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When did the German soldiers of WWII realize they were the 'bad guys'?
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:37 pm
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:37 pm
I know the average soldier was probably a normal guy just fighting for his country and not necessarily bad but at what point did the rank and file realize that their leaders were evil?
31
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:39 pm to Undertow
During the Russian winter in 1941-1942.
Losing tends to make one rethink things.
Losing tends to make one rethink things.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:40 pm to Undertow
When the emperor got thrown down the elevator shaft on the dwath star.
Seriously, i dunno. Did they ever?
Seriously, i dunno. Did they ever?
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:43 pm to Undertow
At some point during the war, the average soldier probably heard rumors or knew about the mass killing of Jews in their concentration camps.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:44 pm to ksayetiger
After the Battle of the Bulge they knew. They were the meat in a USA - Russian sandwich and in full retreat.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:45 pm to Undertow
You have to remember the ideology that Hitler spread. He galvanized that nation like no one ever really has in such a short time. That alone distorts one's view.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:48 pm to Undertow
The swastikas should have been a dead giveaway.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:49 pm to Undertow
quote:
I know the average soldier was probably a normal guy just fighting for his country and not necessarily bad but at what point did the rank and file realize that their leaders were evil?
Well, many of the nazi soldiers had no choice but to do what they did. It was either do what they were told or they would be killed so I am sure there were many who didn't agree with what Hitler was trying to do and realized they were fighting against forces trying to stop them,
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:50 pm to LucasP
Brainwashing is a powerful thing
How is it any different for the teenagers in the Middle East fighting for ISIS?
How is it any different for the teenagers in the Middle East fighting for ISIS?
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:52 pm to GetCocky11
quote:
During the Russian winter in
It's crazy to think that if Germany doesn't go up against Russia and leaves England alone, we probably never get involved and the 3rd Reich never gets defeated.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:54 pm to LucasP
quote:
The swastikas should have been a dead giveaway.
Before the Nazis adopted it, the swastika was a symbol that basically meant "good luck" or "well-being"
but I probably shouldnt be responding rationally to a LucasP post
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:54 pm to Undertow
They weren't "bad" until they lost. Victor writes history.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:55 pm to CoachChappy
Even if they had left Britain alone, there's no way the British would stand by and let the Germans take over its neighbors like France. So war between them was inevitable if Germany wanted to expand in Europe.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:56 pm to Undertow
Slightly off topic but I also loved the story of Erich Hartmann, a Luftwaffe ace. He didn't take shite from his Soviet captors. He even beat the shite out of one that was interrogating him.
The eventually tried to place him in the East German air force while in captivity and he answered with this..
The eventually tried to place him in the East German air force while in captivity and he answered with this..
quote:
If, after I am home in the West, you make me a normal contract offer, a business deal such as people sign every day all over the world, and I like your offer, then I will come back and work with you in accordance with the contract. But if you try to put me to work under coercion of any kind, then I will resist to my dying gasp.
This post was edited on 7/18/17 at 2:56 pm
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:57 pm to Undertow
I recently read Shadow Divers about the missing U Boat found in New Jersey Waters. Towards the end of the book they did an overview of the lives of the crew. The officers all hated Hitler with a passion for what he had done to the country. They were just all to scared to say anything to one another or each other because they didn't know who to trust. They were all just doing their duty for their country. It really got me interested in this very subject.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 2:59 pm to OweO
quote:
Well, many of the nazi soldiers had no choice but to do what they did. It was either do what they were told or they would be killed so I am sure there were many who didn't agree with what Hitler was trying to do and realized they were fighting against forces trying to stop them,
Depends on what you're talking about. Political dissent and shirking the normal duties of a soldier were harshly punished. But extensive research has never uncovered any evidence of punishment for refusal to participate in atrocities. Those who were not up to it-and there were some-were simply assigned other duties. The killing squads were manned by willing participants.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 3:00 pm to WiredBobcat
quote:
At some point during the war, the average soldier probably heard rumors or knew about the mass killing of Jews in their concentration camps.
So the average soldiers at the front knew of an extermination plan that was done secretly at remote camps? Even the allies who were reading the Germans coded messages hadn't determined it was happening until the very end of the war.
The typical German soldiers didn't view themselves as bad guys at all, even after the war was over.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 3:03 pm to Undertow
They didn't. Read Black Edelweiss.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 3:04 pm to CoachChappy
quote:
It's crazy to think that if Germany doesn't go up against Russia and leaves England alone, we probably never get involved and the 3rd Reich never gets defeated.
England and France declared war on Germany after Germany's invasion of Poland, so at that point there was no "leaving England alone."
The only way for Germany to have avoided war with Britain was to concede the Polish issue.
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