Reichswehreid

The Hitler Oath (German: or ''Führer'' Oath)—also referred in English as the Soldier's Oath—refers to the oaths of allegiance sworn by officers and soldiers of the ''Wehrmacht'' and civil servants of Nazi Germany between the years 1934 and 1945. The oath pledged personal loyalty to Adolf Hitler rather than loyalty to the Weimar Constitution of the country. Historians view the personal oath of the Nazi Germany as an important psychological element to obey orders for committing war crimes, atrocities, and genocide. During the Nuremberg trials, many German officers unsuccessfully attempted to use the oath as a defence against charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Background

During the Weimar era, the oath of allegiance, sworn by the ''Reichswehr'', required soldiers to swear loyalty to the ''Reich'' Constitution and its lawful institutions. Following Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in 1933, the military oath changed, the troops now swearing loyalty to people and country. On the day of the death of President Paul von Hindenburg, the oath was changed again, as part of the Nazification of the country; it was no longer one of allegiance to the Constitution or its institutions, but one of binding loyalty to Hitler himself.

Although the popular view is that Hitler drafted the oath himself and imposed it on the military, the oath was the initiative of ''Reichswehr'' Minister General Werner von Blomberg and General Walter von Reichenau, the chief of the Ministerial Office. The intention of Blomberg and Reichenau in having the military swear an oath to Hitler was to create a personal special bond between him and the military, which was intended to tie Hitler more tightly towards the military and away from the Nazi Party. Years later, Blomberg admitted that he did not think through the full implications of the oath at the time.

On 20 August 1934, the cabinet decreed the "Law On The Allegiance of Civil Servants and Soldiers of the Armed Forces", which superseded the original oaths. The new law decreed that both members of the armed forces and civil servants had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler personally.

History

Previous oaths

''Reichswehr'' oath

From 1919 until 1935, the Weimar Republic's armed forces were called the ''Reichswehr'' (Realm Defence).

The original oath called the came into effect on 14 August 1919, shortly after ''Reichspräsident'' Friedrich Ebert had signed the Weimar Constitution for the German Reich. The Treaty of Versailles limited the ''Reichswehr'' to a total of 100,000 men.

= From 1919 to December 1933

=

"I swear loyalty to the Reich's constitution and pledge,
that I as a courageous soldier always want to protect the German Reich and its legal institutions,
(and) be obedient to the Reich President and to my superiors."

In January 1933, when Adolf Hitler was appointed ''Reichskanzler'' and the Enabling Act and ''Gleichschaltung'' came into effect, the military oath changed again.

= From 2 December 1933 to 2 August 1934

=

"I swear by God this holy oath,
that I want to ever loyally and sincerely serve my people and fatherland
and be prepared as a brave and obedient soldier
to risk my life for this oath at any time." 14 August 1919, p. 1419.

After the death of German President Paul von Hindenburg on 2 August 1934, Hitler merged the offices of ''Reichspräsident'' and ''Reichskanzler'', and declared himself ''Führer and Reichskanzler''. Blomberg issued a new wording which became known as the (Hitler oath). From that point on, all military personnel swore an oath of allegiance and binding loyalty to Hitler himself.

''Führer'' oath

''Wehrmacht'' oath

On 16 March 1935 the German government renamed the ''Reichswehr'' as the (Defence Force)

= English translation

=
"I swear by God this holy oath
that I shall render unconditional obedience
to the Leader of the German Reich and people,
Adolf Hitler, supreme commander of the armed forces,
and that as a brave soldier I shall at all times be prepared
to give my life for this oath."

When the oath became law in July 1935, civilian officials would swear a similar oath.

Civil servant oath

= English translation

=
"I swear: I will be faithful and obedient
to the leader of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler,
to observe the law, and to conscientiously fulfil my official duties, so help me God!"

Oathtakers then sang both ''Deutschland Ãœber Alles'' and the Nazi anthem ''Horst-Wessel-Lied''.

Public figures who refused to take the oath

Thousands of military officers reportedly claimed to be ill to avoid taking the oath but were forced to do so after returning to duty.

See also

* Oaths to Hitler
* Ceremonial oath of the ''Bundeswehr''

References

Citations

Sources

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Further reading

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Gesetz über die Vereidigung der Beamten und der Soldaten der Wehrmacht
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* :de:Gelöbnis#Deutsche Soldateneide
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Gustav Heinemann: Eid und Entscheidung

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Symbols of Nazi Germany
Wehrmacht
Oaths of allegiance
Oath
Military oaths
1934 documents
1934 in Germany