Wehrmacht Books

About Wehrmacht

The Wehrmacht was the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945, composed of the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), and Luftwaffe (Air Force). Created as part of Adolf Hitler’s military rearmament, the Wehrmacht replaced the Reichswehr and rapidly grew into one of the most powerful and mechanized military forces of its time. It played a central role in executing the aggressive expansionist policies of the Nazi regime, beginning with the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia, and culminating in the full-scale invasions that sparked World War II. The Wehrmacht demonstrated early tactical brilliance through the use of blitzkrieg strategies, achieving swift victories in Poland, France, and the early stages of the Eastern Front. However, as the war dragged on, it suffered catastrophic losses, particularly in the Soviet Union. While the Wehrmacht maintained a professional military image, many of its units were complicit in war crimes and atrocities, often in coordination with the SS and other Nazi organizations. Following Germany’s defeat in 1945, the Wehrmacht was dissolved and replaced by post-war defense forces. Its legacy remains controversial—recognized for operational prowess but also deeply entangled in the crimes of the Third Reich.