Hitler becomes Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the German Army

The pivotal day for German history and, indeed, world history was December 19, 1941. On this fateful day, Adolf Hitler took control as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the German Army – a move that would steer the direction of World War II towards catastrophic consequences.

The circumstances surrounding Hitler’s assumption of power are an intriguing mix of personalities, ideologies, and warfare strategies. Central to this was Hitler’s belief in his infallibility as a military leader. Hitler, born in Braunau am Inn, Austria, had risen through the ranks of German politics with a vision for a greater Germany. He championed a new world order, driven by principles of National Socialism or Nazism.

On becoming the German chancellor in 1933, Hitler had already set his eyes on overhauling the existing military structure. His confidence, stemming from his experiences in World War I and his unyielding belief in the racial superiority of the Aryan race, proved instrumental in making him the Supreme Commander. But what happened on December 19, 1941, was particularly significant as it marked Hitler’s complete control over the German Army. It gave him unwavering power to dictate Germany’s involvement in World War II, shaping the course of history.

Hitler’s motivation for assuming this position was rooted in his contentious relationship with the existing German military elite. He perceived the traditional military top brass as a barrier to his radical plans. Adolf Hitler’s military strategy was marked by a risky, all-or-nothing approach. His ambitious plan to invade the Soviet Union, codenamed Operation Barbarossa, exemplifies this approach. The invasion was a direct contravention of the non-aggression pact signed between Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939.

His ascendance to the supreme command allowed him to execute his military vision, unfettered by the inhibitions of seasoned advisors. It was under Hitler’s direct command that the German Army continued the devastating warfare, powered by Blitzkrieg or “lightning war” tactics. This aggressive, fast-paced offensive strategy, a brainchild of Hitler, aimed at quick victories, usually through surprise attacks. However, Hitler’s command also led to several disastrous defeats for the German Army, like the Battle of Stalingrad and the failed invasion of the Soviet Union.

Under Adolf Hitler’s supreme command, obligations to international treaties were discarded. His decisions were often influenced by strong anti-Semitic and anti-communists ideologies, disregarding human rights and international law. This led to the perpetration of heinous war crimes under the Third Reich, including the Holocaust, leaving a horrific legacy of terror and mass extermination.

On an international scale, Hitler’s position as Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the German Army intensified the war’s course and the subsequent trajectory of global history. It catalyzed the formation of the alliances that battled against Hitler’s aggression, solidifying the roles of the United States, the Soviet Union, and Britain as Allies. Hitler’s command brought about critical moments in the war, with ripple effects across the globe – the escalation of the Eastern Front, the heightened intensity of the Holocaust, and ultimately setting the stage for the Fall of Berlin and the end of World War II.

The date of December 19, 1941, will forever be etched in world history as a crucial turning point. It was when Hitler asserted his control as Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the German Army, which led to significant implications on the global events through the course of Second World War and beyond. His decisions following this role change extrapolated the horrors of war, eventually steering the world towards one of its darkest periods.