WWII Factions: The German Army

Simple History
21 Mar 201704:02
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script outlines the transformation of the German military under Hitler's regime, from the restrictions of the Weimar Republic post-Treaty of Versailles to the rise of the Nazi paramilitary forces, including the SA and SS. It details the Wehrmacht's rearmament and conscription, leading to the rapid invasions of Poland, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. The script highlights the German army's use of blitzkrieg tactics and the pivotal battles on the Eastern Front, including Stalingrad, which shattered the myth of their invincibility. The narrative concludes with the German army's defeat at the Battle of Berlin and the staggering loss of 5.2 million soldiers during World War Two.

Takeaways
  • 📜 The Treaty of Versailles limited the German military to 100,000 men to prevent future aggression.
  • 🏺 Hitler bypassed these restrictions by expanding the SA, a paramilitary unit of the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
  • 🗡️ The German Army was concerned about the SA's growth, fearing a takeover by the group led by Ernst Röhm.
  • 🔪 The Night of the Long Knives was a purge that reduced the power of the SA and solidified the SS as the Nazi's paramilitary force.
  • 💂 In 1935, Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by rebuilding the German army, which became the Wehrmacht, comprising the Heer, Kriegsmarine, and Luftwaffe.
  • ⚔️ The Wehrmacht absorbed many SA members and the Waffen-SS was formed as a well-trained military wing alongside the regular army.
  • 🇵🇱 The German army invaded Poland in 1939 with Operation Fall Weiss, using blitzkrieg tactics and defeating the Polish forces within weeks.
  • 🚂 Contrary to propaganda, the majority of the German army relied on railways and horse-drawn transport rather than being fully motorized.
  • 🇳🇴🇩🇰🇧🇪🇳🇱 The German army swiftly conquered Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France through strategic operations.
  • 🇩🇪🇮🇹 The Africa Corps, led by Erwin Rommel, was sent to North Africa to support the Italian forces against the Allies.
  • ❌ The German army's invincibility was shattered with heavy casualties and defeats on the Eastern Front, most notably at Stalingrad.
  • 🇫🇷 The Allied forces pushed the German army back on the Western Front after D-Day, culminating in the Battle of Berlin.
  • 🏳️ The German army was ultimately defeated in May 1945, with a significant number of casualties and missing personnel among the 13 million who served.
Q & A

  • What was the limitation on the size of the German military as stated by the Treaty of Versailles?

    -The Treaty of Versailles limited the German military to only 100,000 men to prevent future aggression.

  • How did Hitler bypass the military limitation set by the Treaty of Versailles?

    -Hitler allowed the SA, a paramilitary unit of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, to expand rapidly.

  • What was the German Army's concern regarding the growth of the SA?

    -The German Army feared that it would be taken over by the SA and its leader, Ernst Röhm.

  • How did Hitler address the concerns of the German Army regarding the SA?

    -Hitler ordered the Night of the Long Knives, purging the SA leaders and reducing its power.

  • What replaced the SA as the Nazi loyal paramilitary force?

    -The SS emerged as the Nazi loyal paramilitary force in place of the SA.

  • What was the name of the German armed forces after Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by rebuilding the army?

    -The German armed forces were renamed the Wehrmacht, which included the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), and Luftwaffe (Air Force).

  • How did the German army manage to defeat the Polish army within weeks of the invasion in 1939?

    -The German army used military doctrine such as sweeping pincer movements and lateral movements, later known as blitzkrieg.

  • What was the main mode of transportation for the majority of the German army during World War Two?

    -The majority of the German army relied on railways and horse-drawn transport for transportation, contrary to the motorized image portrayed by news propaganda.

  • In which year did the German troops, known as the Africa Corps, commanded by Erwin Rommel, go to North Africa?

    -The Africa Corps went to North Africa in early 1941 to reinforce the Italian forces.

  • What was the German operation against the Soviet Union known as, and when did it take place?

    -The German operation against the Soviet Union was known as Operation Barbarossa, and it took place in June 1941.

  • Which battle ended the myth of the invincibility of the German army on the Eastern Front?

