English

DTIC ADA168149: Reichswehr

The Reichswehr, the post-World War I German Army of 100,000 mandated by the Treaty of Versailles, was a very capable, highly professional army of leaders - a 'Fuhrerarmee'. It served Germany well from 1919 to 1933 and became the cadre around which the highly effective Wehrmacht was to form. Examination of available English language literature is used to illustrate the little known Reichswehr's organization, policies, culture, training, and convert rearmament. The development of officers, and most especially those candidates for the General Staff, is a model of pure excellence uncommon in its intellectual demands and professional commitment. Likewise, the Reichswehr was able to recruit some of the best of the nation's youth and to offer them careers full of meaningful military and trade schooling. This alone is a characteristic rare among the peacetime armies of history. The American Army, faced with frequent cycles of public neglect, can learn from the example of the Reichswehr.

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