bitchgirl
University Life
Describe the successes and failures of the Wehrmacht
(German fighting forces) 1935-1945
the Wehrmacht or as known as the German fighting forces was an army made up of Germans that fight battles during world war 2, The success of the Wehrmacht is that it was a powerful German force during WW2. The Reichswehr had many successes but ultimately failures at crucial battles led to their capitulation in WWII. The new, post-war military was established under these terms on 23 March 1921 under the name Reichswehr. General conscription was abolished, as mandated by the Versailles treaty will suffice.
During a war between the Allies (Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands) World War II a great number of foreign volunteers served in the ranks of the Wehrmacht. Among them were ethnic Germans, Dutch, Scandinavians, people from the Baltic states, and from the Balkans. Russians fought in the Russian Liberation Army, and non-Russians from the Soviet Union formed the Ostlegionen. All of these units were managed by a specially appointed general within the high command, Ernst August Kostring. Altogether they made up about 5 percent of the Wehrmacht men. Wehrmacht was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It replaced the old Reichswehr and was succeeded by the current Bundeswehr.
The German word Wehrmacht literally defence force predates the 1930s and originally meant the entirety of the armed forces of a given country or another entity, e.g. Christianity. Since World War II, the term is almost as closely associated with the so-called Third Reich in German as it is in English. After World War I had ended with the capitulation of the German empire, the treaty of Versailles imposed severe restrictions on the future military strength of Germany. The size of the army was limited to 100,000 men, with an additional 15,000 men in the navy. The air force was dissolved. The fleet was to consist of at most six battleships, six cruisers, and twelve destroyers; tanks and heavy artillery were forbidden. The new, post-war military was established under these terms on 23 March 1921 under the name Reichswehr. General conscription was abolished, as mandated by the Versailles treaty.
After World War I ended with a capitulation of the German empire the treaty of Versailles imposed severe restrictions on Germany's military strength. The army was limited to 100 000 men with an additional 15 000 in the navy. The fleet was to consist of at most six battleships, six cruisers, and twelve destroyers. Tanks and heavy artillery were forbidden and the air force was dissolved. A new post war military the Reichswehr was established on 23 March 1921. General conscription was abolished under another mandate of the Versailles treaty. Germany immediately began circumventing these conditions. A secret collaboration with the Soviet Union began after the treaty of Rapallo. Major General Otto Hasse travelled to Moscow in 1923 to further negotiate the terms. Germany helped Soviet Russia with industrialisation and Russian officers were to be trained in Germany. German tank and air force specialists would be trained in Russia and German chemical weapons research and manufacture would be carried out there along with other projects. Around 300 German pilots received training at Lipetsk, some tank training took place near Kazan and toxic gas was developed at Saratov. The number of soldiers who served in the Wehrmacht during its existence from 1934 until 1945 is believed to approach 18.2 million, but these were not simultaneous enlistments. About 5.3 million died on battlefields and approximately 11 million were captured by enemy forces it is not known how many died in captivity.
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major turning point in World War II, and is considered the bloodiest and largest battle in human history and arguably one of the greatest comebacks in military history. The battle was marked by the brutality and disregard for civilian casualties on both sides. It is taken to include the German bombing campaign of the southern Russian city of Stalingrad, the German march towards the city, the battle inside the city itself, and the Soviet counter-offensive which eventually trapped and destroyed the German and other Axis forces in and around the city. Total casualties are estimated at anywhere between 1.5 to 3 million. The lack of exact data is the result of the Russian government's refusal at the time to calculate the losses for fear the sacrifice might have proven too high. The Axis powers lost about a quarter of their total manpower on the Eastern Front, and never recovered from the defeat. For the Soviets, who lost well over one million soldiers and civilians during the battle, the victory at Stalingrad marked the start of the liberation of the Soviet Union, leading to eventual victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. After the narrow failure of Hitler's invasion of Russia in 1941 the German Army no longer had the strength and resources for a renewed offensive of that year's scale, but Hitler was unwilling to stay on the defensive and consolidate his gains. So he searched for an offensive solution that with limited means might promise more than a limited result. No longer having the strength to attack along the whole front, he concentrated on. the southern part, with the aim of capturing the Caucasus oil which each side needed if it was to maintain its full mobility. If he could gain that oil, he might subsequently turn north onto the rear of the thus immobilized Russian armies covering Moscow, or even strike at Russia's new war-industries that had been established in the Urals. The 1942 offensive was, however, a greater gamble than that of the previous year because, if it were to be checked, the long flank of this southerly drive would be exposed to a counterstroke anywhere along its thousand-mile stretch.
The military strength of the Wehrmacht rested on assignment-based tactics as opposed to order-based tactics and the almost proverbial discipline. Today, the Wehrmacht is often seen as a high-tech army, due to many new technologies that were introduced during World War II, like the so-called reprisal weapons, the 262 jet fighter, or the submarine force, but this is a somewhat misleading impression. Overall, the level of armament was low. For instance, only 40 percent of all units were motorised. The baggage train often had to rely on horses as a means of transportation, and many soldiers went by foot or, in some instances, used bicycles.
