time of crisis. Its operational strength had sunk to some 4,000 aircraft. It had also failed to introduce new more modern types - aircraft like the He 280 and Me 262. The Luftwaffe was drawing on it last accumulated reserves. Contingency plans were nonexistent. The losses in Stalingrad and North Africa put a severe strain on Luftwaffe resources.
