Hitler's Wehrmacht : German Armed Forces in Support of the Fuhrer

On August 2, 1934, Hitler required all members of Germany''s re-emerging military to take an oath of allegiance to his regime. As the war progressed and Hitler''s commands became more erratic and less humanitarian, his better generals were left to a moral predicament--live up to their oath and follow the questionable commands of the Fuhrer or violate their oath and, consequently, one of their most basic beliefs. Through a critical examination of memoirs, postwar trial testimony and peer analysis, this volume explores the motivation behind the Wehrmacht leadership''s support of Hitler.

Beginning with the atmosphere prevalent in post-World War I Germany, the book details the conditions and mindset which left the whole country--and the military in particular--ready for someone with Hitler''s charisma. The author uses contemporary sources to delve into the almost incomprehensible reasoning behind the loyalty of Hitler''s chief lieutenants. These include the possibility of personal gain, the natural culmination of their chosen career, and Napoleonic dreams spurred on by Germany''s initial victory in Poland. Those who apparently attempted, to no avail, to dissuade Hitler from his course of action are also discussed. The appendices contain a list of postwar indictments; a chronology of the Third Reich; information regarding treaties and agreements; and comparative army ranks.