Germany and the Second World War

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The Second World War profoundly impacted millions in Germany, including soldiers, women, children, the elderly, slave laborers, and concentration camp prisoners. This volume adopts a 'history from below' perspective, exploring how individuals' thoughts and behaviors were shaped by the Party as the Reich pursued Total War. As German soldiers were conscripted into the Wehrmacht, forced foreign workers and prisoners filled the gaps in the labor force. The interactions between German civilians and these coerced groups are examined, alongside society's relationship with the Holocaust. From early 1943, the home front faced increasing aerial attacks. The Party, administration, police, and courts played crucial roles in supporting the homeless, boosting civilian morale through propaganda about 'miracle revenge weapons,' and maintaining order in a disintegrating society. For soldiers, particularly in the east, the war became one of ideology and annihilation, with intensified indoctrination following the defeat at Stalingrad. The social profile of the army is analyzed through a typical infantry division. The volume concludes by detailing various forms of resistance against Hitler's regime, both within society and the military, culminating in the failed assassination attempt in July 1944.