The Wehrmacht has been extensively researched, yet its image remains controversial to this day. Jürgen Förster provides a concise account of this military organization based on profound knowledge of documents and literature. Beginning with the Reichswehr, he examines its structural development leading to the Wehrmacht as a pillar of the Third Reich. The influence of Nazi politics, the relationship with the SS, the personnel elite in the second half of the war, the July 20, 1944, as a structural turning point, and Hitler as a military leader are additional topics. Förster's study is essential reading for the historically interested public, students, and pupils.