Wehrmacht

Wehrmacht
Armed Forces of Nazi Germany
The Wehrmacht's emblem, the straight-armed Balkenkreuz, a stylized version of the Iron Cross
Active	1935–45
Country	Nazi Germany
Allegiance	Adolf Hitler
Branch	Heer (army) Kriegsmarine (navy) Luftwaffe (air force)
Role	Armed forces of Nazi Germany
Size	18,200,000 (total who served)
Colors	Feldgrau
Engagements	Spanish Civil War World War II
Decorations	See List of military decorations of Nazi Germany
Commanders
Notable commanders	Hermann Göring Wilhelm Keitel Alfred Jodl Erich Raeder Karl Dönitz Heinz Guderian Erwin Rommel Erich von Manstein Gerd von Rundstedt
Insignia
Identification symbol	Balkenkreuz
Identification symbol	Nazi swastika

The Wehrmacht (German pronunciation: [ˈveːɐ̯maxt], lit. "defence force") was the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1946. It consisted of the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy) and the Luftwaffe (air force). The designation Wehrmacht for Nazi Germany's military replaced the previously used term, Reichswehr (1919–35), and was the manifestation of Nazi Germany's efforts to rearm the nation to a greater extent than the Treaty of Versailles permitted.

After the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, one of Hitler’s most overt and audacious moves was to establish the Wehrmacht, a modern armed forces fully capable of offensive use. Fulfilling the Nazi regime’s long-term goals of regaining lost territory and dominating its neighbors required the reinstatement of conscription and massive investment and spending on the armaments industry. In December 1941, Hitler designated himself as commander-in-chief of the Wehrmacht.

The Wehrmacht formed the heart of Germany’s politico-military power. In the early part of World War II, Hitler's generals employed the Wehrmacht through innovative combined arms tactics (close cover air-support, mechanized armor, and infantry) to devastating effect in what was called a Blitzkrieg (lightning war). The Wehrmacht's new military structure, unique combat techniques, newly developed weapons, and unprecedented speed and brutality crushed their opponents.

Closely cooperating with the SS (especially on the Eastern Front), the German armed forces committed numerous war crimes and atrocities, despite later denials. By the time the war ended in Europe in May 1945, the Wehrmacht had lost approximately 11,300,000 men, about half of which were killed in action. Only a few of the Wehrmacht’s upper leadership were tried for war crimes, despite evidence suggesting that more were involved in illegal actions.