A powerful tank force and a powerful air force made possible the quick successes in the early stages of war, when nation after nation was overrun and occupied within mere weeks. This quelled critical voices and convinced military leaders that the new concept of broad armament rather than deep armament did indeed make sense; however in the later stages of war, when the powerful adversaries An island comprising England and Scotland and Wales Great Britain, the A former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia, established in 1922, included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics Ukraine and Byelorussia an others officially dissolved 31 December 1991 Soviet Union, and the North American republic containing 50 states 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776 United States offered tenacious resistance, the Blitzkrieg tactics could not be applied, and the relatively low state of armament turned out detrimental for the Wehrmacht.
The military was one of the few organisations that could evade political meddling to a significant extent during the Third Reich. As most of the leadership was politically conservative, and Hitler promised to rebuild Germany's military strength, it was mostly sympathetic towards the National Socialist revolution. However, when, in the later stages of war, political influence in the military command began to increase, and under Hitler's flawed strategic decisions the good fortune of the German armies waned, tensions mounted between the military and the government. These culminated in the so-called July 20 plot in 1944, when a group of 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 were persecuted and killed, including many Wehrmacht officers. Germany immediately began to pursue plans to circumvent the conditions of the treaty. Key to the quest for the rebuilding of a strong military was the secret collaboration with the Soviet Union that began after the treaty of Rapallo. In 1923, Major General Otto Hasse travelled to Moscow to negotiate the terms of collaboration. Germany helped Soviet Russia with the industrialisation of the country, and Russian officers would be trained in Germany; in return, German tank and air force specialists would be trained in Russia, German chemical weapons research and manufacture would be carried out there, among others. 300 German pilots received training at Lipetsk, tank training took place near Kazan although only to a small extent, and toxic gas was developed at Saratov.
Beginning immediately after the death of president Paul von Hindenburg on 2 August 1934, all soldiers had to take an oath on Adolf Hitler personally, this oath was given as a reason by many soldiers for their continued loyalty for the government, even after they had mentally seceded from National Socialist ideology. In the following years, Germany ignored the Versailles provisions in an increasingly open way. General conscription was reintroduced on 16 March 1935. The size of the standing army remained at about 100 000, but each year another 100 000 received training. The same law introduced the name Wehrmacht, so that this day can be regarded as the date when the Wehrmacht was officially founded. As insignia, it chose a stylised version of the Iron Cross that had first appeared as an aircraft and tank marking in late World War I.
The number of soldiers who served in the Wehrmacht during the time of its existence is believed to be as high as 18.2 million, but these men did not all serve simultaneously. About 5.3 million men died on the field of battle, and about 11 million were captured by enemy forces. It is not known how many of them died in captivity. During World War II, a great number of foreign volunteers served in the ranks of the Wehrmacht. Among them were ethnic Germans, Dutch, Scandinavians, people from the Baltic states, and from the Balkans. Russians fought in the Russian Liberation Army, and non-Russians from the Soviet Union formed the Ostlegionen. All of these units were managed by a specially appointed general within the high command. Altogether they made up about 5 percent of the Wehrmacht men.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht was the German Chancellor, a position Adolf Hitler held since 1933. The administration and military authority initially lay with the war ministry under Werner von Bloomberg. In 1938, after von Bloomberg resigned in the course of the Bloomberg-Fritsch Affair, the ministry was dissolved, and the Armed Forces High Command, in German Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW), under Wilhelm Keitel was put in its place. The OKW coordinated all military activities, but Keitel's sway over the three branches of service, army, air force, and navy, was rather limited. Each had its own High Command, known as Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH, army), Oberkommando der Marine (OKM, navy), and Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL, air force). Within these high commands, each branch had its own general staff. Actions committed by the Nazi regime often viewed as war crimes were committed for the most part not by the military, but rather by the Nazi party's paramilitary SS organisation. However, the Wehrmacht did participate in many of these actions by providing logistical support, securing the area, and handing over prisoners to the SS. When fighting guerrillas, the war was often brutal on both sides and brutal revenge was often exerted on the civilian population. The bombing of cities like Rotterdam or Coventry, but also (prominently) of Georgica although these forces were under Spanish command of Franco, is also often criticized.
