Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht was the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. Here are key points about the Wehrmacht:
- Establishment: The Wehrmacht was officially established on March 16, 1935, following the passage of the "Law for the Reconstruction of the National Defense Forces" which allowed for the expansion of the military in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. This marked the beginning of Germany's rearmament.
- Structure:
- Role in WWII: The Wehrmacht played a central role in the aggressive expansionist policies of Nazi Germany, leading to the World War II. It was involved in numerous campaigns, including:
- The Invasion of Poland in 1939, which sparked the war.
- The Blitzkrieg campaigns in Western Europe, including the invasions of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
- The Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union, which was the largest military operation in history.
- War Crimes: While many members of the Wehrmacht were not directly involved in the atrocities committed by the SS and other organizations, the Wehrmacht was complicit in numerous war crimes, including the Holocaust. The Wehrmacht Exhibition in the 1990s highlighted the involvement of the Wehrmacht in war crimes.
- End of the Wehrmacht: Following the unconditional surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945, the Wehrmacht was dissolved. The Allied Control Council formally abolished the Wehrmacht in its Proclamation No. 2 on September 20, 1945.
- Legacy and Controversy: The role of the Wehrmacht in WWII has been a subject of much debate and controversy. Post-war, many former Wehrmacht officers and soldiers were integrated into the Bundeswehr, the post-war West German military, leading to discussions about the continuity of military culture and responsibility for war crimes.
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