    -The Battle of Stalingrad ended the myth of the invincibility of the German army on the Eastern Front.

  • What was the outcome of the Battle of Berlin, and when did it take place?

    -The Battle of Berlin took place on May 8, 1945, and resulted in the defeat of the German army.

  • How many Germans served in the Army during World War Two, and what was the estimated number of casualties?

    -Around thirteen million Germans served in the Army during World War Two, with an estimated 5.2 million killed or missing in action.

Outlines
00:00
🏛️ The Weimar Republic's Military Limitations and SA Expansion

The Treaty of Versailles imposed strict limitations on the German military, allowing only 100,000 men. Hitler circumvented this by expanding the SA, a paramilitary unit of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. This expansion raised concerns within the German Army, fearing a takeover by the SA and its leader, Ernst Röhm. Hitler's Night of the Long Knives addressed these fears by purging SA leaders and diminishing its influence. Subsequently, the SS emerged as the primary paramilitary force loyal to the Nazi regime.

🛡️ The Rebirth of the German Military and the Wehrmacht

In 1935, Hitler, as Führer, defied the Treaty of Versailles by rebuilding the German military through conscription and rearmament. The German armed forces, formerly known as the Reichswehr, were restructured into the Wehrmacht, which included the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), and Luftwaffe (Air Force). The Wehrmacht absorbed many SA members into its ranks, and the Waffen-SS was established as an elite military wing of the SS, operating alongside the regular army.

⚔️ Invasions and Military Campaigns of the German Army

The German army, with a strength of 1.5 million men and nine Panzer divisions, invaded Poland in 1939 during Operation Fall Weiss, swiftly defeating the Polish forces. The military employed blitzkrieg tactics, including pincer movements and lateral maneuvers. Despite propaganda suggesting a motorized army, it relied heavily on railways and horse-drawn transport. The German Army achieved rapid victories in 1940, conquering Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France through Operations Fall Gelb and Fall Rot. Despite being outnumbered by the French, the German forces exploited weaknesses in the French lines, particularly through the Ardennes.

🌍 Expansion into Africa and the Eastern Front

In 1941, German troops, known as the Africa Corps and led by Erwin Rommel, were sent to North Africa to support the struggling Italian forces against the Allies. The same year saw the German army conquer Yugoslavia and Greece, and prepare for Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union with a force of three million men, including 850,000 from other Axis countries. However, the German army faced significant challenges on the Eastern Front, suffering heavy casualties and ultimately failing to defeat the Red Army. The myth of the invincibility of the German army was shattered, particularly after the Battle of Stalingrad.

