Operation Oak: How Nazi paratroopers saved Mussolini's life

When news of Benito Mussolini's removal from the leadership of Italy reached Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Führer was furious. His Axis ally had apparently been betrayed by disloyal elements in Italy's government and armed forces. In retaliation, Hitler considered a direct invasion of Italy, the kidnapping of the Italian royal family, the arrest of the new Italian government, and even an attempt to imprison the Pope.

The power of the Luftwaffe or Hitler's wings

At the beginning of 1934, the Technical Directorate (T-Amt) of the Reich Air Ministry developed technical specifications for a modern single-seat monoplane fighter to replace the Henkel He-51 and Arado Ar 68 biplanes. These specifications, together with an order for prototype machines, were sent to the leading aircraft design firms - Heinkel, Focke-Wulf and Arado Flugzeugwerke.