Lithuanian Volunteers in the German Wehrmacht in WWII, when Germany crossed the Eastern frontier during the Invasion of the Soviet Union on June 21st, 1941, the people of the Baltic regions were quick to take up arms against the fleeing Communist forces. The Soviets had exacted a bloody toll from the Baltic’s, and the Lithuanians suffered as much as their northern neighbours, Latvia and Estonia. In the face of such brutal treatment, and with the German invasion providing an impetus for revolt, the Baltic’s erupted as thousands of freedom-fighters rose up to fight off and liberate entire portions of their nations. It is estimated that at least 125,000 Lithuanians rose up to fight the retreating Soviets during the time between the initial German crossing of the eastern frontier and the final evacuation of all Russian troops. At least 4,000 are said to have been killed during this period, and another 10,000 wounded in action. Numerous Lithuanian cities were also liberated even before the Germans arrived, a sign of the fierceness with which the Lithuanians were willing to fight for their homeland. Unlike her Estonian and Latvian neighbours though, Lithuania never provided Germany with a National Legion during WWII, although from the very start of the German occupation quite a few volunteers came forward. It is estimated that as many as 50,000 eventually served in German sponsored units during 1941-45. In fact, many volunteers were initially deserters from the Soviet 29th light Infantry Corps - a unit which the Soviets formed emeses from the entire Lithuanian ground forces after their occupation of the country in 1939. The other major source of volunteers and conscripts during the initial stage of German occupation were the numerous ad-hoc units formed as the Soviets were fleeing. For the most part, as in the other Baltic nations, these Lithuanian ad-hoc units were disbanded once the German occupation was complete. In some case though select units provided the basis for new self defence formations formed by the Germans for security operations. It is from these origins that the organizational history of Lithuanian units under Axis occupation begins.
As mentioned above, Lithuanians were for the most part formed into auxiliary support units for security operations. The first formal unit to be formed was known as the Lituanische Hunterschaften which was later used as a foundation for a series of self defence units known as Selbschutz-Bataillonen. The Selbschutz-Bataillonen units were later brought under the control of the German organization of uniformed frontline police, the Ordungspolizie, and renamed as Schutzmannschaft-Bataillonen or Schumas. The Schuma units were universally renamed and reformed into Polizie-Bataillonen in May of 1943. Nearly all units were formed in battalion-sized units consisting of between 500 and 600 men each. They were primarily assigned to rear-area security duties, but as the Soviets drew nearer to Lithuania, they also saw service fighting the Soviets directly. These Lithuanian units numbered a total of 35 Battalions during WWII, consisting of units numbered 1-15, 251-257, 263-265, and 301-310. 13 of these units, numbers 263-265 and 301-310, were never fully trained and were disbanded before they could be employed in combat. These units were posted variously to Poland, Byelorussia, the other Baltic countries, and even as far away as the southern Ukraine. As the Soviets approached, the Germans took to grouping 3 or 4 Lithuanian Polizie-Bataillonen into regimental-sized units know as Lituanische Freiwilligen-Infanterie-Regimenter. Three such units were formed as the Soviets reached the border and they were sent directly to the front in the attempt at holding back the Soviet onslaught in late 1944 and early 1945.
Immediately after the seizure of power of the national socialists 1933 new realm chancellor Adolf Hitler did not recognize the regulations of the Versailles of contract of 1919, which fixed the army strength of the realm resistance on 100 000 career soldiers, for Germany as the no more binding on. The realm military guidance, fascinated of the chance for the reclaim of Germany to the military great power, unconditionally supported Hitler's foreign policy , which aimed completely openly at the revision of the treaty system of Versailles. In order to force armament begun already in the Weimar Republic secretly, Hitler on initiative of realm military Minister general Werner von Bloomberg decided 1933 to leaving that Geneva disarmament conference and to the withdrawal from the voelkerbund . Bloomberg forced and its boss Minister office, Walter von Reichenau , also the freiwillige subjecting the military under the claim to leadership of Hitler and the National Socialist German labour party, In 1934 it began political training courses with materials of the NSDAP in the army, into which National Socialist ideas were in-carried particularly by the younger officers and NCOS. When Hitler the ambitious ambitions of Ernst Rohm to equip the storm department with national weapon monopoly with which liquidating met the entire SA guidance and which realm resistance explained as the only weapon carrier of the realm, thanked it Bloomberg on 2 August 1934 with the oath achievement of the realm resistance on the person of the leader. The personal oath on Hitler instead of on the condition should until 1945 for a multiplicity of soldiers an almost insurmountable ethical barrier represent to follow despite regime-hostile attitude the resistance in the armed forces and take part at assassination attempt plans against Hitler. Since the German arms concept with the existing regular army pushed fast to personnel borders, the law intended the introduction of the compulsory military service for the structure of the armed forces from 16 March 1935 . Highest commander of the armed forces was Hitler. Under him the realm war Minister exercised the command authority as a commander in chief of the armed forces. With the change of name of realm resistance in armed forces 1935 also openly the defensive strategy of the army developed during the Weimar Republic changed. The contemporaneous renaming of realm military Minister in realm war Ministers and realm navy in war navy pointed already on structures of an attack army as well as on the beginning of width armament and war preparations, which Hitler finally outlined in writing one year later. In a secret memorandum to the four-year plan he explained in August 1936, the armed forces must in 4 years operationally.
