History Hub

What were the thoughts and emotions of Wehrmacht soldiers in late 1944 and early 1945, as they realized the war was lost? How did they continue to fight under such conditions?

In late 1944 and early 1945, many Wehrmacht soldiers likely felt a deep sense of despair, fear, and exhaustion as it became increasingly clear that the war was lost. By this point, Germany was facing overwhelming odds, with the Allies advancing fr…

Have you come across any former Nazi soldiers? Did they take responsibility for their past or express guilt?

As a German who has served in the Bundeswehr, I met my share of former Wehrmacht soldiers. Most of them (including some of my relatives) were drafted into the Army and cannot really be considered Nazis or ex-Nazis. One of my uncles was killed in R…

What problems did soldiers deal with during the war?

Aside from staying alive, these were my main problems. They are maybe not typical, but every war is different and so are the problems a soldier has to face. During the Bosnian War Coping with the incredible heat. I came from Germany and I wasn’t u…