Indoctrination of the Wehrmacht - Nazi Ideology and the War Crimes of the German Military

Far from the image of an apolitical, "clean" Wehrmacht that persists in popular memory, German soldiers regularly cooperated with organizations like the SS in the abuse and murder of countless individuals during the Second World War. This in-depth study demonstrates that a key factor in the criminalization of the Wehrmacht was the intense political indoctrination imposed on its members. At the instigation of senior leadership, many ordinary German soldiers and officers became ideological warriors who viewed their enemies in racial and political terms-a project that was but one piece of the broader effort to socialize young men during the Nazi era.

About the author

Bryce Sait received his doctorate from Cambridge University, where he was a Commonwealth Scholar. He has taught history at Magdalene College, Cambridge, at St. Andrew’s College, Sydney University, and at the University of Western Sydney.

Summary

Far from the image of an apolitical, “clean” Wehrmacht, German soldiers regularly cooperated with organizations like the SS in the abuse and murder of countless individuals. This in-depth study reveals that military indoctrination was but one piece of the larger effort at the socialization of young men during the Nazi era.

Product details

• Authors: Bryce Sait
• Publisher: BERGHAHN BOOKS, INC
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.09.2021
• EAN: 9781800732001
• ISBN: 978-1-80073-200-1
• No. of pages: 204
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > 20th century (up to 1945); Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political administration; Germany, military history, Fascism & Nazism, The Holocaust, War Crimes, Far-right political ideologies and movements, HISTORY / Wars & Conflicts / World War II / General, HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century / Holocaust