the embryonic Luftwaffe. This apparent regression from the practices and experiences of World War I stemmed from the belief among the General Staff (Oberkommando der Luftwaffe) that army support aviation in 1917–1918 was purely a reaction to trench warfare. German air doctrine remained rooted in the fundamentals of Operativer Luftkrieg (Operational Air War) which stressed interdiction, strategic bombing (when and if possible) but primarily the air supremacy mission. The Spanish Civil War experience encouraged the General Staff to embrace the dive-bomber concept later in the 1930s, though the war's influence on German operational preferences remain ambiguous. On the eve of World War II, some German air planners regarded the dive-bomber as a strategic weapon to strike with precision at enemy industry. Even factored into the army support groups, only fifteen percent of Luftwaffe front-line strength contained specialist ground-attack aircraft in September 1939. The lack of specialist close support aircraft left the general-purpose dive-bomber, the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka, most suited to the close support role. Formation Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 was formed on 1 May 1939 upon the establishment of all three Gruppen. The Stabsstaffel (command unit) was formed at Köln–Ostheim on 15 October 1939. The Stab unit was predominantly equipped with Dornier Do 17 aircraft and a handful of Ju 87s for reconnaissance and personnel transport purposes. The Gruppen were equipped with the Ju 87 dive bomber. The wing's first commanding officer was Oskar Dinort. I./StG 2 was established in Breslau from I./StG 163. II./StG 2 in Stolp-Reitz, present day Słupsk-Redzikowo Airport in Poland, from I./StG 162, and III./StG 2 from III./StG 163 in Langensalza. Dinort led the wing and first Gruppe upon StG 2's creation. Dinort then relinquished command of I./StG 2 for control of Stab./StG 2. Hauptmann Ulrich Schmidt and Ernst Ott commanded the first and second Gruppen. Hauptmann Hubertus Hitschhold succeeded Dinort mid-way through StG's first major campaign. In August 1939 Dinort moved I./StG 2 to Nieder-Ellguth under the Fliegerdivision 2 (Flying Division 2) subordinated to Luftflotte 4 (Air Fleet 4). 38 Ju 87s were available to Dinort, only one was non-operational. An additional three Dornier Do 17P reconnaissance aircraft were operational. Ulrich Schmidt commanded 38 Ju 87s, all but two operational with three Do 17P aircraft. Based at Stolp-Reitz, Schmidt was subordinated to Fliegerdivision 1 (Flying Division) and Luftflotte 1 (Air Fleet 1). III./StG 2 was assigned the same division and air fleet with second Gruppe. 34