History
The Wehrmacht was the official military force of Germany. It included the army, navy, and air force. These forces were used to invade many countries across Europe, starting a major global war. They were well-equipped and fought on many different fronts for several years. The SS started as a small group to protect the leaders of Germany. Over time, it grew much larger and became involved in many violent actions against civilians. They worked separately from the regular army in many ways. Together, these groups controlled the military efforts for Germany during the war years. Their actions led to massive destruction across the continent. By the end of the conflict, these forces were defeated by the Allied nations. Most of these groups were disbanded after the war ended in 1945. They remain a major part of the history of the conflict because of the scale of the fighting they engaged in during those years.
