Germany and the annexed Austria had been divided into 18 military districts (
Wehrkreise) from which all men were recruited and trained. The districts were ordered to use the registration lists held by the police to start calling up all men who had reached the age of 20.
Examination Soon after registration, the recruiting sub-area headquarters (Wehrbezirkskommando) issued orders for the first examination (Musterung) of registrants to be held. This was carried out by an
examining board (Musterungsstab), which included representatives of the military authorities, the district and local police, the civilian administrative authorities (municipalities or rural districts) and the German Labour Service, as well as medical officers, according to local registration districts. During this examination, registrants were classified according to their physical fitness. The following categories had been used: fit for regular service (kriegsverwendungsfähig); fit for limited service in the field (bedingt kriegsverwendungsfähig); fit only for labour service (arbeitsverwendungsfähig); totally unfit (wehruntauglich); and temporarily unfit (zeitlich untauglich). The physical requirements to be drafted into the Wehrmacht as a soldier were generally clearly defined and were based on the requirements placed on an average soldier. These requirements included aspects such as height, weight, height-to-weight ratio, eyesight, hearing and the condition of the teeth. During the course of the Second World War, however, the criteria were increasingly relaxed, as the need for soldiers increased significantly as the war progressed. At the beginning of the war (1939), a minimum body height of around 1.55 to 1.60 meters applied, depending on the branch of service. For infantrymen and other regular soldiers, an average height of 1.65 to 1.70 meters was aimed for. Taller and stronger men were preferred, especially for specialized units such as armoured troops or artillery. However, as the war progressed and manpower shortages increased, the minimum height was lowered to around 1.50 meters. The weight of the Wehrmacht soldier should be in a healthy proportion to his height. There were no rigid weight specifications, but a body mass index that indicated underweight or overweight could lead to deferment or rejection. At the beginning of the war, preference was given to men with a normal physique, as they were expected to perform better physically. Severe underweight or obesity was considered an exclusion criterion, unless the candidate could prove his fitness in another way. Good eyesight and hearing were key requirements. Soldiers had to be able to see sufficiently in at least one eye without a visual aid; as a rule, vision of at least 50 percent in one eye was required. Spectacle wearers were not generally excluded; they could serve in non-combat positions, for example as typists or technicians. Hearing ability had to be good enough for the soldier to be able to hear commands and sounds over a certain distance without difficulty. Hearing loss or deafness in one ear was a common exclusion criterion, unless compensatory abilities were available.
Training When recruits joined their regiment for initial training, they often came from the local region and were familiar with some members of their battalion or even the regiment. However, during the first 16 weeks of training, friendships were primarily limited to their immediate comrades. Recruits were assigned rooms based on their section (
Korporalschaft), and they were introduced to their section commander, (
Gefreiter), who would command their respect and instill discipline during duty. The recruits also encountered their platoon sergeant (a
Feldwebel), and their platoon commander during brief appearances early in their training. The officer typically delivered a lecture on the role of the German Army within German society. At this point, recruits were officially prohibited from maintaining any political affiliations. This rule required members of the
Nazi Party to form bonds with non-party members, regardless of personal preferences. The content and intensity of training varied depending on the depot or training facility. Some locations were notorious for extreme discipline, bordering on brutality, while others maintained a less severe but equally thorough approach. Each section was responsible for the cleanliness of its assigned room for the entire 16-week period. Recruits were issued their personal uniforms and equipment, received a strict haircut, and were fed their first military meal at around 6:00 PM. Following this, they attended an ideological lecture about the traditions and ethos of the German army and the history of their regiment. Recruits were instructed on how to properly wear their uniforms and were required to pack their civilian clothes, which would be sent back to their families the next day. From this point onward, they were officially soldiers, subject to military discipline. They were taught military customs, such as saluting indoors and outdoors, and were reminded to show respect to all senior members of the German army, which included almost everyone they encountered in their early training phase. A typical day of training for recruits began at 5:00 AM, when corporals and soldiers responsible for barracks training would often physically rouse the men from their beds. The recruits were then required to strip their beds, organize their lockers, wash, shave, and dress before breakfast. Many mornings also involved