Between 1933 and at the end of 1936 the army strength of the armed forces on 550 000 men. In 1939 it reached the army a strength of scarcely 2.75 million soldier. For the increase of the attack force of the army under its commander in chief Werner baron von Fritsch starting from 1935 above all the structure was forced by fast federations and the amor branch created by Heinz Guderian, which the modern requirements should withstand mobile and spacious warfare. The army was arranged starting from 1935 in three, after the connection of Austria 1938 into six group commands. With the launching of a vessel of the battle ship crowd refuge 1936 in Germany began the purposeful fleet armament of the war navy under admiral Erich wheels . One year later with "Bismarck" and the Tirpitz three further followed the first battle ship of the war navy with the Gneisenau 1938 as well as. 1939 had the 50 000 men strong war navy besides three tank ships, two weight as well as six light cruisers, 22 destroyers, 16 torpedo boats and 57 submarines. A rapid development took on 1 March 1935 officially the Air Force under the supreme command, integrated as the third branch of service beside army and navy into the armed forces , due to extensive secret preparations realm aviation Minister Hermann Goering . Above all their impact force tested the armed forces starting from 1936 with the German intervention in the Spanish civil war . 1939 covered the Air Force 400 000 men and over 4 000 combat aircraft of most modern design. The costs of armament and the economical consequences of the war-preparing military economy were immense. Doubts against Hitler's rapid armament politics and against risky the with regard to foreign policy war preparations expressed 1937 Bloomberg and Fritsch in November. Intolerable the generals become for him got rid of Hitler in the course of one of skill fully intrigued double affair at the beginning of 1938. Hitler dissolved at the same time the realm war Ministry and took over personally the supreme command over the armed forces. With the again created and him directly subordinated supreme command of the armed forces (OKW) under general William Keitel installed for Hitler a gefuegige military command and management level. The general staff of the army was reshuffled for the supreme command of the army (OKH) under Walther of Brauchitsch.
Despite these measures Hitler did not succeed the prevention of a limited resistance in the armed forces, which around general Ludwig Beck , Hans Ouster and admiral Wilhelm Canaries developed. Their efforts to attain due to threatening kriegsgefahr during the Sudetenkrise 1938 with higher officers support for a revolution attempt against Hitler failed because of the rejecting attitude of the generals. Although Hitler had given the overall directions for the campaigns of 1939-1941. he did not meddle in the day to day operations of the German army until after the defeat at Moscow. In response to the German retreat from Moscow, Hitler assumed direct control of the army in the field on the all important Eastern Front in December 1941. Hitler saw himself as a great military leader, and for the remainder of the war he directed operations in Russia personally, often against the advice of his senior military officers, and very often with disastrous results. Although well informed on some aspects of military operations, and in possession of a good general knowledge of weaponry, Hitler had no experience of war beyond hid service as a corporal in WWI. Residents of Munich the agreement and the German invasion into the Sudetengebiet in the autumn 1938 terminated for the time being all Putschplaene. Scarcely six years later - in the consciousness of the imminent German defeat in the Second World War as well as in view of million fold dying - the only serious coup d'etat attempt failed against Hitler with the missed assassination attempt because of 20 July 1944. Although it acted with the conspirators not as accepted by Hitler around a small group, but around a considerable number of officers, the by far largest part of the officer corps carried the Second World War, which had begun on 1 September 1939 with the German assault on Poland until May 1945.
The topic of WWII German auxiliary forces is a complex one. These organizations were by very nature not regular armed forces but auxiliaries to them. In fact, the only true auxiliary forces were the Wehrmacht, or armed forces auxiliaries, which were those formations or organizations that were not a part of the armed forces, but which served such an important support role that they were given protection under the Geneva Convention and/or militarised. Although some of the armed forces auxiliaries were militarised, it was specifically decreed that they not achieve armed forces status on par with the likes of the Heer, Luftwaffe or Kriegsmarine. Wehrmachtsgefolge provided all manner of support to the Wehrmacht in the form of added transportation, construction help, garrison and security work, combat engineering, railway repair, anti-aircraft defence, air raid protection and early warning services, and in the end, even frontline combat duty. The other forms of auxiliary formations, although not specifically known as Wehrmacht, such as the Hitler Jugend etc, also provided invaluable support to the Wehrmacht. Those listed here at left are by no means all such organizations that existed during WWII, but they are those that most directly supported the Wehrmacht or the war in general during and prior to WWII. Many of the auxiliary organizations were thrown into the last ditch attempt at preventing total defeat as WWII came to a close, many members being used in direct combat roles as the fronts collapsed. In the end all formations, armed forces auxiliaries or not, were disbanded and declared illegal with the fall of the Third Reich.
The War ended in 7th May 1945 where the German armed forces surrender to the allies and Hitler committed suicide.
There was numerous strategical blunders by Hitler and other commanders combined with the overall strength of the Allies sealed the fate of the Reichswehr in 1945, Despite these measures Hitler did not succeed the prevention of a limited resistance in the armed forces, Hitler failed because of the rejecting attitude of the generals and he didn’t’t listen to the generals and made up his own decisions of the army, most of Hitler's ideas to the war was the opposite of what his generals advice was given and often would be against it which cost the many lives of the German army and create a big loss to the Germans. Eventually the German Army lost in WWII and surrendered in 1945.
