Oberkommando der Wehrmacht

The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht or OKW (Wehrmacht High Command, Armed Forces High Command) was part of the command structure of the German armed forces during World War II. In theory, it served as the military general staff for Adolf Hitler's Third Reich, coordinating the efforts of the German Army (Heer), Navy (Kriegsmarine), and Air Force (Luftwaffe). In theory, the OKW, as Hitler's military office, was charged with translating Hitler's ideas into military orders. In practice it had little real control over the Army, Navy and the Air Force High Commands. However, as the war progressed the OKW found itself exercising increasing amounts of direct command authority over military units, particularly in the West. This created a situation such that by 1942 the OKW was the de facto command of Western forces while the Oberkommando des Heeres (the Army High Command) exercised de facto command of the Russian front.

Related Topics:
Wehrmacht - German - World War II - Adolf Hitler - Third Reich - Heer - Kriegsmarine - Luftwaffe - Oberkommando des Heeres

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The OKW had been formed in 1938 following the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair which led to the dismissal of Werner von Blomberg and the dissolution of the Reichswehrministerium (Reichs Ministry of War).

Related Topics:
Blomberg-Fritsch Affair - Werner von Blomberg

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There was a rivalry between OKW and the OKH (Army High Command, Oberkommando des Heeres): Because most German operations during World War II were army operations (with air support), the Army High Command demanded the control over the German military forces. Hitler decided against the OKH and in favour of the OKW.

Related Topics:
OKH - Oberkommando des Heeres - German - World War II

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During the war more and more influence moved from the OKH to the OKW. Norway was the first "OKW war theater". More and more theaters came under complete control of the OKW. Finally only the Russian Front stayed under control of the Army High Command.

Related Topics:
Norway - Theaters

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The OKW ran military operations on the Western front, Africa and in Italy. In the west operations were further split between the OKW and the Oberbefehlshaber West (OBW, Commander in Chief West), who was Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt (later Field Marshal Günther von Kluge).

Related Topics:
Italy - Oberbefehlshaber West - Generalfeldmarschall - Gerd von Rundstedt - Günther von Kluge

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There was even more fragmentation as naval and air operations had their own commands (Oberkommando der Marine (OKM) and Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL, Hermann Göring)) which, while theoretically subordinate, were largely independent from OKW or the OBW.

Related Topics:
Oberkommando der Marine - Oberkommando der Luftwaffe - Hermann Göring

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The OKW was headed for the entire war by Wilhelm Keitel and reported directly to Hitler, from whom most operational orders actually originated as he had made himself Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht (Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces) and Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres (head of the OKH).

Related Topics:
Wilhelm Keitel - Hitler

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Alfred Jodl was Keitel's Chef des Wehrmachtführungsstabes (Chief of Operation Staff), while Walter Warlimont was Deputy Chief.

Related Topics:
Alfred Jodl - Walter Warlimont

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The OKW was indicted but acquitted of charges during the Nuremberg trials of being a criminal organization. Keitel and Jodl however were convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.

Related Topics:
Nuremberg trials - Criminal organization

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