After President Paul von Hindenburg died on 2 August 1934, Adolf Hitler became commander in chief. All officers and soldiers had to swear a personal oath of loyalty to the Führer, which was Hitler's title. By 1935, Germany was openly denouncing theTreaty of Versailles and a rearmament program was announced with the reintroduction of subscription on may 21st.
The conscription law invented the name Wehrmacht. Recruitment for the Wehrmacht was accomplished through voluntary enlistment 1933–45 and conscription 1935–45. Men were registered for service by annual classes, and deferments for students and those working in vital economic enterprises and industries were liberally granted, prior to the war.Men were called up for service by individual letter; before the war, older registrants were only required to attend occasional training exercises of limited duration.During the early stages of World War II, occupational and medical discharges from service were fairly easy to obtain, but as the conflict intensified, these became fewer and harder to come by. Naval and Luftwaffe personnel were increasingly transferred to the Army as the war wore on, and "voluntary" enlistments in the S.S. were stepped up, as well. Eventually, exemptions previously granted to Sole surviving sons were revoked, and men as old as sixty were forced to register for combat service.
The conscription law invented the name Wehrmacht. Recruitment for the Wehrmacht was accomplished through voluntary enlistment 1933–45 and conscription 1935–45. Men were registered for service by annual classes, and deferments for students and those working in vital economic enterprises and industries were liberally granted, prior to the war.Men were called up for service by individual letter; before the war, older registrants were only required to attend occasional training exercises of limited duration.During the early stages of World War II, occupational and medical discharges from service were fairly easy to obtain, but as the conflict intensified, these became fewer and harder to come by. Naval and Luftwaffe personnel were increasingly transferred to the Army as the war wore on, and "voluntary" enlistments in the S.S. were stepped up, as well. Eventually, exemptions previously granted to Sole surviving sons were revoked, and men as old as sixty were forced to register for combat service.