In Hitler's Germany; Everyday life in the Third Reich--by Bernt Engelmann; Schocken Books, 1986; This is a translation of the German original, Im Gleichschritt marsch and Bis alles in Scherben fällt. Unlike Voices, which was written for an English audience, this book provides very frank and vivid accounts of what it was like to be in Germany from 1932 to 1945.

Frontsoldaten

A Review of Frontsoldaten

by Stephen G. Fritz, University Press of Kentucky, 1996. [This review edited by RW]

by Fritz Schmidt, 7./1./Großdeutschland

As a German who moved to the US as a young child, I am constantly striving to learn more about the events of this time. I also try and understand some of the feelings that Germans, particularly German soldiers, felt during the period leading up to 1945.

This book, Frontsoldaten by Stephen G. Fritz, does not dwell on the details of events, equipment or even on the particular places where the German soldiers fought. Instead, The author settles for exploring their thoughtsstheir fears, hopes, dreams and also the Kameradschaft (comradeship) that made the Landser the best soldier of WWII. About 90% of this book discusses the life of the German soldier on the Ostfront.

The entire focus of Frontsoldaten is on the German Landser himself. Fritz's basis for this focus is on the written word of actual soldiers during the war (many of whom did not survive). The author "capsulizes" his chapters by using passages from war-time letters written to loved ones and also from soldierrs diaries.

Frontsoldaten is a valuable tool in under-standing the men we portray. In reconstructing my impression of the Frontsoldat, it is important to me to not only look the part, but to also "feel the feelings." What makes this book so truly valuable is that it reaches deeper into the mind and psychological make-up of the Landser.

In discussing the German soldierrs political feelings, Fritz takes care not to label all German soldiers as "Nazis," butt he does state that for the most part, they overwhelmingly agreed with the economic and foreign policy objectives [this means Germany's (and Hitler's) reasons for the war--RW] of the Nazi regime. Fritz tries to put the reader "into" the mind of the "twenty-something" year old German, who (without the benefit of the independent reasoning which only comes later in life) was like most "twenty-somethings" in that he was a product of his environment. During the 19300s and 400s, the political environment of Germany had been almost exclusively dominated by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party and this had heavily influenced these young men. The author also points out that the average German soldier embraced not only National Socialism, but also the military because they both broke down the walls of class distinction and gave everyone the same chance for success. My own family has described National Socialism as a concept that was first met with general cynicismmthen passive acceptance--before finally gaining general support.

Fritz calls the German soldier of WWII a kind of "soldiers soldier." In comparison to the American GI (whom he described as never really being a soldier, but more of a civilian in uncomfortable clothing), he says that the German soldier had a much clearer understanding of mission, purpose, honor and Kameradschaft. In fact he goes to some length in arguing that the overall success of the German Army in opposing its enemies was largely because of the training, discipline and Kameradschaft that was constantly instilled throughout the rank and file. He also makes an interesting point (one which created a memory bubble of my own) when he states that in comparison with the average Tommy or GI, the Landser was much more aware of the atrocities that had already occurred under Stalinns rule in the Soviet Union. He states (for the first time I have ever seen in print) that the German press, before WWII, openly discussed Stalinns purges to a far greater degree than the British or American press and that the average German citizen was very clear to the danger that dwelled to their East.

I heartily recommend Frontsoldaten, because it helps give one a glimpse of the psychological profile of the average German soldier of WWII and I consider this kind of understanding to be as important to my impression as my Stahlhelm..FS

A review of two good non-fictional books

by Herrn Obergefreiter August Fensch, 7./ GD

• Panzer Commander

  by Col. Hans von Luck, Dell Publishing, 1989

  

• Soldat

  by Siegfried Knappe, Orion Books, 1992

These two books are being reviewed together because, while the people and details are different, the basic subject matter is the same: the war experiences of a field-grade officer in the mobile branches of the Wehrmacht. Both men began in the Reichswehr, von Luck as a cavalry officer while Knappe was a cadet in the RAD (Reicharbeitsdienst). From there von Luck was transferred to the Panzers while Knappe moved to the cavalry and finally ended up in the artillery. Between the two of them, they participated in every major campaign area of the German Army, with the possible exception of the occupation of the Channel Islands. Knappe saw action in France, Russia, Italy and Germany, while von Luck served in Poland, France, Russia, North Africa and also Germany at the end.

Each book begins during the Reichswehr period and ends with the repatriation of the men into the Fatherland after being prisoners in the Soviet Union. Knappe goes into much more detail about his prewar cadet training (including his thoughts on Arbeitsdienst shovel drill) while von Luck just mentions it to let you know it happened.

At the beginning of the war, von Luck was in the Polish campaign while Knappe sat that one out, drilling his horse artillery. Both men then served in the Blitzkrieg through France and the balmy days of the invasion of Russia although, perhaps with 20-20 hindsight, both admit to misgivings about throwing the Wehrmacht into the infinity of the Russian steppes. At this point, both fortuitously got removed from the Russian "disaster-in-the-making," Knappe due to schrapnel wounds (of which he seemed to get at least one in each theater of the war he was stationed in) and von Luck, because his Kamerad, Rommel, needed him in North Africa.

Von Luck was in North Africa until just before the final withdrawal; during the same period Knappe went back and forth from Germany to Russia because of wounds and training, just managing to miss being sent to Stalingrad due to bad flying weather. At this point, both men were saved from capture (von Luck was running an errand in Berlin) as OKW finally accepted the old maxim of not reinforcing defeat and wouldnnt allow any more troops in either theater.

Having lost the opportunity to surrender for the Fatherland, von Luck was sent to France while Knappe went to Italy. Being officers, both got to take a few trips home in the interim while fighting the allies in France and Italy before finally ending up captured as their units were transferred in a vain attempt to halt the Russian juggernaut in the east.

Both these books are fine reading, being a cut above the not uncommon English-as-a-second-language translation that many German memoirs seem to be plagued with. The styles are easy to read, with a conversational tone to both. The Knappe book, to me, seemed to express more of his feelings; von Luck struck me as more matter-of-fact, here's-what-happened, except when he dealt with his prisoner of war period.

Although both men were officers throughout the war, these books give a good description of what it was like to be in the front lines and on the home front. Von Luck gives some very vivid and interesting descriptions of the campaigns in North Africa and the fighting in the Bocages of France. Knappe for most of the war was fighting in horse-drawn artillery units, of which you donnt often get to read.

Occasionally both books sound a little like those cheesy pseudo-historical novels that get turned into mini-series: Von Luck cracking jokes with Rommel! Knappe in the Führerbunker! Von Luck delivering messages to Jodl! But I suppose someone had to be around those guys, and thatts what helped sell their books to the publishers rather than Joachim Schmoe who never hung around with anyone important.

These books are excellent "reads," easy to get into, with the action flowing quickly from one event to the next. They are examples of the type of historical reading I prefer, that is, the personal account of what the average soldier went through during the war, or, in this case, the average field officer (which sometimes isnnt a whole lot different.)

As you can see from the publishing dates, neither book is hot off the presses, but should'nt be too hard to find if you tend to frequent pre-owned merchandise establishments and library sales like I do. If you find a copy, youull find it worth your time to read it, or, if it does'nt interest you personally, buy it anyway to pass along to a Kamerad in the unit. Books of this quality on the experiences of German soldiers during the war are rare indeed, and always worth obtaining. AF