After the capitulation of Germany in 1918 the German army was not allowed to be larger than 100.000 man. This was to prevent that Germany would again start a second world war. This all was registered in the treaty of Versailles in which Germany became obliged to pay large debt redemption to surrounding countries. Because of this deteriorated the economic situation in Germany and in different cities started uprisings cq. revolutions. In that period there became groups that fought against those revolutions. These groups called themselves Freikorpsen.
In 1921, in the capital of Germany; Berlin, a group of ex-soldiers from the former imperial army also started a similar group under the name “Wach Regiment Berlin”. However, shortly after the name was changed into “Kommando der Wachtruppe”. The Kommando was entrust with the guarding of government buildings and functioned as a ceremonial unity during foreign state visits. Soon after they got help of unities of the Reichswehr, the official army of Germany. Again in 1934 the unity got a new name, “Wachtruppe Berlin”. But the biggest change was really that they now became part of the regular army! In 1936 GeneralOberst Von FRITSCH, commander of the whole German army, decided that the best soldiers had to do service in the “Wachtruppe Berlin”. In 1938 it got his original name back and it became an independent regiment in de German army; The Wehmacht. No more soldiers of other unities were placed in Berlin to do watch services. The “Wach Regiment Berlin” recruited their men by themselves. On the Schulterklappen they assembled a special sign to underline the elitist; “W” (Wache). This sign was the precursor of the GD sign that would be worn in the nearby future.
Wachregiment Berlin — (1921)
Kommando der Wachtruppe
Wachtruppe Berlin
Wachregiment Berlin
Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland (gemotoriseerd) — (1939)
Infanterie-Division Großdeutschland (gemotoriseerd) — (1942)
Panzer Grenadier Division Großdeutschland — (1943)
Panzer Korps Großdeutschland — (1944)
