Wehrmacht

The Wehrmacht (literally defence force) was the name of the German armed forces from 1935 to 1945.

In 1935, with the re-institution of conscription in Germany under Nazi government, the "Wehrmacht" became the official term for the German armed forces, previously known as the Reichswehr.

The Wehrmacht was organised into:

• Heer (army);
• Kriegsmarine (navy);
• Luftwaffe (air force).

The Commander-in-Chief was Adolf Hitler. In 1938, after the Blomberg-Fritsch-Krise the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) under Wilhelm Keitel was formed, intended to serve as military staff for Hitler.

The different branches of the Wehrmacht had different command organisations: OKH for the army, OKM for the Navy and OKL for the Air Force.

See also Nazi Germany, History of Germany

External Links: Exhibition "Verbrechen der Wehrmacht" about war crimes committed by the Wehrmacht