Wehrmacht: the armed forces of Germany, 1935–1945

Organization and branches

The Wehrmacht was organized into three primary branches, each with distinct roles and structures:

• Heer (army) — the land forces responsible for infantry, armor and artillery formations.
• Kriegsmarine (navy) — the sea-going service charged with surface fleets, U-boats and coastal operations.
• Luftwaffe (air force) — the aerial arm tasked with air superiority, close air support and strategic bombing.

Command arrangements included high-level staffs such as the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, with separate supreme commands for each branch. The Wehrmacht emphasized combined-arms cooperation, logistic organization and the rapid coordination of mobility, firepower and reconnaissance.

History and wartime operations

The formation of the Wehrmacht was accompanied by systematic rearmament and the introduction of tactics oriented toward rapid, decisive operations often described by the term Blitzkrieg. From the invasion of Poland to campaigns across Western Europe, the Balkans, North Africa and the vast Eastern Front, Wehrmacht formations conducted major operations that reshaped the course of the war. Technological developments, such as improvements in tanks, naval vessels and aircraft, were matched by developments in doctrine and large-scale mobilization.

Relations with other organizations

Although the regular armed forces formed the core of Germany's military power, other units operated alongside or in parallel. Notably, the Waffen-SS—originating in elements of the Allgemeine SS and associated with leaders such as Heinrich Himmler—remained institutionally separate from the Wehrmacht even as it grew in size and fought on many fronts. Coordination between the Wehrmacht and paramilitary or party-controlled formations could vary with strategic needs and political influence.

Legacy, accountability and postwar developments

The Wehrmacht's conduct during the war, including participation by some units in war crimes and in the implementation of occupation policies, has been subject to extensive historical and legal scrutiny. After 1945 the armed forces were dissolved; the postwar period saw trials, investigations and a long process of historical reassessment. In the 1950s West Germany established the Bundeswehr under democratic civilian control, explicitly distinguishing the new force from its predecessor. The history of the Wehrmacht continues to inform discussions on military ethics, command responsibility and the relationship between armed forces and the state.

For further reading on structure, campaigns and controversies see specialized studies and archival materials available through academic and museum collections. Additional resources are indicated in source and reference listings: context, branch overviews, army history, naval history, naval operations, air force studies, air doctrine, Waffen-SS background, key figures, SS organization and World War II overviews.