Home > Wehrmacht

The term was not only used for the German military forces. The military forces of other nations were also addressed as Wehrmacht during the period when the name was used in Germany. For instance "Englische Wehrmacht" meant all English forces.

1 Creation

In 1935, with the re-institution of conscription in Germany by the national socialist government, the "Wehrmacht" became the official term for the German armed forces, previously known as the Reichswehr.

2 Branches and commands

• Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) -- Armed Forces High Command

• Oberbefehlshaber West (OB West) -- Commander of the German forces in the West
• Abwehr -- Military Intelligence

• Heer -- Army
• Luftwaffe -- Airforce
• KriegsmarineThe Kriegsmarine or "War Navy" was the name of the German Navy between 1935 and 1945, during the Nazi reign. The war vessels available to the Kriegsmarine were U-boats, pocket battleships and limited smaller ships such as cruisers, destroyers and E-boats. -- Navy

The different branches of the Wehrmacht had different command organisations:

• Oberkommando des HeeresThe Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH) was Germany's Army High Command from 1936 to 1945. In theory the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) commanded the OKH. However, the de facto situation after 1941 was that the OKW directly commanded operations on the Western (OKH) -- Army High Command
• Oberkommando der MarineThe Oberkommando der Marine (or OKM for short) was Germany's Naval High Command until 1945. The commanders (Oberbefehlshaber des Marine, or OBdM for short) of the Kriegsmarine were: September 24 1928- January 30 1943 Grossadmiral Erich Raeder January 30 1 (OKM) -- Navy High Command
• Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL) -- Airforce High Command

3 Command

The Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced "sink") is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces in a state. Political title While well-known Commanders-in-Chief often have been was the German Chancellor (a position Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler ( April 20, 1889 April 30, 1945) was the Fuhrer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers' Party and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. In that capacity he was Chancellor of Germany, head of government, and head of state, ruling as a had gained 1933). In 1938Events January -June January 3 The March of Dimes is established by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. January 11 Frances Moulton is the first woman to become president of a US national bank. January 20 Wedding of king Farouk I of Egypt and Farida Zulficar in Cai, after the Blomberg-Fritsch-Krise the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht ( OKW) under Wilhelm Keitel was formed, intended to serve as military staff for the Chancellor.

After 1937, all soldiers in the Wehrmacht had to swear "unconditional loyalty" to the "Führer und Reichskanzler" Adolf Hitler.