Without the influence of propaganda: How Wehrmacht officers spoke about Soviet soldiers

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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.

There were cases when Russian soldiers blew themselves up along with pillboxes, not wanting to surrender

- 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.

Russian troops have always fought bravely and sometimes made incredible sacrifices.

- wrote a participant in the First and Second World Wars.

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  1. +5
    6 December 2022 18: 32
    In any case, you always need to remain a HUMAN!
    1. +3
      6 December 2022 19: 07
      And it is very important to remain human on both sides.
      Violence on the one hand evokes retaliation on the other.
      And still there are those who remain human.
    2. 0
      6 December 2022 19: 34
      Quote: Sergio_7
      In any case, you always need to remain a HUMAN!

      High Command of the Ground Forces
      Field Marshal Keitel
      Main headquarters 25.9.1944
      №478/9.44 Secret

      Contents: On the robberies carried out by soldiers in the regions of the empire
      According to available reports, soldiers in the evacuated settlements of those parts of the empire that belong to the war zone are guilty of the gravest crimes against the property of German compatriots. They attack the property and supplies of the evacuees and loot abandoned apartments. The chiefs not only did not fight against this, but partly even took part in such actions themselves.
      Such behavior is a mockery of any sense of duty and honor of a Deutsche soldier. This causes severe damage to the authority of the German army and undermines discipline ...
      ... an inquiry should be carried out in an accelerated manner ... on the spot ... and capital punishment can only be waived under special circumstances ...
      Signed Keitel
      General-Field Marshal

      TsAMO archives)))
  2. 0
    6 December 2022 18: 48
    Propaganda was always and everywhere.
    It just depends on what it's aimed at.
    Nazi for the dehumanization and racial superiority of Soviet soldiers, for the defense of the Motherland from aggressors, invaders and "dark fascist forces."
  3. +1
    6 December 2022 19: 18
    It was buried in the earth's globe... And today the Nazis are demolishing the monuments to the victors.
    Sorry....
    sold for sprats and oil transit.
    Or shall we throw the Baltic and Eastern European herrings into the dustbin of history?
  4. GAF
    +3
    6 December 2022 19: 35
    In addition, a few words from Halder's diary:
    29.06. “Information from the front confirms that the Russians are fighting everywhere to the last man. It is striking that during the capture of artillery batteries, etc. only a few are captured. Some Russians fight until they are killed, others run, throw off their uniforms and try to get out of the encirclement under the guise of peasants.
    The diary constantly notes the high morale of the Wehrmacht soldiers. and at the same time the entry of 9.07. "The organization of penal battalions turned out to be a good idea."
    11.07. “.b)…. The enemy fights fiercely and fanatically; c). Tank formations suffered significant losses in personnel and materiel. The troops are tired; d) Propaganda through leaflets…”
    13.07. “Report on the degree of combat capability of mobile units. Losses in tanks average 50% ... "
    The war has just begun...
  5. +3
    6 December 2022 20: 38
    Let's continue quoting. 1) Kleist: “These people were first-class fighters from the very beginning, and we owe our success only to great experience. With experience, they became first-class soldiers. They fought fiercely, had amazing stamina, and could do without many things that soldiers of other armies would consider vital. Their commanders instantly learned the lessons of the first defeats and in a short time began to act surprisingly effectively. 2) Blummentritt: "History has proven that if Russians are involved in hostilities, the struggle becomes hard, ruthless and uncompromising. And heavy losses are inevitable. If the Russians defend themselves, they are almost impossible to defeat, even if rivers of blood are shed. East and West are two different worlds that will never understand each other. Russia is one of the unsolvable mysteries of the Sphinx. Russians do not like to talk, and no one knows what is on their mind. Reich. Memoirs of the highest ranks of the generals of Nazi Germany. "Chapter 16 "Red Army")
  6. -1
    6 December 2022 21: 07
    The Germans in their memoirs and memoirs wrote about the war with the Russians. And Russians for them then were all those who lived in the USSR and fought against them.
    In Russia, for a long time, all foreigners were also considered Germans. There was a German freedom. Italian, English, French, Spanish, Swedish - was not.
    And now the Germans, and mostly the British and Americans, are watching how well they managed to pit parts of the destroyed USSR against each other.
    I would put 2 minuses to the author of the news if I could.
    For the fact that I hatched three and a quarter paragraphs from a normal topic.
  7. +4
    6 December 2022 21: 08
    Well, a couple of lines from me ... Otto Carius, a German tank ace, fought first on the eastern front, was wounded, then after recovery was sent to the western, against the Americans and the British
    In the end, five Russians were more dangerous than thirty Americans. We have already noticed this in the last few days of fighting in the west.
  8. 0
    6 December 2022 21: 40
    And the finale: "I order you to stop resistance immediately. Weidling,
    general of artillery, former commander of the defense zone of Berlin.

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