Reichswehreid
Encyclopedia
The Reichswehreid and from August 1934 Führereid was the name for three different versions of the oath of allegiance
of the German Forces, called Reichswehr
from 1919 to 1935, and then Wehrmacht
until 1945.
had signed the Weimar Constitution
for the German Reich (the so-called Weimar Republic
). The Treaty of Versailles
limited the Reichswehr to a total of 100,000 men.
had taken over as Reichskanzler and the Enabling Act and Gleichschaltung
came in effect. As a result, a new wording was adopted on 1 December 1933:
It has to be noted that all references to the constitution and the office of Reichspräsident, then held by aging war hero Paul von Hindenburg
, had already been removed. Instead, more emphasis was put on religion
and patriotism
.
issued a new wording which became known as Führereid:
Now Volk and Fatherland had been superseded by the person of Hitler himself, who would be Führer and supreme commander. In addition, the obedience was now to be unconditional.
The allegiance to Hitler, which millions of soldiers had to pledge, proved to be fateful as it choked opposition to him (July 20 Plot
etc.).
In 1935, the Reichswehr was renamed Wehrmacht.
der Schutzstaffel
(oath of the SS):
The SS
was initially founded to provide personal security for Hitler as well as the leaders he put in charge (Führerprinzip
). The unshakable loyalty was made part of the SS' honour, as the motto "Unsere Ehre heißt Treue" (Our Honour is Loyalty) was coined.
pledge the Gelöbnis after three months of basic training
Professional soldiers and officers of the Bundeswehr have to swear an oath with the same wording, but beginning with "Ich schwöre, ..." ("I vow ...").
The web site of the Bundeswehr points out that loyalty is pledged not to a person, but rather to the country, a novum
in German military history.
Oath of allegiance
An oath of allegiance is an oath whereby a subject or citizen acknowledges a duty of allegiance and swears loyalty to monarch or country. In republics, modern oaths specify allegiance to the country's constitution. For example, officials in the United States, a republic, take an oath of office that...
of the German Forces, called Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
from 1919 to 1935, and then Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
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:...
until 1945.
1919–1933
The Original Reichswehreid came into effect on 14 August 1919, shortly after Reichspräsident Friedrich EbertFriedrich Ebert
Friedrich Ebert was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany .When Ebert was elected as the leader of the SPD after the death of August Bebel, the party members of the SPD were deeply divided because of the party's support for World War I. Ebert supported the Burgfrieden and...
had signed the Weimar Constitution
Weimar constitution
The Constitution of the German Reich , usually known as the Weimar Constitution was the constitution that governed Germany during the Weimar Republic...
for the German Reich (the so-called Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
). The Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
limited the Reichswehr to a total of 100,000 men.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich schwöre Treue der Reichsverfassung und gelobe, daß ich als tapferer Soldat, das Deutsche Reich und seine gesetzmäßigen Einrichtungen jederzeit schützen, dem Reichspräsidenten und meinen Vorgesetzten Gehorsam leisten will. | I swear loyalty to the Reich's constitution and pledge, that I as a courageous soldier always want to protect the German Reich and its legal institutions, (and) be obedient to the Reichspräsident and to my superiors. |
1933–1934
In 1933, Adolf HitlerAdolf 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...
had taken over as Reichskanzler and the Enabling Act and Gleichschaltung
Gleichschaltung
Gleichschaltung , meaning "coordination", "making the same", "bringing into line", is a Nazi term for the process by which the Nazi regime successively established a system of totalitarian control and tight coordination over all aspects of society. The historian Richard J...
came in effect. As a result, a new wording was adopted on 1 December 1933:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich schwöre bei Gott diesen heiligen Eid, daß ich meinem Volk und Vaterland allzeit treu und redlich dienen und als tapferer und gehorsamer Soldat bereit sein will, jederzeit für diesen Eid mein Leben einzusetzen. | I swear by God this holy oath, that I want to ever loyally and sincerely serve my people and fatherland and be prepared as a brave and obedient soldier to risk my life for this oath at any time. |
It has to be noted that all references to the constitution and the office of Reichspräsident, then held by aging war hero Paul von Hindenburg
Paul von Hindenburg
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg , known universally as Paul von Hindenburg was a Prussian-German field marshal, statesman, and politician, and served as the second President of Germany from 1925 to 1934....
