German Army (Wehrmacht)

German Army (Wehrmacht)
F l a n k e r · Public domain · source
Name	Heer (Wehrmacht)
Dates	1935–1945
Country	Germany
Branch	Wehrmacht
Type	Army
Garrison	Berlin
Notable commanders	Wilhelm Keitel, Walther von Brauchitsch, Fedor von Bock, Gerd von Rundstedt

German Army (Wehrmacht) was the land force component of the Wehrmacht from 1935 to 1945. It evolved from the Reichswehr under the Nazi rearmament program and fought in major European, African, and Eastern campaigns during World War II. The formation, strategy, conduct, and dissolution of the force intersect with personalities, institutions, and events across Weimar Republic, Hitler, OKW, OKH, and Allied responses at Yalta Conference and Potsdam Conference.

Origins and Formation (1935–1939)

The force was proclaimed as part of the Nazi Germany military buildup following the repudiation of the Treaty of Versailles and the passage of the conscription law in 1935, replacing the Reichswehr with expanded formations under directives by Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring, and the Reichswehrministerium. Early years saw organizational reform influenced by lessons from the Spanish Civil War, with materiel procurement involving firms such as Krupp, Daimler-Benz, Rheinmetall, and Siemens. The prewar mobilization and planning engaged the General Staff (German), OKH, and senior commanders including Werner von Fritsch, Walther von Brauchitsch, and Heinz Guderian.

Organization and Structure

At national level command involved the OKW and the OKH coordinating corps, armies, and army groups such as Heeresgruppe Nord, Heeresgruppe Mitte, and Heeresgruppe Süd. Units ranged from infantry divisions to Panzer divisions, Gebirgsjäger, Fallschirmjäger, and specialized elements like Waffen-SS liaison and Kraftfahrtruppen. Logistical and support branches included the Luftwaffe interface, Heereswaffenamt, Heereseinheiten, and military police such as the Feldgendarmerie. Reserve, replacement, and mobilization structures interfaced with Wehrmachtverwaltung and Reichsarbeitsdienst manpower pools.

Doctrine, Training, and Equipment

Doctrine emphasized Blitzkrieg tactics synthesized from Manstein and Guderian planning, combined arms coordination between Panzertruppen, Artillerie, and Heer infantry, and operational depth exemplified in campaigns like Fall Gelb and Operation Barbarossa. Training institutions such as the Kriegsschule, Truppenübungsplatz, and staff colleges shaped cadres including Erwin Rommel, Albert Kesselring, and Heinz Guderian. Equipment procurement featured weapon systems produced by Mauser, Messerschmitt collaboration for armor-air coordination, armored vehicles like the Panzer IV, Panther tank, Tiger I, artillery families including the 88 mm gun, and small arms like the Karabiner 98k and MP 40. Anti-tank and anti-aircraft doctrine evolved amid engagements with Red Army, British Expeditionary Force, and United States Army formations.

Campaigns and Operations (1939–1945)

Operations commenced with Poland in 1939, followed by Battle of France in 1940, operations in the Balkans Campaign, the Mediterranean theater including North African Campaign against Erwin Rommel’s opponents such as Bernard Montgomery, and the vast Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union. Subsequent major engagements included the Battle of Moscow, Siege of Leningrad, Battle of Stalingrad, Kursk, the Italian Campaign, and the Western Allied invasion of Germany culminating in operations around Berlin and the Battle of the Bulge. Support and coordination with Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe affected campaign outcomes and strategic logistics across fronts.

War Crimes, Conduct, and Occupation Policies

Occupation measures implemented by command elements and associated agencies led to policies against civilians, partisan warfare doctrines, and reprisals that implicated formations, staff, and units during campaigns such as Operation Barbarossa and occupations in Poland, France, Yugoslavia, and the Soviet Union. Notorious incidents and policies involved coordination or complicity with Einsatzgruppen, occupation administrations like the General Government (Polish) and actions against Jews and other targeted groups leading to mass violence associated with the Holocaust. Legal instruments such as the Commissar Order and directives for anti-partisan operations informed conduct later examined at the Nuremberg Trials.

Leadership, Personnel, and Mobilization

Senior leadership included figures at the nexus of politics and military such as Adolf Hitler, Wilhelm Keitel, Alfred Jodl, Gerd von Rundstedt, Fedor von Bock, and front commanders like Erwin Rommel and Heinz Guderian. Personnel systems integrated conscripts, professional cadres, and Heer volunteers alongside foreign units from occupied territories and formations recruited under Wehrmacht auspices. Mobilization waves reflected responses to defeats at Stalingrad and Normandy with emergency formations like Volkssturm influencing late-war composition and quality. Medical, logistical, and rear-area administration interfaced with organizations such as the German Red Cross and civil authorities.

Legacy, Postwar Trials, and Dissolution

The dissolution followed unconditional surrender in May 1945, the internment and trials of senior officers at Nuremberg Trials, and the subsequent reorganization of German military traditions into Bundeswehr in the Federal Republic of Germany and the military structures of the German Democratic Republic. Historical assessment engages scholars, veterans, and institutions including Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and archival bodies, while debates persist about continuity, accountability, and commemoration related to events like Denazification, Frankfurt Trials, and Cold War integration. The legacy remains central to studies of World War II, European security architecture, and transnational law.

Category:Wehrmacht