Oberkommando des Heeres

Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH) was the High Command of the German Army within the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany. Established in 1935 following the repudiation of the Treaty of Versailles, it served as the central administrative and operational authority for the Heer throughout the Second World War. The OKH was subordinated to the overarching Oberkommando der Wehrmacht but maintained primary responsibility for the Eastern Front, while its influence was increasingly curtailed by Adolf Hitler's direct intervention in military affairs.

History

The formation of the OKH was a direct consequence of Adolf Hitler's military expansion policies, which openly defied the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. It evolved from the older Truppenamt, the clandestine general staff of the Reichswehr. Following the Blomberg–Fritsch Affair in 1938, Hitler consolidated his control over the military, a process that intensified after the initial successes of the Invasion of Poland and the Battle of France. The operational purview of the OKH was formally narrowed in 1941 with Hitler's decree that the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht would manage all other theaters, leaving the OKH solely responsible for the colossal struggle against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front.

Organization

The OKH was structured around a traditional German General Staff system, with its central component being the Generalstab des Heeres. Key departments included the Operationsabteilung, responsible for planning and directing field operations, and the Organisationsabteilung, which handled organization, training, and equipment. Other critical branches were the Fremde Heere Ost intelligence department, which analyzed the Red Army, and the various inspectorates for infantry, artillery, and panzer troops. Its main headquarters was located at Mauerwald in East Prussia and later at Zossen, near Berlin.

Commanders

The first commander-in-chief was Colonel-General Werner von Fritsch, a key figure in the early modernization of the army, who was dismissed during the Blomberg–Fritsch Affair. He was succeeded by Field Marshal Walther von Brauchitsch, who led the army during the victories of the early war, including the Battle of France and the initial phases of Operation Barbarossa. Following the setbacks before Moscow, Hitler personally assumed the role of commander-in-chief in December 1941, with the Chief of the General Staff, such as Franz Halder and later Kurt Zeitzler, acting as his principal operational advisors. The final chief was General Hans Krebs, who served in the Battle of Berlin.

Role in World War II

The OKH meticulously planned and executed the major early campaigns of the war, including the Invasion of Poland, the Norwegian Campaign, and the decisive Battle of France. Its greatest and most fateful undertaking was the planning for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. Following the failure to capture Moscow and the disastrous defeat at Stalingrad, Hitler's mistrust of the traditional officer corps grew, leading to his increased micromanagement. While the OKH remained responsible for the Eastern Front, critical decisions were often made at the Führer Headquarters, such as those during the Battle of Kursk and the defense of Germany itself, marginalizing the OKH's strategic authority.

Dissolution

The dissolution of the OKH was an inevitable consequence of the total defeat of Nazi Germany. As the Red Army launched its final offensive in the Battle of Berlin, the OKH staff under General Hans Krebs attempted to direct the last, futile defenses from the Führerbunker. Following Hitler's suicide and the unconditional surrender signed at Karlshorst, all structures of the Wehrmacht, including the OKH, were formally abolished by the victorious Allies. The Allied Control Council issued specific directives to disband the German General Staff permanently, ensuring it could not be revived in the postwar era.

Category:Military of Nazi Germany Category:Commands of the German Army (Wehrmacht) Category:1935 establishments in Germany Category:1945 disestablishments in Germany