Reichswehr flag (1921-1935).

German camouflage for tents, which was introduced in 1931.

The Reichswehr listen (help· info) (German for "National Defence") formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ("Defence Force"). Image File history File links Flag_of_Weimar_Republic_(war). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Weimar_Republic_(war). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 362 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (787 × 1302 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 362 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (787 × 1302 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links De-Reichswehr-pronunciation. ... Alternate cover US 1979 and 2002 reissue cover, also known as paint spatter cover For the military meaning, see Armed forces. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... The straight-armed Balkenkreuz, a stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Wehrmacht. ...

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 Great War ” redirects here. ... For German colonial territories, see German Colonial Empire. ... The designation of Freikorps (German for Free Corps, i. ... For other uses, see Revolution (disambiguation). ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The newly-formed Weimar Republic did need a military though, and on 6 March 1919 a decree established the Vorläufige Reichswehr ("Provisional National Defence"), consisting of a Vorläufige Reichsheer ("Provisional National Army") and a Vorläufige Reichsmarine ("Provisional National Navy"). About 400,000 men served in the Reichsheer. Anthem Das Lied der Deutschen Germany during the Weimar period, with the Free State of Prussia (in blue) as the largest state Capital Berlin Language(s) German Government Republic President  - 1918-1925 Friedrich Ebert  - 1925-1933 Paul von Hindenburg Chancellor  - 1919 Philipp Scheidemann(first)  - 1933 Kurt von Schleicher (last) Legislature... is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ...

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. is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... This article is about the Treaty of Versailles of June 28 1919, which ended World War I. For other uses, see Treaty of Versailles (disambiguation) . The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was a peace treaty which officially ended World War I between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany. ...

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. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize... Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... Not to be confused with Golgotha, which was called Calvary. ...

• 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 World War 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. Reichsmarine Jack The Reichsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Weimar Republic. ... The multinational Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) The British Grand Fleet, the supreme naval force of World War I A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... The phrase research and development (also R and D or, more often, R&D), according to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, refers to creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use... For other organizations known as the Red Army, see Red Army (disambiguation). ... The straight-armed Balkenkreuz, a stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Wehrmacht. ... This article is about the World War II general Heinz Guderian. ...

The Reichswehr was never a friend of democracy but stayed loyal to the democratic German government. The apolitical character of the Reichswehr was emphasised, and this gave democracy the chance to develop without intervention from the military leadership. The biggest influence on the development of the Reichswehr was Hans von Seeckt (1866-1936), who served from 1920-1926 as Chef der Heeresleitung (literally "Chief of the Army Leadership"). Hans von Seeckt Hans von Seeckt (22 April 1866 - 27 December 1936) was a German soldier. ...

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 programme of expansion. With the Nazi takeover of power, there were suggestions by Ernst Rohm that the SA, the Nazi paramilitary force, take over the functions of the Reichswehr. This alarmed the leaders of the military, and to forestall the possibility of a coup, Hitler sided with the military and killed Rohm and his supporters in the Night of the Long Knives. The secret programme of expansion, finally became public with the formal announcement of the Wehrmacht in 1935. Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hitler redirects here. ... The head of government of Germany is called Chancellor (German: Kanzler). ... Ernst Röhm Ernst Röhm (or Roehm) (November 28, 1887 — July 1, 1934) was a German military officer and most recognized commander of the Nazi Stroomtroopers, known as the Sturmabteilung. ... SA may stand for: // Students Association, an association of students, also written as S.A. for e. ... For other uses, see Night of the Long Knives (disambiguation). ... The straight-armed Balkenkreuz, a stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Wehrmacht. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ...

References

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

Sir John Wheeler Wheeler-Bennett, GCVO, MCG, OBE, FRSL, FBA, (October 13, 1902-December 9, 1975) was a conservative British historian of German and diplomatic history. ...

External links

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