training runs of increasing distance and speed, followed by washing and changing into uniform. Breakfast, consisting of coffee and bread, was scheduled for 6:45 AM, providing the men with about 15 minutes to eat. However, this meal was frequently unavailable, especially if the recruits were engaged in exercises or drills to correct mistakes from the previous day. Recruits quickly learned that hunger, exhaustion, and personal discomfort were considered insignificant and that they had to remain prepared for any situation at all times. Lectures were a regular part of the daily schedule. These covered topics such as the duties of a soldier toward his comrades, the role of the soldier in relation to the state, and the structure of the Nazi hierarchy. Battle training during lectures was minimal, as the German army placed emphasis on practical instruction in the field. Each training day was divided into morning and afternoon sessions. A typical morning might include a lecture followed by drill practice on the parade square, while the afternoon could feature physical training and shooting practice. When provided, lunch (
Mittagessen), the main meal of the day, was served at 12:30 PM. At 1:30 PM, all recruits were assembled on the parade square for inspection and announcements. Initially, this parade was conducted by platoon sergeants. As training progressed, it was led by the company sergeant major, platoon commanders, the company adjutant, and eventually the company commander. Recruits interacted with their officers infrequently during training, as the focus was on preparing them to function independently at the section and platoon levels, without relying on the constant presence of officers who might not be available in battle. Evenings were dedicated to cleaning duties, which included maintaining uniforms, equipment, rifles, machine guns, and the barracks room. The
supper (
Abendbrot) was served at 6:30 PM. Additional activities often extended the recruits' day well into the night, and as training advanced, nighttime exercises and drills became increasingly common. The German army divided training into two categories: field training and barracks training. Field training encompassed a range of practical skills essential for survival and combat, such as drill on the parade square, fieldcraft, weapons training, map reading, and other tactical exercises. Barracks training focused on personal hygiene, weapon maintenance, and routine chores like floor polishing, bed making, and other daily housekeeping tasks common to military life. These activities not only instilled discipline but also fostered camaraderie within sections, forging bonds that would endure into combat. Recruits were provided with all the necessary clothing and equipment to perform their duties, but it was their personal responsibility to ensure everything was kept clean and in good condition. Replacements were issued when necessary, but only for items damaged during training or exercises. Proper care of boots was particularly emphasized, as poorly maintained or ill-fitting footwear could lead to severe foot injuries, which might result in a soldier falling out of formation—a serious matter with potentially harsh consequences. Foot injuries caused by negligence were treated as a disciplinary offense. Every morning, recruits were required to strip their beds to allow them to air, as maintaining hygiene in the barracks was a priority. Beds soaked with sweat needed to dry out before being remade in the early afternoon prior to roll call. Lockers were also subject to inspection and had to be kept tidy, though the German army did not adopt the extreme "spit-and-polish" standards of some other militaries. Cleanliness and order were essential, but soldiers were not expected to achieve a mirror-like shine on boots or millimeter-perfect bed arrangements. The standard uniform for trainees was white, a color that quickly became impractical during training. Over time, repeated washing caused the material to fade to a yellow or grey hue. This uniform was completed with ankle boots, a belt, and a side cap. The difficulty in keeping the uniform clean for inspections reinforced the importance of personal accountability for cleanliness and appearance. Recruits were also responsible for their assigned room-cleaning tasks, further instilling discipline. Mistakes or lapses in discipline were met with swift and physically demanding punishments. Unlike some armies, where punishments might include menial tasks such as polishing dustbins or painting grass, the German army treated punishments as additional training opportunities. Common penalties included long runs in full field gear or practical exercises like crawling through muddy terrain, wading through streams, or performing other physically grueling tasks. These punishments were not only corrective but also reinforced the physical conditioning and endurance required for military life. Obedience and discipline were further instilled through rigorous foot and rifle drills. Recruits spent many hours on the parade square during their 16-week training period, averaging around 30 drill sessions per week. These included muster parades and pre-meal parades. Rifle drill was not limited to ceremonial handling for parades but also covered tactical aspects, such as loading, unloading, ensuring safety, and cleaning the weapon. This comprehensive approach ensured that recruits developed both the discipline expected of soldiers and the practical skills needed for combat.
