Reichswehreid

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The Reichswehreid was the name for three different versions of the oath of allegiance of the German Forces, called Reichswehr from 1919 to 1935, and then Wehrmacht until 1945.

The Original Reichswehreid came in effect on 14 August 1919, shortly after Reichspräsident Friedrich Ebert had signed the Deutsches Reich constition for the German Empire (the so-called Weimar Republic. The Treaty of Versailles limited the Reichswehr to a total of 100,000 men.

"Ich schwöre Treue der Reichsverfassung und gelobe, daß ich als tapferer Soldat, das Deutsche Reich und seine gesetzmäßigen Einrichtungen jederzeit schützen, dem Reichspräsidenten und meinen Vorgesetzten Gehorsam leisten will." (I swear loyalty to the Reich's constition and pledge that I, as a courageous soldier, always want to protect the German Empire and its legal institutions, (and) be obedient to the Reichspräsident and to my superiors)

In 1933, Adolf Hitler had taken over as Reichskanzler and the Enabling Act and Gleichschaltung came in effect. As a result, a new wording was adopted on 1 December 1933:

"Ich schwöre bei Gott diesen heiligen Eid, daß ich meinem Volk und Vaterland allzeit treu und redlich dienen und als tapferer und gehorsamer Soldat bereit sein will, jederzeit für diesen Eid mein Leben einzusetzen."

It has to be noted that all references to the constitution and the office of Reichspräsident, then held by aging war hero Paul von Hindenburg, had already been removed. Instead, more emphasis was put on religion and patriotism.

On August 1934, after Hindenburg had died, Hitler assumed the rights of the office, which itself was abolished, and declared himself Führer and Reichskanzler. War Minister Werner von Blomberg issued a new wording:

"Ich schwöre bei Gott diesen heiligen Eid, daß ich dem Führer des Deutschen Reiches und Volkes, Adolf Hitler, dem Oberbefehlshaber der Wehrmacht, unbedingten Gehorsam leisten und als tapferer Soldat bereit sein will, jederzeit für diesen Eid mein Leben einzusetzen."

Now Volk and Fatherland had been superseded by the person of Hitler himself, who would be Führer and supreme commander. In addition, the obedience was now to be unconditional. The allegiance to Hitler, which millions of soldiers had to pledge, proved to be fateful as it choked opposition to him (July 20 Plot etc.).

In 1935, the Reichswehr was renamed Wehrmacht.

For comparison:

Eidformel der Schutzstaffel (SS):

"Ich schwöre Adolf Hitler unerschütterliche Treue. Ich schwöre ihm und den Führern, die er mir bestimmt, unbedingten Gehorsam. Adolf Hitler: Sieg Heil!"

The SS, founded to protect Hitler, even mentioned his name twice, as well as the leaders he put in charge (Führerprinzip). The unshakable loyalty was made part of the SS' honour, as the motto "Unsere Ehre heißt Treue" was coined.