(German fighting forces) 1935-1945
the Wehrmacht or as known as the German fighting forces was an army made up of Germans that fight battles during world war 2, The success of the Wehrmacht is that it was a powerful German force during WW2. The Reichswehr had many successes but ultimately failures at crucial battles led to their capitulation in WWII. The new, post-war military was established under these terms on 23 March 1921 under the name Reichswehr. General conscription was abolished, as mandated by the Versailles treaty will suffice.
During a war between the Allies (Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands) World War II a great number of foreign volunteers served in the ranks of the Wehrmacht. Among them were ethnic Germans, Dutch, Scandinavians, people from the Baltic states, and from the Balkans. Russians fought in the Russian Liberation Army, and non-Russians from the Soviet Union formed the Ostlegionen. All of these units were managed by a specially appointed general within the high command, Ernst August Kostring. Altogether they made up about 5 percent of the Wehrmacht men. Wehrmacht was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It replaced the old Reichswehr and was succeeded by the current Bundeswehr.
The German word Wehrmacht literally defence force predates the 1930s and originally meant the entirety of the armed forces of a given country or another entity, e.g. Christianity. Since World War II, the term is almost as closely associated with the so-called Third Reich in German as it is in English. After World War I had ended with the capitulation of the German empire, the treaty of Versailles imposed severe restrictions on the future military strength of Germany. The size of the army was limited to 100,000 men, with an additional 15,000 men in the navy. The air force was dissolved. The fleet was to consist of at most six battleships, six cruisers, and twelve destroyers; tanks and heavy artillery were forbidden. The new, post-war military was established under these terms on 23 March 1921 under the name Reichswehr. General conscription was abolished, as mandated by the Versailles treaty.
After World War I ended with a capitulation of the German empire the treaty of Versailles imposed severe restrictions on Germany's military strength. The army was limited to 100 000 men with an additional 15 000 in the navy. The fleet was to consist of at most six battleships, six cruisers, and twelve destroyers. Tanks and heavy artillery were forbidden and the air force was dissolved. A new post war military the Reichswehr was established on 23 March 1921. General conscription was abolished under another mandate of the Versailles treaty. Germany immediately began circumventing these conditions. A secret collaboration with the Soviet Union began after the treaty of Rapallo. Major General Otto Hasse travelled to Moscow in 1923 to further negotiate the terms. Germany helped Soviet Russia with industrialisation and Russian officers were to be trained in Germany. German tank and air force specialists would be trained in Russia and German chemical weapons research and manufacture would be carried out there along with other projects. Around 300 German pilots received training at Lipetsk, some tank training took place near Kazan and toxic gas was developed at Saratov. The number of soldiers who served in the Wehrmacht during its existence from 1934 until 1945 is believed to approach 18.2 million, but these were not simultaneous enlistments. About 5.3 million died on battlefields and approximately 11 million were captured by enemy forces it is not known how many died in captivity.
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major turning point in World War II, and is considered the bloodiest and largest battle in human history and arguably one of the greatest comebacks in military history. The battle was marked by the brutality and disregard for civilian casualties on both sides. It is taken to include the German bombing campaign of the southern Russian city of Stalingrad, the German march towards the city, the battle inside the city itself, and the Soviet counter-offensive which eventually trapped and destroyed the German and other Axis forces in and around the city. Total casualties are estimated at anywhere between 1.5 to 3 million. The lack of exact data is the result of the Russian government's refusal at the time to calculate the losses for fear the sacrifice might have proven too high. The Axis powers lost about a quarter of their total manpower on the Eastern Front, and never recovered from the defeat. For the Soviets, who lost well over one million soldiers and civilians during the battle, the victory at Stalingrad marked the start of the liberation of the Soviet Union, leading to eventual victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. After the narrow failure of Hitler's invasion of Russia in 1941 the German Army no longer had the strength and resources for a renewed offensive of that year's scale, but Hitler was unwilling to stay on the defensive and consolidate his gains. So he searched for an offensive solution that with limited means might promise more than a limited result. No longer having the strength to attack along the whole front, he concentrated on. the southern part, with the aim of capturing the Caucasus oil which each side needed if it was to maintain its full mobility. If he could gain that oil, he might subsequently turn north onto the rear of the thus immobilized Russian armies covering Moscow, or even strike at Russia's new war-industries that had been established in the Urals. The 1942 offensive was, however, a greater gamble than that of the previous year because, if it were to be checked, the long flank of this southerly drive would be exposed to a counterstroke anywhere along its thousand-mile stretch.
The military strength of the Wehrmacht rested on assignment-based tactics as opposed to order-based tactics and the almost proverbial discipline. Today, the Wehrmacht is often seen as a high-tech army, due to many new technologies that were introduced during World War II, like the so-called reprisal weapons, the 262 jet fighter, or the submarine force, but this is a somewhat misleading impression. Overall, the level of armament was low. For instance, only 40 percent of all units were motorised. The baggage train often had to rely on horses as a means of transportation, and many soldiers went by foot or, in some instances, used bicycles.
