German Army (1935–1945)
Adolf Hitler announced the German rearmament programme in 1935. Only 17 months later, the army reached its projected goal of 36 divisions. During the autumn of 1937, two more corps were formed. In 1938 four additional corps were created with the inclusion of five divisions from the Austrian Army after the annexation of Austria in March. The expansion continued rapidly under Hitler's leadership. The German Army developed concepts pioneered during World War I. These concepts combined ground and air units into combined arms forces. Operational methods included encirclements and a battle of annihilation strategy. This approach allowed quick victories in the first two years of World War II. A new style of warfare emerged known as Blitzkrieg for its speed and destructive power.
The Oberkommando des Heeres served as Nazi Germany's Army High Command from 1936 to 1945. Its headquarters in the field always remained near the Führerhauptquartier. Following the failure of the Moscow offensive in December 1941, Hitler removed Brauchitsch as Commander-in-Chief of the Army. He took personal command ever since that date. This resulted in a partial merging or overlapping of functions between the OKW and the OKH. Walther von Brauchitsch had been the previous commander before his removal. Wilhelm Keitel acted as Hitler’s executive officer in matters pertaining to the Army alone while serving as Chief of the OKW. It was often difficult to distinguish between the de facto authority of the Army General Staff and those of the Armed Forces Operations Staff. Their notional organisation remained unchanged despite these shifts in leadership.
A Field Army comprised 200,000 strong forces divided into two or three Corps. Each corps consisted of three divisions with staff personnel ranging from 728 to 1004 individuals. The infantry division numbered between 16,860 and 17,895 men under a Major-general. An infantry battalion contained 860 officers and men plus 131 horses at its peak strength. By 1944 the battalion size decreased to 708 officers and men. A Schützenkompanie rifle company initially held 201 soldiers but reduced to 142 by 1944. The rifle squad consisted of one officer and nine riflemen giving it a total strength of ten men. This number naturally dropped during the war often to six or five men. Gebirgs mountain divisions had a nominal strength of 13,056 officers and men. These units relied on mule trains for transport which made them slow-moving in open country. There were 3,056 beasts of burden distributed down to battalion level. Four high alpine battalions formed between July 1942 and November 1943 before being disbanded.
At the outbreak of the war there were only five Panzerdivisionen. Their number expanded to ten by 1940 and reached 27 by the war’s conclusion. Initially these divisions featured two full tank regiments comprising approximately 400 tanks alongside smaller infantry contingents. Most early tanks were light models primarily the Pzkw I and II equipped with machine guns or small-caliber cannons. Some divisions included captured Czech tanks and limited heavier vehicles. The 1940 French campaign exposed weaknesses leading to reorganization in 1940. A new structure consisted of a single tank regiment motorized infantry and reinforced support units. A tank regiment numbered 1,661 strong divided into three battalions each containing two companies of Type III battle tanks. Later allocations changed to two battalions of four companies one holding 96 Type IV Panthers often with a ninth company of Tiger tanks. Various self-propelled anti-tank and AA guns were also included together with maintenance and repair units. The division’s engineers and signals units remained integral components throughout the conflict.
Germany and annexed Austria divided into 18 military districts from which all men were recruited. Men reaching age 20 appeared on registration lists held by police for calling up. An examining board classified registrants according to physical fitness categories including fit for regular service or totally unfit. At the beginning of war 1939 minimum body height ranged around 1.55 to 1.60 meters depending on branch. For infantrymen average height aimed at 1.65 to 1.70 meters. As manpower shortages increased minimum height lowered to around 1.50 meters. Recruits spent 16 weeks in initial training where friendships limited to immediate comrades. They received lectures on role within German society and Nazi hierarchy. A typical day began at 5:00 AM when corporals roused men from beds. Breakfast scheduled for 6:45 AM provided about 15 minutes to eat but frequently unavailable during exercises. Evening dedicated to cleaning duties including uniforms equipment rifles machine guns and barracks rooms. Standard uniform color white quickly faded yellow or grey through repeated washing. Punishments included long runs full field gear crawling muddy terrain wading streams. Obedience instilled through rigorous foot rifle drills averaging 30 sessions per week.
The Army High Command Administration Office planned rations laying down policies for procurement organization supplies. Daily ration comprised three meals breakfast one-sixth lunch one-half evening meal one-third total daily amount. Seven types rations existed comprising four normal rations two special rations. Type I Normal rations for combat troops weighed 1.698 kilograms plus seven cigarettes. Iron rations comprised biscuits 250 grams preserved cold meat 200 grams vegetables 150 grams coffee 25 grams salt 25 grams totaling 650 grams. Field bakery companies produced between 15,000 and 19,200 bread rations per day. A total of 341,760 men women employed in German medical service at peak. From 1939 to 1943 proportion medical officers serving with troops increased from 48.4% to 54.5%. Initial treatment administered in a Verwundetennest forward position typically by medical non-commissioned officer. Wounded transported to Truppenverbandplatz analogous American battalion aid station. Patients evacuated to Hauptverbandplatz situated approximately four miles behind combat line operated by Sanitätskompanie division. Feldlazarett Army unit designed care up to 200 patients handled primary surgeries head wounds transportable chest injuries severe muscle wounds buttock wounds major compound fractures. Kriegslazarett General Hospital assigned Army Group level provided care patients unable return duty from forward units.
