The Stuka was as much a psychological warfare weapon as it was an actual weapon of war.
Before hostilities fully commenced, the decade preceding the outbreak of the Second World War, saw a flowering of new technologies as part of the overall rearmament that many powers, notably Germany, were undergoing. New innovations in air warfare, strategic bombs, tanks, and an assortment of other systems that would come to define the blood-soaked killing fields of WWII were developed at breakneck speeds.
Germany—smarting from its loss in the First World War, and secretly rearming under Nazi rule in violation of its treaty commitments—was the fountainhead of many of these brutal and devastating new weapons of war. One such frightful technology developed by Berlin’s deviously ingenious engineers was the Junkers Ju 87 Sturzkampfflugzeug (“Dive Bomber” in German) or, more simply, the “Stuka.”
History of the Ju 87
The Ju 87 emerged from Germany’s rearmament efforts following Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933. The Luftwaffe, under the command of Hermann Göring, sought a precision dive bomber to support ground forces, a concept championed by World War I ace Ernst Udet. The Junkers company, led by designer Hermann Pohlmann, won the contract to build the Ju 87, which first took wing in 1935. After some early technical setbacks, including a fatal crash during testing, the Ju 87 entered service in 1937.
Junkers’ entire concept for the design of the Stuka was unconventional yet purpose-built. Its inverted gull wings provided stability during steep dives, while dive brakes—perforated flaps on the wings—allowed the bird to plummet at angles of up to 90 degrees without losing control. This was all in service to the innovative battle tactic of blitzkrieg, or “Lightning War”—striking an enemy quickly with overwhelming force, punching through his defenses and leading to a rout.
The Stuka provided a critical air component to a devastating, rapid advance of armor and well-armed troops on the ground below, all designed to break through the lines of rival states before those rival armies could adequately recover from the shock of the initial Nazi blitz. It was a tactic that was the result of the hard lessons learned 20 years earlier, in WWI, when advancing German armies failed to move into Paris and defeat the French before striking out at Russia. Newer technologies like the Ju 87 were meant to overcome the deficits the Germans experienced in the Great War.
The Stuka’s Specifications
Powered by a Junkers Jumo 211 engine, the Ju 87B (the most famous variant) could reach speeds of around 240 miles per hour and carry a 1,100-pound bomb under its fuselage, with additional smaller bombs under the wings. Its fixed landing gear, encased in distinctive “spats,” gave it a predatory appearance but also limited its speed and agility.
The Stuka was as much a psychological warfare weapon as it was an actual weapon of war.
The plane’s most distinctive feature—and the one that would give it its infamy among the Allies—was its Jericho-Trompete (“Jericho Trumpet”). This was a wind-driven siren mounted on its landing gear. During a dive, these sirens produced a blood-curdling wail, amplifying the psychological impact of a Luftwaffe attack. While later removed due to drag and vulnerability, the sound became a hallmark of the Stuka’s early campaigns, solidifying its reputation as a fearsome killer and harbinger of doom to those below.
Germany first deployed the Ju 87 to the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), the proving ground for the armies that eventually waged war in WWII. During the Spanish Civil War, many of the combatants of the later war tested some of their most advanced weapons and tactics—including the Stuka. The Condor Legion, a German volunteer unit supporting Spanish General Franco’s Nationalists, utilized the Ju 87s to great effect in Spain.
And when World War II erupted in earnest in September 1939, the Stuka spearheaded Germany’s Blitzkrieg into Poland, France, and the Low Countries. Operating in close coordination with Panzer divisions, it acted as “flying artillery,” destroying bridges, fortifications, and troop concentrations with devastating accuracy.
In Poland, the Stuka shattered defensive lines, paving the way for rapid German advances. During the 1940 Battle of France, Stukas infamously demolished key targets like the fortress at Eben-Emael, enabling the Wehrmacht to bypass the Maginot Line. The aircraft’s dive-bombing technique—descending at a steep angle to release its payload with precision—proved ideal for supporting the fast-moving Wehrmacht below. Coupled with its wailing sirens, the Stuka not only inflicted physical damage but also sowed panic, breaking the morale of the defenders.
How the Stuka Failed to Adapt
Wars, especially great power wars, are a battle of adaptations as well as wills. The Ju 87’s vulnerabilities became more apparent as the war progressed. The Battle of Britain in 1940 marked a decisive turning point for the Stukas. Facing the Royal Air Force’s Hurricanes and Spitfires, the Stuka suffered catastrophic losses. Its slow speed, poor maneuverability, and lack of defensive armament made it an easy target for modern fighters. The fixed undercarriage and single-engine design, optimized for diving, left it ill-suited for contested airspace where air superiority was not guaranteed.
Indeed, after heavy casualties, the Luftwaffe withdrew the Stuka from the Western Front, relegating it to less contested theaters.
One year later, the Ju 87 got a second wind on the Eastern Front. Equipped with 37mm anti-tank cannons, the Ju87G variant became a venerable tank-buster—notably under the command of aces like Hans-Ulrich Rudel, who claimed over 500 tank kills. However, just as with the Western Front, the Germans failed to adapt the Stuka to the advancing developments of Soviet air defenses and improved fighter defenses. As Soviet warplanes became more numerous in the contested skies over the USSR, Stuka losses mounted.
By 1943, the Ju 87 was obsolete. The plane that had been the cutting-edge of the war just four years prior had been overshadowed by faster, more versatile warplanes, like the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and the advent of Allied air dominance in the European Theater.
Still, as a symbol of terror and a successful early endeavor in what we today would refer to as “Joint Maneuver Warfare,” the Ju 87 is in a league of its own. It is a hallmark of the Nazi dream (or, rather, nightmare) of military expansion, supplemented by frightening technological marvels and staggering innovation.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Graham Ashby.
