Wehrmacht became a symbol of World War II.
consequences of Versailles
Allied victory over Germany was crowned the Treaty of Versailles, signed in Compiegne at the end of 1918.Incredibly difficult conditions of the surrender were supplemented by the virtual elimination of the requirement of the army.German republic was allowed to have a small professional army, the total number of one hundred thousand people, and as trimmed naval forces.The military structure created on the remains of the army of the German Empire, was named Reyhver.Despite such small numbers, Reyhver under the control of General von Seeckt was able to become the basis for the deployment of the new army of the Third Reich and soon left those who do not know what the Wehrmacht.
Revival Army
coming to power of the National Socialists, led by Hitler in 1933 was intended to exit from the rigid framework of the German Treaty of Versailles.Reyhver had perfectly trained and highly motivated personnel reserve to convert it into a real army.Adopted shortly after the seizure of power by Hitler Wehrmacht law dramatically expands the scope of military construction.Despite the envisaged increase in the armed forces up to five times, in the early years it was not completely clear what the Wehrmacht.Not yet formed its shape, eye-catching dynamic aggressiveness, high discipline and willingness to fight any enemy at all times.Wehrmacht took the best traditions of Prussian and German Imperial Army, received in addition to a strong ideological base based on the ideology of National Socialism.
Military Ethics in the era of fascism
Nazi ideology had a significant impact on the staff and the fate of the Wehrmacht.Many perceive it as a party army, whose main task is to spread of National Socialism in the captured territory.To some extent this was so.But life is more complicated dogmas, and within the Wehrmacht remained in force the old Prussian and German military tradition.They made it so formidable opponent, and a powerful instrument of domination of the Nazis.Articulate what the Wehrmacht ideologically very difficult.In it it was combined fancifully soldier association and party fanaticism.Faterlyanda protection and construction of a new ideological empire.Preservation of corporate spirit Wehrmacht contributed to the creation of the Waffen SS, accumulating the most fanatical elements of the Third Reich.
only war Wehrmacht
war demonstrated the strengths and weaknesses of the army of Nazi Germany.When the Second World War, the Wehrmacht was represented by the most powerful land army in the world.Excellent base personnel and the highest motivation was complemented by industrial and scientific potential of Germany and Austria.The course of the war proved the highest combat capability of the army.But with maximum clarity it became apparent that the most useless good tool to achieve the objectives of the adventurous.History of the best armies of the Second World warns against the temptation of repetition sad experience.Reich sought for war, and his army was a symbol for the word "war."Wehrmacht, known today, without it, would not exist.Incurred losses during the fighting changed the personnel structure.Instead of a highly professional army Wehrmacht increasingly acquiring the features of the people's militia.Adventurous line management Reich put before him the same daunting task.Restructuring thinking of the war for the conquest of the territories to defend their country in such conditions was impossible.With the reduction in front of me the rhetoric of propaganda, but did not change its meaning.Reduced professionalism, as a consequence of heavy losses, not offset by the influx of soldiers, defense-minded state.At the end of the war the Wehrmacht seemed loose conglomeration of individual combat-ready units, fuzzy mass of demoralized conscripts and folsshturmistov.They were unable to accept the Prussian military tradition, to become soldiers, and had no motivation to die for the Nazi regime.
defeat and the consequences
defeat of Nazi Germany by 1945 became inevitable.When World War II ended, the Wehrmacht ceased to exist.With him gone for much of that was the basis of the combat capability of the German army.Despite the declared anti-fascism, the Soviet Union more fully preserve the tradition and spirit of the Prussian army in the re-created Army of the GDR.Maybe this is due to a deep commonality inherent in the Russian and German armies before the First World War.Many soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht continued to serve in the Army of the GDR passing it the old traditions.They were able to demonstrate this during the suppression of the Czechoslovak mutiny in 1968.This event reminded what the Wehrmacht.German Army has undergone a greater transformation to interact with the Anglo-American troops, had an entirely different structure and history.
