Wever saw action as an aerial observer in World War I and served as a staff officer for the OHL (Oberste Heeresleitung, Army High Command).

They were proponents of the dive-bomber (Junkers Ju 87) and the doctrine of close support and destruction of the opposing air forces on the 'battle-ground' rather than through attacking enemy industry.

[citation needed] As a result, high-speed medium-bombers such as the Heinkel He 111, Dornier Do 17, and Junkers Ju 88 were developed, with much initial success.

On 3 June 1936 Wever flew from Berlin to Dresden to give a lecture at the Luftkriegsschule Klotzsche to a gathering of Luftwaffe cadets.

On his return journey the Heinkel He 70 'Blitz' that he was flying had not been properly examined during preflight checks in his hurry, and he had not removed the aileron gust locks.

[2] Wever was barely airborne when the wing dipped, and the Heinkel stalled and went into a horizontal cartwheel (akin to a ground loop, but at low altitude).