A powerful tank force and a powerful air force made possible the quick successes in the early stages of war, when nation after nation was overrun and occupied within mere weeks. This quelled critical voices and convinced military leaders that the new concept of broad armament rather than deep armament did indeed make sense; however in the later stages of war, when the powerful adversaries An island comprising England and Scotland and Wales Great Britain, the A former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia, established in 1922, included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics Ukraine and Byelorussia an others officially dissolved 31 December 1991 Soviet Union, and the North American republic containing 50 states 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776 United States offered tenacious resistance, the Blitzkrieg tactics could not be applied, and the relatively low state of armament turned out detrimental for the Wehrmacht.
The military was one of the few organisations that could evade political meddling to a significant extent during the Third Reich. As most of the leadership was politically conservative, and Hitler promised to rebuild Germany's military strength, it was mostly sympathetic towards the National Socialist revolution. However, when, in the later stages of war, political influence in the military command began to increase, and under Hitler's flawed strategic decisions the good fortune of the German armies waned, tensions mounted between the military and the government. These culminated in the so-called July 20 plot in 1944, when a group of 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 were persecuted and killed, including many Wehrmacht officers. Germany immediately began to pursue plans to circumvent the conditions of the treaty. Key to the quest for the rebuilding of a strong military was the secret collaboration with the Soviet Union that began after the treaty of Rapallo. In 1923, Major General Otto Hasse travelled to Moscow to negotiate the terms of collaboration. Germany helped Soviet Russia with the industrialisation of the country, and Russian officers would be trained in Germany; in return, German tank and air force specialists would be trained in Russia, German chemical weapons research and manufacture would be carried out there, among others. 300 German pilots received training at Lipetsk, tank training took place near Kazan although only to a small extent, and toxic gas was developed at Saratov.
Beginning immediately after the death of president Paul von Hindenburg on 2 August 1934, all soldiers had to take an oath on Adolf Hitler personally, this oath was given as a reason by many soldiers for their continued loyalty for the government, even after they had mentally seceded from National Socialist ideology. In the following years, Germany ignored the Versailles provisions in an increasingly open way. General conscription was reintroduced on 16 March 1935. The size of the standing army remained at about 100 000, but each year another 100 000 received training. The same law introduced the name Wehrmacht, so that this day can be regarded as the date when the Wehrmacht was officially founded. As insignia, it chose a stylised version of the Iron Cross that had first appeared as an aircraft and tank marking in late World War I.
The number of soldiers who served in the Wehrmacht during the time of its existence is believed to be as high as 18.2 million, but these men did not all serve simultaneously. About 5.3 million men died on the field of battle, and about 11 million were captured by enemy forces. It is not known how many of them died in captivity. During World War II, a great number of foreign volunteers served in the ranks of the Wehrmacht. Among them were ethnic Germans, Dutch, Scandinavians, people from the Baltic states, and from the Balkans. Russians fought in the Russian Liberation Army, and non-Russians from the Soviet Union formed the Ostlegionen. All of these units were managed by a specially appointed general within the high command. Altogether they made up about 5 percent of the Wehrmacht men.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht was the German Chancellor, a position Adolf Hitler held since 1933. The administration and military authority initially lay with the war ministry under Werner von Bloomberg. In 1938, after von Bloomberg resigned in the course of the Bloomberg-Fritsch Affair, the ministry was dissolved, and the Armed Forces High Command, in German Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW), under Wilhelm Keitel was put in its place. The OKW coordinated all military activities, but Keitel's sway over the three branches of service, army, air force, and navy, was rather limited. Each had its own High Command, known as Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH, army), Oberkommando der Marine (OKM, navy), and Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL, air force). Within these high commands, each branch had its own general staff. Actions committed by the Nazi regime often viewed as war crimes were committed for the most part not by the military, but rather by the Nazi party's paramilitary SS organisation. However, the Wehrmacht did participate in many of these actions by providing logistical support, securing the area, and handing over prisoners to the SS. When fighting guerrillas, the war was often brutal on both sides and brutal revenge was often exerted on the civilian population. The bombing of cities like Rotterdam or Coventry, but also (prominently) of Georgica although these forces were under Spanish command of Franco, is also often criticized.
