Why Other Countries Produced WW2 German Planes After The War

After Germany’s surrender in May 1945, the Luftwaffe was completely disbanded in 1946 and most of its planes were long scrapped. However, three nations would continue production and this WWII German plane would continue in service even up to the 1970s.

France

When the Germans retreated from France, firms shifted under French control and production of German planes continued.

One of the earliest French fighters was the SNCAC NC.900 which is actually the Luftwaffe Fw190 fighter. Around 65 to 70 planes were built and the last left French service in 1949.

At the Nord facility, the free French continued building Bf-108s using remaining German parts and engines which resulted in the French Air Force aircraft, the Nord Pingouin.

286 were built for the French Armed Forces with the same role as the Messerschmitt 108 and many are still flying up to this day, disguised as Luftwaffe Taifuns.

Spain

Spain built Junkers 52s after the war. A Spanish firm built 106 CASA 352s with 64 upgraded 352L versions, remaining in Spanish Air Force service well into the 1970s as parachute trainers. Today, 17 CASA 352 L versions survive with 2 of them airworthy and one being restored to flight.

Another plane that saw extensive post-war service was the Heinkel He 111 bomber. Spain got a batch of Heinkel He 111-H16s from Hitler back in 1943 and an agreement to license build the type in Spain. CASA built 236 “2.111”s between 1945 to 1956.

The main difference from the German type was the use of British Merlin engines which weren’t retired until 1973. 12 CASA 2.111s still exist to this day although none are considered airworthy.

Czech Republic

Czechoslovakia also manufactured post-war versions of these planes. Perhaps the most popular construction was the creation of the Avia S-92, which is basically the Messerschmitt Me 262 A1A jet fighter. 

Since some Me262s were produced in a German-controlled facility in the country, the Czechs simply went on with the production. Nine single-seat S-92s were built and three two-seater S-92 trainers. They served as frontline fighters until 1951. One example of each type is still preserved in the Czech Republic today.