How was the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht meant to control the German army, air force, and navy?

The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) was designed to exercise command and control over the three branches of the German military: the Heer (army), the Luftwaffe (air force), and the Kriegsmarine (navy). Each of these branches maintained its own high command, which often operated independently of the OKW.12

In practice, the OKW’s ability to unify these forces was limited by the rigid and fragmented structure of the Nazi state. For example, during the defense of Western Europe in 1944, the Commander in Chief West lacked direct authority over naval and air forces, as those branches reported to their own high commands and ultimately to [Adolf Hitler]. Furthermore, Hitler frequently bypassed established command structures, requiring his explicit permission for major tactical movements, such as the deployment of armored reserves. This inefficient system was exacerbated by deep social and political divisions between the traditional military elite and Nazi ideologues, ensuring that the OKW often functioned within a complex, competitive, and highly centralized hierarchy that prioritized direct loyalty to Hitler over unified military coordination.2