Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW)

The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) was the high command organization responsible for overseeing Germany's military forces—army, navy, and air force—during World War II. Established in 1938, it coordinated strategic planning, operations, and resource distribution. The OKW operated under the authority of Adolf Hitler and aimed to unify command across branches, but it often prioritized Hitler's directives over independent military advice. Its structure reflected Nazi Germany's centralized control, making it a key military organization tasked with managing wartime efforts, though many military leaders also maintained their own command chains within the respective branches.