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Since the end of World War II, Germans have struggled with the legacy of the Wehrmacht-the unified armed forces mobilized by Adolf Hitler in 1935 to ensure the domination of the Third Reich in perpetuity. Now available for the first time in English, this meticulously researched yet accessible overview provides the most comprehensive analysis of the organization to date, illuminating its role in a complex, horrific era. Muller examines the Wehrmacht's leadership principles, organization, equipment, and training, as well as the front-line experiences of soldiers, airmen, Waffen SS, foreign legionnaires, and volunteers. He skillfully demonstrates how state-directed propaganda and terror influenced the extent to which the militarized Volksgemeinschaft (national community) was transformed under the pressure of total mobilization. Finally, he evaluates the army's conduct of the war, from blitzkrieg to the final surrender and charges of war crimes.
This book investigates the complex legacy and multifaceted role of the Wehrmacht, Nazi Germany's unified armed forces, from its mobilization in 1935 to its final surrender in 1945. Rolf-Dieter Muller, a noted historian, provides a comprehensive analysis of the organization, examining its leadership, structure, equipment, and training. The work details the experiences of various military personnel, including soldiers, airmen, Waffen SS, and foreign volunteers, while also exploring the impact of state propaganda and terror on the militarized national community under total mobilization. Muller concludes by evaluating the Wehrmacht's conduct of the war, encompassing its initial blitzkrieg successes and its eventual charges of war crimes.
This meticulously researched overview is recognized as a comprehensive analysis of the Wehrmacht, making its role in a complex and horrific era accessible to a wider audience. The work is noted for its detailed examination of military organization, training, and the varied experiences of those who served. It skillfully connects military actions to the broader societal influences of propaganda and terror. The evaluation of the Wehrmacht's wartime conduct and war crimes charges provides a critical perspective on its historical legacy.
Page Count:
234
Publication Date:
2016-01-01
Publisher:
University Press of Kentucky
ISBN-10:
0813168112
ISBN-13:
9780813168111
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