Wehrmacht Heer

Wehrmacht Heer
F l a n k e r · Public domain · source
Name	Heer
Native name	Heer
Country	Germany
Branch	Heer
Type	Army
Garrison	Berlin
Battles	World War II

Wehrmacht Heer

The Heer was the land component of the German armed forces during the period surrounding World War II, serving as the principal field force in campaigns across Europe, North Africa, and the Eastern Front. It evolved from the Reichswehr under the influence of political leaders such as Adolf Hitler and military professionals like Werner von Blomberg, Wilhelm Keitel, and Walther von Brauchitsch. The Heer interacted with other institutions including the Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, OKW, and the Waffen-SS during major operations like Fall Gelb, Operation Barbarossa, and the Battle of Stalingrad.

History and Formation

The roots of the Heer trace to the aftermath of World War I and the constraints of the Treaty of Versailles, which limited the Reichswehr and influenced leaders such as Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff. Expansion accelerated following the rise of Nazi Germany and the consolidation of power by Adolf Hitler with ministers like Hermann Göring and chiefs including Werner von Blomberg. Reorganization efforts involved figures such as Franz Halder and institutions like the Oberkommando des Heeres while responding to events including the Remilitarization of the Rhineland and the annexations of Austria and the Sudetenland. Mobilization prior to Invasion of Poland reflected planning by the General Staff (Prussia) and mobilization laws enacted under the Nazi Party.

Organization and Command Structure

The Heer’s hierarchy included the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH), army groups, and field armies commanded by generals such as Gerd von Rundstedt, Fedor von Bock, Erwin von Witzleben, and Günther von Kluge. Corps and divisions featured commanders like Heinz Guderian and Erich von Manstein with specialist branches including the Heeresgruppe Nord, Heeresgruppe Mitte, and Heeresgruppe Süd. Staff structures borrowed from the prewar German General Staff tradition and coordinated with the OKW and political leadership including Joseph Goebbels and Hjalmar Schacht. Reserve and territorial administration involved units such as the Landwehr and institutions like the Wehrmachtbau, linking to logistics organizations such as the Heerestransportwesen.

Weaponry, Equipment, and Uniforms

The Heer employed small arms including the Karabiner 98k, MP 40, and MG 34 as well as crew-served weapons like the 88 mm FlaK gun used in anti-tank and anti-aircraft roles. Armored forces used tanks such as the Panzer III, Panzer IV, Panzer V Panther, and Tiger I along with armored cars like the Sdkfz 222. Artillery included the 10.5 cm leFH 18 and heavy pieces such as the 24 cm Kanone 3, while engineers used vehicles like the Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track. Uniforms and insignia evolved under designers influenced by institutions like the Heereswaffenamt and featured items such as the Field blouse (M36), insignia standards seen in publications like the Zentralblatt für Heer und Kriegsmarine. Logistics depended on manufacturers including Krupp, Mauser, Daimler-Benz, and Rheinmetall.

Doctrine and Tactics

Heer doctrine emphasized concepts developed by proponents like J.F.C. Fuller (influence), theorists in the German General Staff, and practitioners such as Heinz Guderian who advanced Blitzkrieg-style combined arms operations integrating Panzerkampfwagen formations, Luftwaffe close air support, and motorized infantry. Defensive doctrine adapted from lessons of World War I influenced positions such as the Hindenburg Line legacy and fortifications exemplified by the Atlantic Wall and defenses at Seelow Heights. Tactical evolution responded to operations like Case White and the Siege of Leningrad while counterinsurgency measures were applied in occupied territories, interacting with organizations such as the RSHA and policies of leaders like Heinrich Himmler.

Major Campaigns and Operations

The Heer led or participated in major operations including the Invasion of Poland, Battle of France (including Fall Gelb), Operation Barbarossa, the Siege of Leningrad, the Battle of Moscow, the Battle of Stalingrad, the North African Campaign under commanders like Erwin Rommel, and the Battle of Kursk. In Western Europe the Heer was engaged during Operation Market Garden, the Normandy landings, and the Battle of the Bulge. Coordination and conflicts with the Waffen-SS and Allied Expeditionary Force shaped outcomes in theaters stretching from Crete to Tunisia and the Balkans.

War Crimes and Occupation Policies

Elements of the Heer were implicated in war crimes and occupation policies alongside organizations such as the SS, Gestapo, Einsatzgruppen, and institutions operating under leaders like Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich. Wehrmacht units participated in reprisal actions, deportations, and anti-partisan operations in regions including Poland, the Soviet Union, the Baltic states, and the Yugoslav Partisans theater, often interacting with directives from the Commissar Order and the Hunger Plan. Trials such as the Nuremberg Trials and subsequent proceedings addressed command responsibility involving figures like Wilhelm Keitel and Alfred Jodl.

Legacy and Postwar Dissolution

Following Germany's defeat, the Heer was dissolved under occupation by the Allied occupation zones and replaced by new organizations in both the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, including the Bundeswehr and the Nationale Volksarmee. Postwar debates involved historians like Benoît Lemay (example scholars), institutions such as the International Military Tribunal, and the interpretation of documents from the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht. Memorialization and reassessment occurred through museums, archives including the Bundesarchiv, and scholarly works examining continuity and discontinuity from the Reichswehr through the Heer to postwar formations.

Category:German military units and formations