, had already been removed. Instead, more emphasis was put on religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
.
1934–1945
In August 1934, after Hindenburg had died, Hitler assumed the rights of the office, which itself was abolished, and declared himself Führer and Reichskanzler. War Minister Werner von BlombergWerner von Blomberg
Werner Eduard Fritz von Blomberg was a German Generalfeldmarschall, Minister of War and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces until January 1938.-Early life:...
issued a new wording which became known as Führereid:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich schwöre bei Gott diesen heiligen Eid, daß ich dem Führer des Deutschen Reiches und Volkes, Adolf Hitler, dem Oberbefehlshaber der Wehrmacht, unbedingten Gehorsam leisten und als tapferer Soldat bereit sein will, jederzeit für diesen Eid mein Leben einzusetzen. | I swear by God this holy oath, that I want to offer unconditional obedience to the Führer of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler, the commander-in-chief of the Wehrmacht, and be prepared as a brave soldier to risk my life for this oath at any time. |
Now Volk and Fatherland had been superseded by the person of Hitler himself, who would be Führer and supreme commander. In addition, the obedience was now to be unconditional.
The allegiance to Hitler, which millions of soldiers had to pledge, proved to be fateful as it choked opposition to him (July 20 Plot
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
etc.).
In 1935, the Reichswehr was renamed Wehrmacht.
SS
For comparison, the EidformelOath of allegiance
An oath of allegiance is an oath whereby a subject or citizen acknowledges a duty of allegiance and swears loyalty to monarch or country. In republics, modern oaths specify allegiance to the country's constitution. For example, officials in the United States, a republic, take an oath of office that...
der Schutzstaffel
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
(oath of the SS):
| German | English |
|---|---|
| "Ich schwöre Adolf Hitler unerschütterliche Treue. Ich schwöre ihm und den Führern, die er mir bestimmt, unbedingten Gehorsam. Adolf Hitler: Sieg Heil! Hitler salute The Nazi salute, or Hitler salute , was a gesture of greeting in Nazi Germany usually accompanied by saying, Heil Hitler! ["Hail Hitler!"], Heil, mein Führer ["Hail, my leader!"], or Sieg Heil! ["Hail victory!"]... " |
I vow to Adolf Hitler imperturbable loyalty. I vow to him and to the leaders, that he sets for me, absolute allegiance. Adolf Hitler: Hail victory! Hitler salute The Nazi salute, or Hitler salute , was a gesture of greeting in Nazi Germany usually accompanied by saying, Heil Hitler! ["Hail Hitler!"], Heil, mein Führer ["Hail, my leader!"], or Sieg Heil! ["Hail victory!"]... " |
The SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
was initially founded to provide personal security for Hitler as well as the leaders he put in charge (Führerprinzip
Führerprinzip
The Führerprinzip , German for "leader principle", prescribes the fundamental basis of political authority in the governmental structures of the Third Reich...
). The unshakable loyalty was made part of the SS' honour, as the motto "Unsere Ehre heißt Treue" (Our Honour is Loyalty) was coined.
Bundeswehr
Currently, recruits of the BundeswehrBundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
pledge the Gelöbnis after three months of basic training
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich gelobe, der Bundesrepublik Deutschland treu zu dienen und das Recht und die Freiheit des deutschen Volkes tapfer zu verteidigen. | I pledge to loyally serve the Federal Republic of Germany and to bravely defend the law and freedom of the German people. |
Professional soldiers and officers of the Bundeswehr have to swear an oath with the same wording, but beginning with "Ich schwöre, ..." ("I vow ...").
The web site of the Bundeswehr points out that loyalty is pledged not to a person, but rather to the country, a novum
Novum
Novum is a term used by science fiction scholar Darko Suvin and others to describe the scientifically plausible innovations used by science fiction narratives....
in German military history.