By 1946, the Heer—the land branch of the Third Reich’s armed forces—stands as the backbone of German military power. After years of victorious campaigns in Western Europe, the British Isles, and the Eastern Front, the Heer has become the largest, most experienced, and technologically advanced army in the world.
The victory over the Soviet Union left the Heer hardened by brutal warfare under extreme conditions. Its armored divisions, supported by a modernized Blitzkrieg doctrine, played a decisive role in the capture of Stalingrad and the collapse of the Soviet regime. Since then, the Heer has shifted from being a purely offensive force to an instrument of occupation, repression, and power projection across the vast territories under Reich control.
The army maintains a permanent presence in key regions such as Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, France, and the British Isles, acting both as a security force and a symbol of German supremacy. Elite units—like the Großdeutschland Division and veteran Panzer formations—have become legendary, serving as enforcers of the new world order.
Organizationally, the Heer has incorporated technological advancements in weaponry, logistics, and communications. Next-generation armored vehicles, more sophisticated automatic weapons, and limited use of rocket prototypes and experimental technologies keep it at the cutting edge of modern warfare. The army is also undergoing a slow transition toward full professionalization, reducing its reliance on mass conscription.
However, the Heer is not without challenges. The occupation of vast territories has stretched its logistical lines thin, and it faces active resistance movements—especially in the East and former Soviet regions. War fatigue, declining morale, and a heavy dependence on a plunder-based economy and brutal repression remain ongoing concerns.
Despite these issues, in the geopolitical landscape of 1946, the Heer remains the iron fist of the Reich and the primary military threat to the United States and its allies.
Feldmarschall Walter Model – Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres (Commander-in-Chief of the German Army)
By 1946, Field Marshal Walter Model serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the German Heer, overseeing the largest ground force in Europe. Known as the “Führer’s Fireman” during the war for his skill at stabilizing collapsing fronts, Model rose through the ranks thanks to his tenacity, loyalty, and defensive genius.
In this alternate timeline, Model survived the Eastern Front and was instrumental in organizing the great counteroffensive against the Soviet Union following the fall of Britain. His leadership during the push to Stalingrad and the eventual dismantling of the Soviet government earned him immense prestige within the Wehrmacht and the Nazi Party.
Post-War Role and Philosophy
Now at the helm of the Heer, Model leads a vast, modernized army tasked with maintaining order in the German-dominated continent and preparing for a potential conflict with the United States. While loyal to the Reich, Model is known for prioritizing military pragmatism over ideology. He has pushed for professionalization of the Heer and better coordination with armored divisions and military technology units.
Model maintains strict discipline, champions veteran officers, and is wary of SS interference in army affairs, especially after clashes during the chaotic Slavic Revolts of 1944.
Legacy
To the Reich, Feldmarschall Model is a national hero—the general who held the line and then crushed Bolshevism. To his enemies, he is a cold and calculating tactician. Regardless of viewpoint, his command marks the transformation of the German Army into a hardened, modern force at the heart of a Europe under German control.
Example of the Uniforms of the Heer