Without the influence of propaganda: How Wehrmacht officers spoke about Soviet soldiers
During the Great Patriotic War, Nazi propaganda tried in every possible way to humiliate the Soviet soldiers, exposing them as cowards, weaklings and barbarians. To maintain the morale of the Wehrmacht soldiers, they even invented the postulate that one European soldier is worth ten Russians.
However, everyone is well aware of what propagandists' statements are worth. All this "dirt" pours in a continuous stream during any armed confrontation.
At the same time, the reviews of Wehrmacht officers, reflected in their diaries and letters, are much more valuable.
So, in his diary, the chief of the General Staff of the Wehrmacht ground forces, Colonel-General Franz Halder, wrote about the steadfastness and selflessness of the Red Army soldiers.
The German commander noted that the Russians very rarely surrender, showing frantic stubbornness and courage in battle, even with an enemy significantly superior in strength and weapons.
- wrote Halder in the first years of the war with the USSR.
The Wehrmacht officer also noted that the actions of the Russian soldiers forced his troops to be constantly in suspense and strictly adhere to the charter, not allowing themselves liberties that the command looked “through its fingers” during the offensive on the territory of Europe.
Field Marshal Erich von Manstein also spoke extremely respectfully about the soldiers of the Red Army.
- wrote a participant in the First and Second World Wars.
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