القيادة العليا للجيوش الألمانية
During the German invasion of Poland in 1939, Olbricht commanded the 24th Infantry Division and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On 15 February 1940, Olbricht was promoted to General of the Infantry. He was appointed Chief of the General Army Office ("Allgemeines Heeresamt") in the Army High Command ("Oberkommando des Heeres"). He was furthermore made Chief of the Armed Forces Reserve Office ("Wehrersatzamt") at the "Oberkommando der Wehrmacht".