Jodl served as head of the department of national defense in the war ministry from 1935.

He was a competent staff officer and Adolf Hitler’s faithful servant to the end, he was named chief of operations of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht on August 23, 1939.

With Wilhelm Keitel, OKW chief of staff, he became a key figure in Hitler’s central military command and was involved in implementing all of Germany’s campaigns except the beginning of the Russia invasion in the second half of 1941.

As chief of operations staff, he had signed many orders for the shooting of hostages and for other acts contrary to international law.