Wehrmacht

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/wehrmacht

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the unified armed forces?Consisted of the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), and Luftwaffe (Air Force)
2. What is the operational years?Active from 1935 until the end of World War II in 1945
3. What was the Wehrmacht and when was it created?The Wehrmacht was Germany’s army, navy, and air force combined into one big force. It was officially created in 1935.
4. How did the Wehrmacht fight in early World War II?It used a fast attack style called Blitzkrieg, where tanks, soldiers, and planes worked together to move quickly and surprise enemies.

Treaty of Versailles: The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing severe military restrictions on Germany.
Blitzkrieg: A military tactic characterized by rapid, concentrated attacks using armored and motorized forces, supported by air power.
Operation Barbarossa: The codename for Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, launched in June 1941.
War Crimes: Serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international warfare, including atrocities against civilians and prisoners of war.