Reichswehr

Reichswehr flag (1921-1935)

The Reichswehr (literally National Defense, Imperial Defense/"Realms Defense") formed the military organization of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht (Defence Force).

At the end of World War I, the forces of the German Empire had mostly disintegrated, the men making their way home individually or in small groups. Many of them joined the Freikorps (free corps), a collection of volunteer paramilitary units that were involved in revolution and border clashes between 1918 and 1923.

The newly-formed Weimar Republic did need a military though, and on 6 March 1919 a decree established the Vorläufige Reichswehr ("Provisional National Defense Force"), consisting of a Vorläufige Reichsheer (Provisional National Army) and a Vorläufige Reichsmarine (Provisional National Navy). About 400,000 men served in the Reichsheer.

On 30 September 1919, the army was reorganized as the Übergangsheer ("Transitional Army"). This lasted until 1 January 1921, when the Reichswehr was officially established according to the limitations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.

Limited by treaty to a total of 100,000 men, the Reichswehr was composed of the following:

• The Reichsheer, an army consisting of two group commands,
  • seven infantry divisions, and
  • three cavalry divisions.

Tanks, heavy artillery and aircraft were forbidden.

• The Reichsmarine, a navy limited to a handful of ships. Submarines and aircraft were forbidden.

Despite the limitations on its size, their analysis of the loss of WW I, research and development, secret testing abroad (in cooperation with the Red Army) and planning for "better times" went on. As well, although forbidden to have a general staff, the army continued to conduct the typical functions of a general staff under the disguised name of Truppendienst, or "Troop Office". During this time, many of the future leaders of the Wehrmacht, for instance, Heinz Guderian, first formulated the ideas that they were to use so effectively a few years later.

The Reichswehr was never a friend of democracy but stayed loyal to the democratic German government. This was done by emphasizing the apolitical character of the Reichswehr. This gave democracy the chance to develop without intervention from the military leadership, but reduced also the likelihood of military resistance against Adolf Hitler. The biggest influence on the development of the Reichswehr was Hans von Seeckt (1866-1936), who served from 1920-1926 as "Chef der Heeresleitung" (Chief of the Army Leadership).

Whilst the reduction of the peacetime strength of the German army from 780,000 (1913) to 100,000 actually enhanced the quality of the Reichswehr - only the best of the best would be permitted to join the army - the changing face of warfare meant that the smaller Rechswehr was largely helpless without mechanised and aerial support, no matter how much effort was put into modernising infantry tactics.

During 1933 and 1934, after Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, the Reichswehr began a secret program of expansion, which finally became public with the formal announcement of the Wehrmacht in 1935.

Reference

• Wheeler-Bennett, Sir John The Nemesis of Power: German Army in Politics, 1918-1945 New York: Palgrave Macmillan Publishing Company, 2005.

External links

• Axis History Factbook - Reichswehr
• Feldgrau's overview of the Reichswehr
• The Archives of technical Manuals 1900-1945 (includes the Reichswehr-regulations)