Oberste Heeresleitung

The Oberste Heeresleitung or OHL (Supreme Army Command) was the highest echelon of command of the German army in World War I, while the Navy was led by the Seekriegsleitung or SKL, (Naval Warfare Command).

Related Topics:
World War I - SKL

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The law made Emperor Wilhelm II the Supreme Commander of the German Army, but the generals at the OHL made largely decisions on their own. At the end of the war they had practically superseded the government as the center of political power.

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Co-ordination was poor at the beginning of the war between the OHL and the SKL: for instance the Imperial navy did not know about the Schlieffen plan, which planned an attack on France through Belgium.

Related Topics:
Schlieffen plan - France - Belgium

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At the start of the First World War, the Chief of the OHL was Helmuth von Moltke. He then had to resign after the failure of the Marne offensive. The Prussian War minister Erich von Falkenhayn was appointed as his successor. He advocated a "war of attrition" (Abnutzungsschlacht) which showed its limitations at Verdun.

Related Topics:
First World War - Helmuth von Moltke - Marne - Erich von Falkenhayn - Verdun

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