Lithuanian Volunteers in the German Wehrmacht in WWII, when Germany crossed the Eastern frontier during the Invasion of the Soviet Union on June 21st, 1941, the people of the Baltic regions were quick to take up arms against the fleeing Communist forces. The Soviets had exacted a bloody toll from the Baltic’s, and the Lithuanians suffered as much as their northern neighbours, Latvia and Estonia. In the face of such brutal treatment, and with the German invasion providing an impetus for revolt, the Baltic’s erupted as thousands of freedom-fighters rose up to fight off and liberate entire portions of their nations. It is estimated that at least 125,000 Lithuanians rose up to fight the retreating Soviets during the time between the initial German crossing of the eastern frontier and the final evacuation of all Russian troops. At least 4,000 are said to have been killed during this period, and another 10,000 wounded in action. Numerous Lithuanian cities were also liberated even before the Germans arrived, a sign of the fierceness with which the Lithuanians were willing to fight for their homeland. Unlike her Estonian and Latvian neighbours though, Lithuania never provided Germany with a National Legion during WWII, although from the very start of the German occupation quite a few volunteers came forward. It is estimated that as many as 50,000 eventually served in German sponsored units during 1941-45. In fact, many volunteers were initially deserters from the Soviet 29th light Infantry Corps - a unit which the Soviets formed emeses from the entire Lithuanian ground forces after their occupation of the country in 1939. The other major source of volunteers and conscripts during the initial stage of German occupation were the numerous ad-hoc units formed as the Soviets were fleeing. For the most part, as in the other Baltic nations, these Lithuanian ad-hoc units were disbanded once the German occupation was complete. In some case though select units provided the basis for new self defence formations formed by the Germans for security operations. It is from these origins that the organizational history of Lithuanian units under Axis occupation begins.
As mentioned above, Lithuanians were for the most part formed into auxiliary support units for security operations. The first formal unit to be formed was known as the Lituanische Hunterschaften which was later used as a foundation for a series of self defence units known as Selbschutz-Bataillonen. The Selbschutz-Bataillonen units were later brought under the control of the German organization of uniformed frontline police, the Ordungspolizie, and renamed as Schutzmannschaft-Bataillonen or Schumas. The Schuma units were universally renamed and reformed into Polizie-Bataillonen in May of 1943. Nearly all units were formed in battalion-sized units consisting of between 500 and 600 men each. They were primarily assigned to rear-area security duties, but as the Soviets drew nearer to Lithuania, they also saw service fighting the Soviets directly. These Lithuanian units numbered a total of 35 Battalions during WWII, consisting of units numbered 1-15, 251-257, 263-265, and 301-310. 13 of these units, numbers 263-265 and 301-310, were never fully trained and were disbanded before they could be employed in combat. These units were posted variously to Poland, Byelorussia, the other Baltic countries, and even as far away as the southern Ukraine. As the Soviets approached, the Germans took to grouping 3 or 4 Lithuanian Polizie-Bataillonen into regimental-sized units know as Lituanische Freiwilligen-Infanterie-Regimenter. Three such units were formed as the Soviets reached the border and they were sent directly to the front in the attempt at holding back the Soviet onslaught in late 1944 and early 1945.
Immediately after the seizure of power of the national socialists 1933 new realm chancellor Adolf Hitler did not recognize the regulations of the Versailles of contract of 1919, which fixed the army strength of the realm resistance on 100 000 career soldiers, for Germany as the no more binding on. The realm military guidance, fascinated of the chance for the reclaim of Germany to the military great power, unconditionally supported Hitler's foreign policy , which aimed completely openly at the revision of the treaty system of Versailles. In order to force armament begun already in the Weimar Republic secretly, Hitler on initiative of realm military Minister general Werner von Bloomberg decided 1933 to leaving that Geneva disarmament conference and to the withdrawal from the voelkerbund . Bloomberg forced and its boss Minister office, Walter von Reichenau , also the freiwillige subjecting the military under the claim to leadership of Hitler and the National Socialist German labour party, In 1934 it began political training courses with materials of the NSDAP in the army, into which National Socialist ideas were in-carried particularly by the younger officers and NCOS. When Hitler the ambitious ambitions of Ernst Rohm to equip the storm department with national weapon monopoly with which liquidating met the entire SA guidance and which realm resistance explained as the only weapon carrier of the realm, thanked it Bloomberg on 2 August 1934 with the oath achievement of the realm resistance on the person of the leader. The personal oath on Hitler instead of on the condition should until 1945 for a multiplicity of soldiers an almost insurmountable ethical barrier represent to follow despite regime-hostile attitude the resistance in the armed forces and take part at assassination attempt plans against Hitler. Since the German arms concept with the existing regular army pushed fast to personnel borders, the law intended the introduction of the compulsory military service for the structure of the armed forces from 16 March 1935 . Highest commander of the armed forces was Hitler. Under him the realm war Minister exercised the command authority as a commander in chief of the armed forces. With the change of name of realm resistance in armed forces 1935 also openly the defensive strategy of the army developed during the Weimar Republic changed. The contemporaneous renaming of realm military Minister in realm war Ministers and realm navy in war navy pointed already on structures of an attack army as well as on the beginning of width armament and war preparations, which Hitler finally outlined in writing one year later. In a secret memorandum to the four-year plan he explained in August 1936, the armed forces must in 4 years operationally.
