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Research Themes
anchourReichswehr
The German Imperial Army 1918 – 1935The units, formations, and organizations of the transitional Weimar-era German Army and Navy.
anchourReichsmarine
The German Navy 1919-1935The units, formations, and organizations of the transitional Weimar-era German Navy.
anchourLuftwaffe
The Nazi German Air Force 1935-1945The units, formations, and organization of the German Air force (Luftwaffe), including both air and ground units.
anchourWaffen-SS
The Nazi German Armed Waffen-SS 1933-1945The units, formations, and organizations of the Armed SS, from the largest Army to the smallest battalions.
anchourHeer
The Nazi German Army 1935-1945The units, formations, and organizations of the Nazi German Army.
anchourKriegsmarine
The Nazi German Navy 1935-1945The units, formations, and organization of the German Navy (Kriegsmarine), including ships and naval ground units.
anchourWehrmachtsgefolge
Auxiliary OrganizationsThe history of the Armed Forces Auxiliary organizations that assisted or aided the German military during and prior to WWII.
anchourKollaboration
Axis CollaborationThe history of the collaborationist formations that assisted the German Armed Forces during WWII.
anchourAlliierte
Axis PowersThe history of the European Axis Powers that fought alongside Germany during WWII.
anchourFreiwillige
Foreign VolunteersThe history of the extensive foreign volunteer formations that served within the German Armed Forces during WWII.
German Armed Forces Forums
Take Part in DiscussionRead and post messages regarding the German Armed Forces in a series of different forums.
Feldzüge
Army Operations & CampaignsThe history of Wehrmacht campaigns both during and before WWII, from the earliest invasions of Austria and Czechoslovakia, all the way to the last battles in Germany in 1945.
Auszeichnungen
WW2 German Medals and AwardsGerman military-related awards and medals of the WWII era, including awards for combat performance, military service and auxiliary and civilian assistance.
German Military Events on this Date
Read a chronological listing of German military events that occurred 1939-1945 this month.
July 3, 1940
Heavy units of the British Navy, codenamed Force H(Somerville), launch an attack (Operation Catapult) on the French fleetstationed at Mers-el-Kebir near Oran in Algeria, sinking the battleship Bretagne and heavily damaging the battleship Provence and thebattlecruiser Dunkerque. 1,300 French sailors are killed and hundredswounded. Reaction in both occupied and Vichy France is one of shock andoutrage at this totally unexpected and ruthless action by their formerally. Some 59 other French warships that had sought refuge at Plymouthand Portsmouth are seized by the Royal Navy, but only after overcomingarmed French resistance in some cases.
July 3, 1941
For the first time since the beginning of the Germanattack on the Soviet Union, Stalin speaks to the Russian people over theradio. Demanding utmost resistance ‘in our patriotic war against German Fascism’, he calls for a policy of scorched earth if the Red Army is forced to yield ground and the formation of ‘people’s partisan’ groupsbehind enemy lines, as well as the summary execution of all cowards andshirkers.
July 3, 1942
In Egypt, due to exhaustion and lack of supplies, especially fuel for the armored divisions, German and Italian forces of the Afrikakorps suspend all offensive operations before El Alamein andbegin constructing defensive positions.
July 3, 1943
In the East, the opening of Unternehmen Zitadelle(Operation Citadel), the massive German counter-offensive to encircleand destroy the Soviet forces in the Orel-Belgorod salient near Kursk.is delayed by one day because of heavy Soviet air attacks against the German deployment areas. The RAF carries out a heavy night raid on Cologne, causing considerable damage and killing hundreds of civilians.
July 3, 1944
In the East, 28 divisions of Heeresgruppe Mitte (Model) are encircled or destroyed by the Soviet 1st and 3rd Belorussian Frontsin the Minsk area. The Soviets claim 400,000 German dead and 158,000taken prisoner.
