Oberkommando des Heeres
Encyclopedia
The Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH) was Nazi Germany
's High Command of the Army from 1936 to 1945. The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
(Supreme High Command of the Armed Forces or OKW) commanded OKH only in theory. However, after 1941, the OKW de facto directly commanded operations on the Western front
while the OKH commanded the Eastern front
.
For commanding the navy and the air force, Third Reich had also the Oberkommando der Marine
(OKM) and the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe
(OKL) respectively. These were theoretically subordinate to the OKW, but in actuality acted quite independently.
was
The OKH did not plan operations, following in German tradition. This task was left to the General Staff
, so actually the most important man in the Army (and the Navy, but less so in the Luftwaffe, which was commanded by Hermann Göring
) was the Chief of the General Staff (Chef des Generalstabs des Heeres). Das Heer (the Army) always has been the leading factor in planning campaigns. Thus there was no such thing as combined planning of the different services. The position of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
(OKW)], which was by definition superior to the OKH, was not intended for that, nor did it have the resources to do so.
Later in the war, OKH became responsible for fewer and fewer tasks, with Adolf Hitler
, assisted by OKW, taking an increasing role in the planning and running of operations. For example, the invasion of Norway
was entirely planned outside OKH. During the April 1945 allied campaign towards Berlin, disputes between OKH and OKW over strategic priorities were commonplace. Since the Eastern Front was the responsibility of OKH, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel
displayed callous disregard for German failures against the Soviets. General Heinz Guderian
, then chief of OKH, resented Keitel for his lack of support in getting Hitler to send troops to counter Soviet advances east of the Oder
river.
Although both OKW and OKH were headquartered in Zossen
during the Third Reich, the functional and operational independence of both establishments were not lost on the respective staff during their tenure. Personnel at the sprawling Zossen compound remarked that even if Maybach 2 (the OKW complex) was completely destroyed, the OKH staff in Maybach 1 would scarcely notice. The camouflaged facilities were separated physically by a fence also maintained structurally different mindsets towards their objectives.
On 28 April 1945 (two days before his suicide
), Hitler formally subordinated OKH to OKW, giving the latter command of forces on the Eastern Front.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's High Command of the Army from 1936 to 1945. The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht was part of the command structure of the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.- Genesis :...
(Supreme High Command of the Armed Forces or OKW) commanded OKH only in theory. However, after 1941, the OKW de facto directly commanded operations on the Western front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
while the OKH commanded the Eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
.
For commanding the navy and the air force, Third Reich had also the Oberkommando der Marine
Oberkommando der Marine
The Oberkommando der Marine was Nazi Germany's Naval High Command and the highest administrative and command authority of the Kriegsmarine. It was officially formed from the Marineleitung of the Reichswehr on 11 January 1936. In 1937 it was combined with the newly formed Seekriegsleitung...
(OKM) and the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe
Oberkommando der Luftwaffe
The Oberkommando der Luftwaffe was the air force High Command of the Third Reich.Air Force Commanders-in-Chief* Reich Marshal Hermann Göring * Field Marshal Robert Ritter von Greim -History:...
(OKL) respectively. These were theoretically subordinate to the OKW, but in actuality acted quite independently.
Overview
The Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres (Commander of the Army') in the WehrmachtWehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
was
- from 1935 to 1938, Generaloberst Werner von FritschWerner von FritschWerner Thomas Ludwig Freiherr von Fritsch was a prominent Wehrmacht officer, member of the German High Command, and the second German general to be killed during World War II.-Early life:...
; - from 1938 to 19 December 1941, Generalfeldmarschall Walther von BrauchitschWalther von BrauchitschHeinrich Alfred Hermann Walther von Brauchitsch was a German field marshal and the Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres in the early years of World War II.-Biography:...
- from 19 December 1941 to 30 April 1945, Führer and Reichskanzler Adolf HitlerAdolf HitlerAdolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
- and from 30 April 1945 to 8 May 1945, Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand SchörnerFerdinand SchörnerFerdinand Schörner was a General and later Field Marshal in the German Army during World War II.-Early life:Schörner was born in Munich, Bavaria...
The OKH did not plan operations, following in German tradition. This task was left to the General Staff
German General Staff
The German General Staff was an institution whose rise and development gave the German armed forces a decided advantage over its adversaries. The Staff amounted to its best "weapon" for nearly a century and a half....
, so actually the most important man in the Army (and the Navy, but less so in the Luftwaffe, which was commanded by Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
) was the Chief of the General Staff (Chef des Generalstabs des Heeres). Das Heer (the Army) always has been the leading factor in planning campaigns. Thus there was no such thing as combined planning of the different services. The position of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht was part of the command structure of the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.- Genesis :...
(OKW)], which was by definition superior to the OKH, was not intended for that, nor did it have the resources to do so.
Later in the war, OKH became responsible for fewer and fewer tasks, with Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, assisted by OKW, taking an increasing role in the planning and running of operations. For example, the invasion of Norway
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
was entirely planned outside OKH. During the April 1945 allied campaign towards Berlin, disputes between OKH and OKW over strategic priorities were commonplace. Since the Eastern Front was the responsibility of OKH, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel
Wilhelm Keitel
Wilhelm Bodewin Gustav Keitel was a German field marshal . As head of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and de facto war minister, he was one of Germany's most senior military leaders during World War II...
displayed callous disregard for German failures against the Soviets. General Heinz Guderian
Heinz Guderian
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was a German general during World War II. He was a pioneer in the development of armored warfare, and was the leading proponent of tanks and mechanization in the Wehrmacht . Germany's panzer forces were raised and organized under his direction as Chief of Mobile Forces...
, then chief of OKH, resented Keitel for his lack of support in getting Hitler to send troops to counter Soviet advances east of the Oder
Oder
The Oder is a river in Central Europe. It rises in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland, later forming of the border between Poland and Germany, part of the Oder-Neisse line...
river.
Although both OKW and OKH were headquartered in Zossen
Zossen
Zossen is a German town in the district of Teltow-Fläming in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, and next to the B96 highway. Zossen consists of several smaller municipalities, which were grouped together in 2003 to form the city.-Geography:...
during the Third Reich, the functional and operational independence of both establishments were not lost on the respective staff during their tenure. Personnel at the sprawling Zossen compound remarked that even if Maybach 2 (the OKW complex) was completely destroyed, the OKH staff in Maybach 1 would scarcely notice. The camouflaged facilities were separated physically by a fence also maintained structurally different mindsets towards their objectives.
On 28 April 1945 (two days before his suicide
Death of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler committed suicide by gunshot on Monday, 30 April 1945 in his Führerbunker in Berlin. His wife Eva , committed suicide with him by ingesting cyanide...
), Hitler formally subordinated OKH to OKW, giving the latter command of forces on the Eastern Front.