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I MARCH 1945simply Generalstab, is a category of speciallyselected and carefully trained officers who fill almostall the important <strong>com</strong>riland as well as staffpositions throughout the Army. The Army GeneralStaff, on the other hand, occupies a positionanalogous to that of the War Department GeneralStaff; it is the main advisory body to theCommander-in-Chief on operations, intelligence,organization, supply, and general matters ofArmy policy.Both the Army General Staff and the GeneralStaff Corps are headed by the Chicf of the ArmyGeneral Staff (Chef des Gcrwralstabs dcs Hecrcs(72) ) also referred to simply as Chef drs Gcncr&tabs).In time of war the Army General Staff is stationedat field headquarters, leaving only a smallrear echelon in Berlin.The Army General Staff basically consists of12 branches which cover all the proper staff andplanning functions and which are grouped underfive senior officers known as ObcrquartiFvltzeistcr1—V (73). In wartime, a number of additionalhigh-ranking officers are appointed as chief cdviserson the employment of the various armsand services in the field and on certain othertechnical matters; some of these officers and thesections which they control are absorbed organicallyinto the Army General Staff for the durationof the war, while others are regarded as attachedto it. By far the most important of them is theChief Supply and Administration Officer (GencraZquartiermeistcr)(74), who is responsible forthe whole supply and administrative structure ofthe Field Army. Since he and the other wartimeappointees perform the functions of some of theregular branches of the General Staff, it is believedthat the separate functioning of these particularbranches is largely suspended in wartime.Moreover, with the partial merging of the fieldheadquarters of the OKW and the OKH underHitler's personal <strong>com</strong>mand at the end of 1941,some of the other normal functions of branchesof the Army ‘General Staff have been wholly orpartly taken over by the Armed Forces OperationsStaff (WFSt). Thus the grouping underOberquartierllleistcr seems to have l)erome largelymeaningless, and it is even doubtful whether thesepositions are actually filled at the present time.Since, however, they are a part of the permanentorganization of the Army General Staff, they aregiven here and on the ac<strong>com</strong>panying chart withtheir appropriate functions and subordinateUNCLASSIFIED TM-E 30-451branches. It is indicated in each case belowwherever the functions of a particular branch arebelieved to have been largely or wholly suspendedor transferred to some other agency:Central Branch (Zentralabteilulzg—GZ) (75).This branch is concerned principally with centraladministrative matters pertaining to the GeneralStaff Corps rather than with the functions ofthe Army General Staff. Until 1943 it made allappointments and promotions of General StaffCorps officers at all echelons; this responsibilitythen was transferred to Branch 3 of the ArmyPersonnel Office (PA/P 3).FIRST SIZIOR GI~NI:I~AL STAFF OFFICER (ObcrqunrtirrnwistrrI—O Qu IJ (76). Thisoffice whichdeals with operations and related matters is reportedto have been vacant for some time, itsfunction being performed largely by the operationssections of the Armed Forces OperationsStaff (.U”FSt). The grouping 0 Qu I includes:Branch 1 (1. Abtcilung or O/I Abt) (77).This branch, concerned with operations, developsand vltzeistc r basic tactical rules and methodsof conducting warfare. Its function of advisingthe cd - of Staff and Commander-in-Chief onactual operations and strategy. has largely lapsed.Branch 5 (5. Abtcilmg) (78). The functionof this branch which deals with transport, hasbeen handled since the beginning of the war bythe Chief Transportation Officer attached to theGeneral Staff (GEM St d H/Chef Trspw).P,ranch 6 (6. Abteilzrng) (79). Functions ofthis or which is concerned with rear echelonshave been handled since the beginning of the warby the Chief Supply and Administration Officer(GeuSt d H/Gen 0~).Branch 9 (9. Abtril!tJrg) (SO). Topography,specific responsibility of this branch, has beenhandled since 1941 by the Chief of Mapping andSurvey in the General Staff (Gcn St d H/KrIinrt Venn Chef).El-an& 10 (10. Abtcilung) (81). Maneuversand operational planning, now for the most partare divided among a number of other agenciesof the OKTV and OKN, both at field headquartersand at the rear echelon.GEL Y SEN TOR GKNEKAT. STAFI; OFFICER(Ohc’l’(lucrl-tirrrlrllistc~ II—O Qu II) (82). Thrtraining functions of this grouping largely aretaken over in wartime by the Home Command; itincludes:Branch 4 (4. Abtcihg or Ausb. Abt.) (83).This branch is responsillle in wartime only for1—21

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