Definition
The Wehrmacht (German: die Wehrmacht, literally “the defence force”) was the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945, encompassing the Heer (army), Kriegsmarine (navy), and Luftwaffe (air force).
Overview
Established under the regime of Adolf Hitler, the Wehrmacht succeeded the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic and was formally created by the 1935 Reichswehr Law, which expanded Germany’s military capacity in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. During World War II the Wehrmacht fought on multiple fronts across Europe, North Africa, and the Eastern Front, ultimately surrendering in May 1945. After the war, the organization was dissolved, and its legacy remains the subject of extensive historical research, particularly regarding its involvement in war crimes and its relationship with the Nazi Party and the SS.
Etymology / Origin
The word Wehrmacht combines the German nouns Wehr (“defence”) and Macht (“force” or “power”). The definite article die is the feminine singular form used because Wehrmacht is a feminine noun in German grammar. The term was introduced by the Nazi government to convey a modern, unified military identity distinct from the post‑World‑War‑I Reichswehr.
Characteristics
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Structure | Three main service branches: Heer (land forces), Kriegsmarine (naval forces), Luftwaffe (air forces). Each maintained its own command hierarchy but was coordinated by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW). |
| Leadership | The Wehrmacht was nominally under the command of the Reich President (the Reichspräsident) and later the Führer. Operational control was exercised by senior generals such as Wilhelm Keitel (OKW Chief) and Alfred Jodl (Chief of the Operations Staff). |
| Personnel | At its peak in 1943, the Wehrmacht numbered roughly 9 million men, including conscripts, volunteers, and foreign auxiliary units (e.g., Ostlegionen). |
| Equipment | Utilized a wide range of weapons, from the Panzerkampfwagen III/IV tanks and Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft to the Type 1936 destroyers and the 7.5 cm KwK 42 tank gun. |
| Doctrine | Early war strategy emphasized blitzkrieg (lightning war) tactics, integrating fast‑moving armored units with close air support. Later stages saw a shift to defensive operations, especially on the Eastern Front. |
| War Crimes | While the SS and Gestapo were primarily responsible for the Holocaust, the Wehrmacht was implicated in numerous war crimes, including the Commissar Order, the severity of the Eastern Front campaign, and participation in anti‑partisan reprisals. |
| Post‑war Assessment | The Nuremberg Trials declared the Wehrmacht a criminal organization only in the context of its participation in war crimes, but it was not dissolved as a legal entity; the Bundeswehr (West German armed forces) was later established in 1955. |
Related Topics
- Reichswehr – Germany’s interwar military (1919‑1935).
- Nazi Germany – The political regime that directed the Wehrmacht.
- World War II – The global conflict in which the Wehrmacht was the primary German combat force.
- Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) – High command of the Wehrmacht.
- Kriegsmarine, Heer, Luftwaffe – The three service branches of the Wehrmacht.
- Wehrmacht Propaganda – The use of media and cultural outlets to portray the military favorably.
- War crimes of the Wehrmacht – Historical investigations into the involvement of regular army units in atrocities.
Note: This entry reflects the consensus of established historical scholarship as of the latest available sources.