WW2: Both Sides of The Wire | A Battle Guide Production Episode 64: How Germany Secretly Rebuilt Its Military After WWI | Between the Wars
Oct 15, 2025
The discussion reveals Germany's clandestine military resurgence between the wars. It delves into the aftermath of WWI and the impact of the Versailles Treaty restrictions. Insights into Hans von Seeckt's vision for a modern army highlight the innovative strategies. The role of German-Soviet cooperation in military training is particularly fascinating, showcasing how both nations benefited. Secret programs for tank, air, and chemical warfare laid the groundwork for future conflict. The evolution from covert practices to overt rearmament under Hitler marks a pivotal shift.
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Versailles Left Germany Militarily Handicapped
- The Treaty of Versailles left Germany with only a tiny, ill-equipped force and strict limits that made conventional defense impossible.
- German officers nonetheless debated options and sometimes remained unrealistically optimistic about immediate wartime capabilities.
Seeckt's Professional Army Concept
- Hans von Seeckt promoted a small, professional, highly trained army over mass conscription based on mobile warfare experience.
- That conceptual preference later eased Germany's expansion into mechanized doctrine despite Versailles limits.
Ruhr Occupation As A Wake-Up Call
- The 1923 French-Belgian occupation of the Ruhr shocked German military leaders into confronting helplessness.
- Seeckt wrote that "our hand reaches to one side where the sword used to be; it only grabs thin air."