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The Wehrmacht (literally defence force or means/power of resistance) was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It replaced the old Reichswehr and was succeeded by the West German Bundeswehr, and the East German Nationale Volksarmee (NVA).
The term was not only used for the German military forces. The military forces of other nations were also addressed as Wehrmacht during the period when the name was used in Germany. For instance "Englische Wehrmacht" meant all English forces.
Creation
In 1935, with the re-institution of conscription in Germany by the national socialist government, the "Wehrmacht" became the official term for the German armed forces, previously known as the Reichswehr.
Branches and commands
- Oberbefehlshaber West (OB West) -- Commander of the German forces in the West
- Abwehr -- Military Intelligence
The different branches of the Wehrmacht had different command organisations:
Command
The Commander-in-Chief was the German Chancellor (a position Adolf Hitler had gained 1933). In 1938, after the Blomberg-Fritsch-Krise the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) under Wilhelm Keitel was formed, intended to serve as military staff for the Chancellor.
After 1937, all soldiers in the Wehrmacht had to swear "unconditional loyalty" to the "Führer und Reichskanzler" Adolf Hitler.
Rebellion
On July 20th 1944 Wehrmacht officers led by Claus von Stauffenberg tried to assassinate Hitler and overthrow his government. Following the attempt, Hitler distrusted the Wehrmacht and the conservative forces of Germany, and thousands of Wehrmacht officers were persecuted and killed. See List of members of the July 20 plot.
After WWII
Following the German surrender in May 1945, Germany was forbidden an independent modern army. It was over ten years before the tensions of the Cold War led to the creations of separate defence forces in East and West Germany. The West German defence force, created in 1955, took the name Bundeswehr meaning "Federal Defence Force", while the East German defence force, created in 1956, took the name National People's Army Nationale Volksarmee). Following German reunification, the East and West German armed forces were merged and are now known collectively as the Bundeswehr.
See also
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