Oberkommando des Heeres
The Oberkommando des Heeres was the high command of the Army of Nazi Germany. It was founded in 1935 as part of Adolf Hitler's rearmament of Germany. OKH was de facto the most important unit within the German war planning until the defeat at Moscow in December 1941.
During World War II, OKH had the responsibility of strategic planning of Armies and Army Groups. The General Staff of the OKH managed operational matters. Each German Army also had an Army High Command. The Armed Forces High Command then took over this function for theatres other than the Eastern front.
The OKH commander held the title of Commander-in-chief of the Army. After the Battle of Moscow, the OKH commander Field marshal Walther von Brauchitsch was removed from office, and Hitler appointed himself as Commander-in-Chief of the Army.
From 1938, OKH was, together with Oberkommando der Luftwaffe and Oberkommando der Marine formally subordinated to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht.
OKH vs OKW
OKH had been independent until February 1938, when Hitler created the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht which, on paper, subordinated OKH to OKW. After a major crisis developed in the Battle of Moscow, von Brauchitsch was dismissed, and Hitler appointed himself as head of the OKH. At the same time, he limited the OKH's authority to the Russian front, giving OKW direct authority over army units elsewhere. This enabled Hitler to declare that only he had complete awareness of Germany's strategic situation, should any General request a transfer of resources between the Russian front and another theatre of operations.Although both OKW and OKH were headquartered in the Maybach complex in Nazi Germany, the functional and operational independence of both establishments were not lost on the respective staff during their tenure. Personnel at the compound remarked that even if Maybach 2 was completely destroyed, the OKH staff in Maybach 1 would scarcely notice. These camouflaged facilities, separated physically by a fence, also maintained structurally different mindsets towards their objectives.
On 28 April 1945, Hitler formally subordinated OKH to OKW, giving the latter command of forces on the Eastern Front.
Organisation
In 1944, these elements were subordinate to the OKH:- C.-in-C. Reserve Army and Chief of Equipment : Friedrich Fromm
- Chief of : Friedrich Olbricht
- Chief of Army Ordnance Office : Emil Leeb
- Chief of Army Personnel Office : Rudolf Schmundt
- Chief of Army Administrative Office :
- Army Propaganda and Public Relations Office: Hasso von Wedel – Albrecht Blau – Kurt Dittmar
- Inspector General of Armoured Troops : Heinz Guderian
- General officer commanding for Engineers and Fortifications : Alfred Jacob
- Inspector General for Officer Cadets : Karl-Wilhelm Specht
List of commanders