German operational doctrine emphasized sweeping pincer lateral movements meant destroy enemy forces quickly possible. This approach referred Blitzkrieg instrumental success offensives Poland France. Recent studies Battle France suggest actions Erwin Rommel Heinz Guderian contributed theoretical development early practices later became Blitzkrieg prior World War II. Blitzkrieg recognized after fact never official doctrine nor used full potential because small part Wehrmacht trained key leaders highest levels focused certain aspects even did not understand it. German General Staff policy during World War 2 focused offensive defensive used holding operations secure base future offensives. After Russians Allies stopped German rush reduced air superiority doctrine superseded. Basic field tactics divided three main parts Operational Reconnaissance tactical reconnaissance Battle Reconnaissance close-range reconnaissance division moves engage enemy. Armoured reconnaissance Abteilungen armoured Divisions entrusted most important pattern standard patrol consisting three armoured cars providing mutual observation covering fire. Once contact established standard procedure attempt gain local numerical superiority calling battalion reserve armored infantry advance scouting operations drive enemy outposts. Schwerpunkt concept required surprise postulated narrow front penetration fast-moving forces diversionary attacks prevented reinforcements moving up. Penetration extended breakthrough threatening enemy communications forcing retire entire front form known Keil und Kessel Wedge Cauldron opposing forces trapped cauldron.
Nazi propaganda told German soldiers wipe out Jewish Bolshevik subhumans Mongol hordes Asiatic flood red beast. The atrocities and war crimes committed by the Wehrmacht specifically German Army Heer during World War II subject historical scrutiny undermining myth clean Wehrmacht often perpetuated after war. While Waffen-SS frequently associated some heinous crimes Nazi regime widely recognized Wehrmacht played integral role systemic violence atrocities carried war particularly occupied territories. German Army actively participated implementation Nazi regime policies conquest extermination racial domination particularly Eastern Front Operation Barbarossa invasion Soviet Union 1941. Here Wehrmacht complicit mass murder civilians including Jews political prisoners other perceived undesirables. Infamous Commissar Order issued German High Command before invasion instructed soldiers execute Soviet political commissars sight direct violation laws war policy led summary execution tens thousands individuals. Treatment Soviet prisoners war POWs Wehrmacht stands stark example systematic atrocities. Out approximately 5.7 million Soviet POWs captured war estimated 3.3 million perished deliberate neglect starvation forced marches outright executions. Many POWs either shot spot sent camps subjected inhumane conditions deprived basic sustenance left die disease exposure actions part broader Nazi policy dehumanizing Slavs treating expendable. In occupied territories particularly Eastern Europe Balkans Wehrmacht engaged widespread reprisals civilians response partisan activity. Entire villages razed ground inhabitants executed en masse part brutal counterinsurgency strategy. Example Greek village Kalavryta December 1943 Wehrmacht troops massacred nearly all male inhabitants burned village retaliation resistance attacks.
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Common questions
When did Adolf Hitler announce the German rearmament programme?
Adolf Hitler announced the German rearmament programme in 1935. The army reached its projected goal of 36 divisions only 17 months later.
Who commanded the Oberkommando des Heeres from 1936 to 1945 and when did Hitler take personal command?
The Oberkommando des Heeres served as Nazi Germany's Army High Command from 1936 to 1945. Hitler removed Brauchitsch as Commander-in-Chief following the failure of the Moscow offensive in December 1941 and took personal command ever since that date.
How many soldiers were in a typical infantry division of the German Army during World War II?
An infantry division numbered between 16,860 and 17,895 men under a Major-general. A Schützenkompanie rifle company initially held 201 soldiers but reduced to 142 by 1944.
What was the minimum body height requirement for German infantrymen at the beginning of war 1939?
At the beginning of war 1939 minimum body height ranged around 1.55 to 1.60 meters depending on branch. For infantrymen average height aimed at 1.65 to 1.70 meters before lowering to around 1.50 meters due to manpower shortages.
When did the Wehrmacht massacre nearly all male inhabitants of the Greek village Kalavryta?
Wehrmacht troops massacred nearly all male inhabitants of the Greek village Kalavryta in December 1943 as retaliation for resistance attacks. This event exemplifies widespread reprisals against civilians in occupied territories particularly Eastern Europe and Balkans.