🏳️‍🌈 The Final Battles and Defeat of the German Army

By January 1945, despite the setbacks, the German army still maintained over a hundred infantry divisions and 25 Panzer divisions, supported by the Volkssturm in a last-ditch effort. The Battle of Berlin in May 1945 marked the defeat of the German army. Although some units continued to resist for a few days, the overall structure of the German military was defeated. Throughout World War II, approximately 13 million Germans served in the army, with an estimated 5.2 million killed or missing in action.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed after World War I that imposed severe restrictions on Germany, including limiting its military to 100,000 men. This was done to prevent future aggression. In the video, it's mentioned as a key factor that influenced the early military structure of Germany under the Weimar Republic and the subsequent actions taken by Hitler to circumvent these limitations.
💡SA (Sturmabteilung)
The SA, or Storm Detachment, was a paramilitary unit of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party). It was allowed to expand rapidly under Hitler's regime, which caused concern within the German Army that the SA might take over. The SA's growth and subsequent purge during the Night of the Long Knives is a significant part of the narrative illustrating the power dynamics within Nazi Germany.
💡Night of the Long Knives
The Night of the Long Knives was a purge in Nazi Germany that took place in 1934. Hitler ordered the execution of many SA leaders, including Ernst Röhm, to consolidate power and reduce the threat the SA posed to the regular German Army. This event is pivotal in the video as it marks a shift in the power structure within the Nazi regime and the military.
💡SS (Schutzstaffel)
The SS, or Protection Squadron, emerged as the Nazi loyal paramilitary force after the SA was purged. It was a key part of the Nazi regime's military and security apparatus, known for its well-trained and well-armed troops. The SS is mentioned in the context of replacing the SA as the primary paramilitary force serving the Nazi regime.
💡Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht was the name given to the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany, created in 1935. It included the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), and Luftwaffe (Air Force). The formation of the Wehrmacht marked a significant violation of the Treaty of Versailles and was a major part of Hitler's rearmament and military expansion efforts.
💡Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was the military wing of the SS and served alongside the regular German Army during World War II. It was composed of carefully selected, well-armed, and well-trained troops. The Waffen-SS is highlighted in the video as a distinct and elite fighting force within the broader Nazi military structure.
💡Operation Fall Weiss
Operation Fall Weiss was the code name for the German invasion of Poland in 1939. It marked the beginning of World War II and involved a force of 1.5 million men and nine Panzer divisions. The operation is significant in the video as it showcases the German military's use of blitzkrieg tactics and the rapid defeat of the Polish Army.
💡Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg, meaning 'lightning war' in German, is a military doctrine that emphasizes rapid, coordinated attacks using combined forces of infantry, armor, and air power. It was a key strategy employed by the German army during the early stages of World War II, as mentioned in the video in the context of the invasion of Poland.
💡Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel was a German general who commanded the Afrika Korps, a German expeditionary force sent to North Africa in 1941 to support the Italian forces. Known as the 'Desert Fox,' Rommel's leadership and tactical skills are a notable part of the video's narrative on the German military's involvement in North Africa.
💡Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. It involved a massive force of over three million German and Axis troops. The video discusses this operation as a turning point, where the German army faced significant challenges and heavy casualties, particularly at the Battle of Stalingrad.
💡Volkssturm
The Volkssturm was a German national militia established in 1944 during the final stages of World War II. It was composed of men not currently in the Wehrmacht, including older men and boys, and was a last-ditch effort to bolster the German defenses. The video mentions the Volkssturm in the context of the German army's desperate situation by early 1945.
💡Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin was the final major offensive of the European theatre of World War II. It resulted in the defeat of the German army and the eventual fall of Berlin to the Allied forces. The video describes this battle as a significant event marking the end of the German resistance in the war.
Highlights

The Treaty of Versailles limited the German military to 100,000 men to prevent future aggression

Hitler bypassed this by allowing the SA, a paramilitary unit of the Nazi Party, to rapidly expand

The growth of the SA worried the German Army, fearing it would be taken over by the group and its leader Ernst Röhm

Hitler's Night of the Long Knives purged SA leaders and reduced its power, while the SS emerged as the Nazi loyal paramilitary force

In 1935, Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by rebuilding the German Army through conscription and rearmament

The German armed forces, now called the Wehrmacht, included the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), and Luftwaffe (Air Force)

The Wehrmacht absorbed most SA members into military service and formed the well-trained Waffen-SS to serve alongside the regular Army

In 1939, the German Army invaded Poland with 1.5 million men and 9 Panzer divisions in Operation Fall Weiss

The German Army defeated the Polish Army within weeks using blitzkrieg tactics like pincer movements and lateral maneuvers

Contrary to propaganda, most of the German Army relied on railways and horse-drawn transport rather than being fully motorized

In 1940, the German Army swiftly conquered Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France in operations Fall Gelb and Fall Rot

Despite being outnumbered, the German Army's superior leadership and organization led to its string of victories in 1940

In 1941, the German Africa Corps under Erwin Rommel was sent to North Africa to reinforce Italian forces against the Allies

Yugoslavia and Greece also fell to the German Army in 1941

In June 1941, the German Army launched Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union with over 3 million men

The German Army suffered heavy casualties and was unable to defeat the Red Army on the Eastern Front, shattering its myth of invincibility

By January 1945, the German Army still had over 100 infantry divisions and 25 Panzer divisions, supported by the Volkssturm

The German Army was ultimately defeated in the Battle of Berlin in May 1945, but some units continued to resist for several days

Around 13 million Germans served in the Army during World War II, with an estimated 5.2 million killed or missing in action

Transcripts

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