Special training After completing their basic infantry training, recruits designated for the armored forces began specialized Panzer training. This training was conducted at several dedicated schools located in Wunsdorf-Zossen, Bergen, and Potsdam-Krampnitz. As the war progressed, additional specialization courses were introduced, including programs for Panther crews at the training grounds in Erlangen and for Tiger crews at the Paderborn training grounds. For much of the war, Non-Commissioned Officer training for tank crews was handled by the Feld-Unteroffizier-Schule near Warsaw in occupied Poland. Upon arrival at their assigned training post, recruits underwent an intense six-month period of infantry training, which also included practice with the standard German 37mm anti-tank gun of the time. Tank and anti-tank units were often trained together, with the aim of fostering a mutual understanding of each unit's roles and capabilities. This collaborative approach ensured that by the end of their training, both tank and anti-tank personnel were fully aware of how to complement and support each other in combat situations. Following this initial six-month phase, the recruits were divided into specialized groups. Approximately 45% of the trainees received specific instruction as anti-tank gun crew members, 40% were trained as vehicle drivers and mechanics, and the remaining 15% were taught as signalmen. Alongside this specialist training, recruits periodically resumed infantry training to maintain their foundational skills. The training of officer candidates was overseen by the Fahnenjunker-Schule der Panzertruppen (Cadet School for Panzer Troops), located in Gross-Glienicke near Berlin. Additional courses for officer candidates were conducted at various Panzer training facilities in Gross-Glienicke, Ohrdruf, and Wischau. Advanced officer training took place at the Oberfähnrich-Schule der Panzertruppe (Officer Cadet School for Panzer Troops), also located in Gross-Glienicke and Wischau. Tank commanders were chosen from the most capable and skilled members of the trained tank crews, while platoon leaders (Zugführer) were selected from the best-performing commanders. This rigorous selection and training process ensured that leadership within the Panzer units was of the highest caliber.
Officer training After the First World War, officer training in Germany was comprehensively reformed and extended under Hans von Seeckt. Candidates spent almost four years in training, starting with two years in the troops, followed by ten and a half months each at the infantry school and the weapons school. The focus remained on personal development, but more emphasis was placed on academic subjects. The curriculum included tactics, weapons technology, pioneer service, terrain studies, army organization, civic education, air defence, communications, and vehicle technology, theoretical physical education as well as hygiene and military administration. In the weapons school, some theoretical subjects were supplemented by military history and special subjects such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry, with military history being of great importance. Until 1937, officer training in Germany was divided into three parts: basic training with the troops, officer school, and weapons school, followed by further service, with appointment as an officer taking place after about two years. Instruction at officer school became more practice-oriented, with more hours devoted to tactics and one hour of Nazi principles instead of civic instruction. After the start of the war, training was increasingly replaced by front-line service. Until the end of 1942, officer candidates underwent a combination of training and frontline service, but this had to be adjusted due to high casualties. From the fall of 1942, proven soldiers without an original officer's career could also become officers on the recommendation of their commanders, whereby criteria such as leadership, personality and military performance were decisive. This made it possible for tens of thousands of non-commissioned officers and enlisted men to become officers during the war. During the course of the Second World War, formal training at the officer school was increasingly replaced by active service at the front. Until the end of 1942, future officers first underwent six months of training with the reserve army. They then served three months at the front, returned to the officer school for three months, served a further two to four months at the front, and were finally appointed officers after a total service period of 14 to 18 months.
General Staff Officer training Until the middle of the Second World War, membership of the General Staff was the main route to preferential promotions and the rank of general in the German army. The General Staff was regarded as an exclusive elite with enormous prestige and influence. Before the First World War, selection for the War Academy was based on an annual examination in military and general subjects, with an emphasis on tactics. After 1920, the examination became compulsory for all officers in order to assess knowledge, personality and character. The three-year course at the War Academy aimed to train experts for operations, especially for the position of First General Staff Officer (Ia) of a division. The main subjects were tactics and military history, supplemented by staff work, army organization, enemy intelligence, supply, transport, and weapons technology. Non-military subjects such as foreign languages, foreign and domestic policy, and economics were taught in the third year in Berlin. The training included lectures, exercises, seminars, independent work, planning, and war games as well as general staff trips to historical battlefields. In the summer, the participants were assigned to various branches of the armed forces to gain practical insights. The highlight was a two-week general staff trip with the simulation and detailed preparation of a major operation, which was also decisive for the final assessment. The selection of the general staff officers was based on intensive personal observation and assessment by the training managers, without a written final examination. Qualities such as intelligence, decision-making ability, creativity, resilience, and reliability were sought. After successfully completing the War Academy, graduates were initially assigned to the General Staff for one to two years on probation before being officially accepted. The Kriegsakademie was closed at the beginning of the Second World War in 1939, as a short war was expected and general staff officers were in short supply. The three-year course was replaced by eight-week courses, which were strongly practice-oriented and focused on tactics, supplies, transportation, staff work, and enemy intelligence. Character and independent thinking remained key selection criteria, with around 80% of graduates being assessed as suitable. From 1942, as the demand for general staff officers continued to rise, the training was restructured. It comprised six months of practical training in the divisional staff, three months in a higher staff, eight weeks of training, and a further six-month probationary period, which took around 1.5 years in total. As the training often involved front-line operations, there were high casualties among the participants, reflecting the German belief that war itself was the best teacher. == Nutrition ==