The
Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte (,
German Air Force)—known before October 1916 as the
Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (
Imperial German Flying Corps) or simply
Die Fliegertruppe—was the
World War I (1914–18) air arm of the
German Army, of which it remained an integral part. In English-language sources it is usually referred to as the
Imperial German Air Service, although that is not a literal translation of either name. German
naval aviators serving with the
Marine-Fliegerabteilung remained an integral part of the
Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine). Both
military branches, the
army and
navy, operated conventional aircraft,
balloons and
Zeppelins.