Frontsoldaten
eBook - PDF

Frontsoldaten

The German Soldier in World War II

  1. 312 pages
  2. English
  3. PDF
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

Frontsoldaten

The German Soldier in World War II

About this book

Alois Dwenger, writing from the front in May of 1942, complained that people forgot "the actions of simple soldiers.I believe that true heroism lies in bearing this dreadful everyday life." In exploring the reality of the Landser, the average German soldier in World War II, through letters, diaries, memoirs, and oral histories, Stephen G. Fritz provides the definitive account of the everyday war of the German front soldier.

The personal documents of these soldiers, most from the Russian front, where the majority of German infantrymen saw service, paint a richly textured portrait of the Landser that illustrates the complexity and paradox of his daily life. Although clinging to a self-image as a decent fellow, the German soldier nonetheless committed terrible crimes in the name of National Socialism. When the war was finally over, and his country lay in ruins, the Landser faced a bitter truth: all his exertions and sacrifices had been in the name of a deplorable regime that had committed unprecedented crimes.

With chapters on training, images of combat, living conditions, combat stress, the personal sensations of war, the bonds of comradeship, and ideology and motivation, Fritz offers a sense of immediacy and intimacy, revealing war through the eyes of these self-styled "little men." A fascinating look at the day-to-day life of German soldiers, this is a book not about war but about men. It will be vitally important for anyone interested in World War II, German history, or the experiences of common soldiers throughout the world.

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Yes, you can access Frontsoldaten by Stephen G. Fritz in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & German History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Table of Contents
  5. Preface
  6. Chapter 1: The View from Below
  7. Chapter 2: Sweat Saves Blood
  8. Chapter 3: Living on Borrowed Time
  9. Chapter 4: Withstanding the Strain
  10. Chapter 5: The Seasons of War
  11. Chapter 6: The Many Faces of War
  12. Chapter 7: The Bonds of Comradeship
  13. Chapter 8: Trying to Change the World
  14. Chapter 9: The Lost Years
  15. Chapter 10: A Bitter Truth
  16. Notes
  17. Bibliography
  18. Index