Military Machines: Nazi Germany In WWII

History's greatest war began decades before the Blitzkrieg with the rise of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party. This is a look at the complex political, historical, and industrial forces that led to a war that truly became the war to end all wars.

In lightning thrusts, Hitlers Wermacht, Waffen-SS, and Luftwaffe overran enemy armies. This is a look at the weapons, tactics, and strategy of Hitler's quest for control of Europe.

The Luftwaffe was the aerial warfare branch of Nazi Germany's military, the Wehrmacht, during World War II, responsible for the country's air defense, strategic bombing, and support of ground forces.

The Luftwaffe suffered significant losses and effectiveness as the war progressed. Factors such as the Battle of Britain, strategic mistakes, resource shortages, allied air superiority contributed to the Luftwaffe's weakening.

The Brownshirts were paramilitary units of the Nazi Party, known for their role in political violence before WW II. The SS, on the other hand, was originally the Nazi Party's elite paramilitary organization.

The so-called "Fourth Branch" of the Nazi War Machine.