Between 1933 and at the end of 1936 the army strength of the armed forces on 550 000 men. In 1939 it reached the army a strength of scarcely 2.75 million soldier. For the increase of the attack force of the army under its commander in chief Werner baron von Fritsch starting from 1935 above all the structure was forced by fast federations and the amor branch created by Heinz Guderian, which the modern requirements should withstand mobile and spacious warfare. The army was arranged starting from 1935 in three, after the connection of Austria 1938 into six group commands. With the launching of a vessel of the battle ship crowd refuge 1936 in Germany began the purposeful fleet armament of the war navy under admiral Erich wheels . One year later with "Bismarck" and the Tirpitz three further followed the first battle ship of the war navy with the Gneisenau 1938 as well as. 1939 had the 50 000 men strong war navy besides three tank ships, two weight as well as six light cruisers, 22 destroyers, 16 torpedo boats and 57 submarines. A rapid development took on 1 March 1935 officially the Air Force under the supreme command, integrated as the third branch of service beside army and navy into the armed forces , due to extensive secret preparations realm aviation Minister Hermann Goering . Above all their impact force tested the armed forces starting from 1936 with the German intervention in the Spanish civil war . 1939 covered the Air Force 400 000 men and over 4 000 combat aircraft of most modern design. The costs of armament and the economical consequences of the war-preparing military economy were immense. Doubts against Hitler's rapid armament politics and against risky the with regard to foreign policy war preparations expressed 1937 Bloomberg and Fritsch in November. Intolerable the generals become for him got rid of Hitler in the course of one of skill fully intrigued double affair at the beginning of 1938. Hitler dissolved at the same time the realm war Ministry and took over personally the supreme command over the armed forces. With the again created and him directly subordinated supreme command of the armed forces (OKW) under general William Keitel installed for Hitler a gefuegige military command and management level. The general staff of the army was reshuffled for the supreme command of the army (OKH) under Walther of Brauchitsch.
Despite these measures Hitler did not succeed the prevention of a limited resistance in the armed forces, which around general Ludwig Beck , Hans Ouster and admiral Wilhelm Canaries developed. Their efforts to attain due to threatening kriegsgefahr during the Sudetenkrise 1938 with higher officers support for a revolution attempt against Hitler failed because of the rejecting attitude of the generals. Although Hitler had given the overall directions for the campaigns of 1939-1941. he did not meddle in the day to day operations of the German army until after the defeat at Moscow. In response to the German retreat from Moscow, Hitler assumed direct control of the army in the field on the all important Eastern Front in December 1941. Hitler saw himself as a great military leader, and for the remainder of the war he directed operations in Russia personally, often against the advice of his senior military officers, and very often with disastrous results. Although well informed on some aspects of military operations, and in possession of a good general knowledge of weaponry, Hitler had no experience of war beyond hid service as a corporal in WWI. Residents of Munich the agreement and the German invasion into the Sudetengebiet in the autumn 1938 terminated for the time being all Putschplaene. Scarcely six years later - in the consciousness of the imminent German defeat in the Second World War as well as in view of million fold dying - the only serious coup d'etat attempt failed against Hitler with the missed assassination attempt because of 20 July 1944. Although it acted with the conspirators not as accepted by Hitler around a small group, but around a considerable number of officers, the by far largest part of the officer corps carried the Second World War, which had begun on 1 September 1939 with the German assault on Poland until May 1945.
The topic of WWII German auxiliary forces is a complex one. These organizations were by very nature not regular armed forces but auxiliaries to them. In fact, the only true auxiliary forces were the Wehrmacht, or armed forces auxiliaries, which were those formations or organizations that were not a part of the armed forces, but which served such an important support role that they were given protection under the Geneva Convention and/or militarised. Although some of the armed forces auxiliaries were militarised, it was specifically decreed that they not achieve armed forces status on par with the likes of the Heer, Luftwaffe or Kriegsmarine. Wehrmachtsgefolge provided all manner of support to the Wehrmacht in the form of added transportation, construction help, garrison and security work, combat engineering, railway repair, anti-aircraft defence, air raid protection and early warning services, and in the end, even frontline combat duty. The other forms of auxiliary formations, although not specifically known as Wehrmacht, such as the Hitler Jugend etc, also provided invaluable support to the Wehrmacht. Those listed here at left are by no means all such organizations that existed during WWII, but they are those that most directly supported the Wehrmacht or the war in general during and prior to WWII. Many of the auxiliary organizations were thrown into the last ditch attempt at preventing total defeat as WWII came to a close, many members being used in direct combat roles as the fronts collapsed. In the end all formations, armed forces auxiliaries or not, were disbanded and declared illegal with the fall of the Third Reich.
The War ended in 7th May 1945 where the German armed forces surrender to the allies and Hitler committed suicide.
There was numerous strategical blunders by Hitler and other commanders combined with the overall strength of the Allies sealed the fate of the Reichswehr in 1945, Despite these measures Hitler did not succeed the prevention of a limited resistance in the armed forces, Hitler failed because of the rejecting attitude of the generals and he didn’t’t listen to the generals and made up his own decisions of the army, most of Hitler's ideas to the war was the opposite of what his generals advice was given and often would be against it which cost the many lives of the German army and create a big loss to the Germans. Eventually the German Army lost in WWII and surrendered in 1945.
