German Army High Command

German Army High Command
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Unit name	German Army High Command
Native name	Oberkommando des Heeres
Abbreviation	OKH
Founded	1935
Disbanded	1945
Country	Nazi Germany
Type	High command
Role	Command of the German Army
Garrison	Zossen
Notable commanders	Walther von Brauchitsch, Adolf Hitler

German Army High Command. The Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH) was the supreme command authority for the German Army within the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany from 1935 until the end of the Second World War. It was responsible for strategic planning, operational direction, and the organization of all army forces, functioning under the overarching authority of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW). The OKH's influence and autonomy fluctuated significantly throughout the war, particularly after Adolf Hitler assumed direct command in 1941, centralizing military decision-making in his person.

History

The OKH was formally established in 1935 during the rearmament of Germany under the Nazi Party, evolving from the older Truppenamt of the Reichswehr. Its creation was part of a broader reorganization that also saw the formation of the Oberkommando der Marine for the Kriegsmarine and the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe for the Luftwaffe. Initially, the OKH operated with considerable professional independence under leaders like Werner von Fritsch and later Walther von Brauchitsch. However, following early successes in campaigns such as the Invasion of Poland and the Battle of France, Hitler increasingly intervened in its operations, a trend that culminated in his dismissal of Brauchitsch and assumption of the title of Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres in December 1941 after the failure before Moscow.

Organization

The organizational structure of the OKH was complex and centered on the Army General Staff, its brain trust for planning and operations. Key departments included the Operationsabteilung for directing frontline commands, the Fremde Heere Ost intelligence branch analyzing the Soviet Union, and the Organisationsabteilung for manpower and equipment. The OKH directly controlled the various Army Group commands, such as Army Group Centre and Army Group South, which oversaw the individual field armies. Its main headquarters, known as the Führer Headquarters when Hitler was present, was located at the Wolf's Lair in East Prussia and later at the Zeppelin bunker in Zossen.

Role and responsibilities

The primary role of the OKH was the strategic and operational conduct of the land war, excluding areas later deemed theaters under OKW jurisdiction like Scandinavia and North Africa. It was responsible for developing campaign plans, issuing operational orders to army groups, managing officer appointments, and overseeing training and doctrine. The OKH also handled logistics, intelligence evaluation, and communications for the army. Its responsibilities were sharply curtailed after 1941, as Hitler used the OKW to bypass the OKH and issue direct orders to field commanders, particularly on the critical Eastern Front.

Key personnel

Throughout its existence, the OKH was led by several prominent military figures. Its commanders-in-chief included Werner von Fritsch until the Blomberg–Fritsch affair, Walther von Brauchitsch during the early victories and the invasion of the Soviet Union, and finally Adolf Hitler himself. The Chief of the General Staff was the pivotal operational chief, with incumbents such as Franz Halder, who helped plan the Battle of Kursk, and later Kurt Zeitzler and Heinz Guderian. Other crucial officers included the chief of operations Adolf Heusinger and intelligence chiefs like Reinhard Gehlen of Fremde Heere Ost.

Operational history

The OKH planned and executed some of the most significant military campaigns of the early war. Its strategies led to the rapid success of the Battle of Poland, the innovative Manstein Plan for the Battle of France, and the initial phases of Operation Barbarossa. However, it also bore responsibility for major strategic failures, including the flawed planning for the Battle of Stalingrad and the over-extension during Operation Blue. The OKH was increasingly sidelined during the defensive battles following the Battle of Kursk, with Hitler and the OKW taking a more dominant role in daily tactical decisions, often against the advice of OKH staff like Erich von Manstein or Günther von Kluge.

Dissolution and legacy

The OKH was effectively dissolved with the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany in May 1945. Its headquarters in Zossen was captured by the Red Army, and many of its senior officers, such as Alfred Jodl and Wilhelm Keitel of the OKW, were tried for war crimes at the Nuremberg trials. The legacy of the OKH is one of professional military expertise subordinated to a criminal regime, participating in the planning of aggressive wars and being implicated in atrocities, including the Commissar Order. Its extensive archives provided crucial material for postwar historical analysis of the Wehrmacht's operations and its role within the Third Reich.

Category:Military of Nazi Germany Category:German Army (Wehrmacht) Category:Military headquarters of World War II