Wehrmacht
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Wehrmacht (literally defence force) was the name of the armed forces of Nazi Germany 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 and today called the Bundeswehr.
The Wehrmacht was organised into:
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.- Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) -- Armed Forces High Command
- Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH) -- Army High Command
- Oberkommando der Marine (OKM) -- Navy High Command
- Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL) -- Airforce High Command
- Wehrmacht -- Armed Forces
- Heer -- Army
- Luftwaffe -- Airforce
- Kriegsmarine -- Navy
- Oberbefehlshaber West
- Abwehr -- Military Intelligence
Activities, crimes, victims and destruction of the Wehrmacht in the former USSR
- 20 million humans were killed
- 1.200.000 humans were kidnapped, 90 % died in Germany
- complete or partial destruction of 1710 cities and more than 70.000 villages
- 6 million buildings were destroyed and 25 million humans were made shelterless
- destruction of 31.850 industrial companies, of 65.000 km railroad tracks, of 4100 railway stations, of 36.000 post offices, 40.000 hospitals, 84.000 schools instituts and universities, 43.000 public libraries
- destroyment or robbery of 239.000 electric motors, 175.000 machine tools
- destroyment or plundering of 98.000 agriculture enterprises, 2890 machine and tractor stations
- robbery of 7 million horses, 17 millionen cattle, 20 million pigs, 27 million sheeps and goats, 110 million poultry
See also