The "Clean Wehrmacht" Myth...

[@LifeofCharles]

I never said that all Germans were evil in my video. I set out to prove that the German Wehrmacht did not have clean hands, and it seems that everyone that believes in this myth has come out of the woodwork and is having a go at me, which is why I am stern in my answer.

[@LifeofCharles]

Well the Heer and the Wehrmacht did indeed have Nazi ideology laced in. Not to the extent that it was with the SS, but I proved in this video using primary sources, the actual orders given prior to the commencement of Operation Barbarossa, The Final Solution came about mid-war. But the Wehrmacht did indeed play a role in it, many times generals turned a blind eye to the round up of Jews. The notion that the Wehrmacht was a strictly military entity that was completely apolitical is false.

[@LifeofCharles]

You're missing the point, this is dealing with the "Clean Wehrmacht" myth. Pointing out other non-related issues is one of the simplest and most childish ways of derailing a sound and undeniable argument. Additionally, the percentage of German POW's that died in American captivity is

[@noprofitmaximierung]

Thank you for the video mate. My great-uncle was in the Wehrmacht as a radio man, in Jugoslavia 1942 and died in Arnhem 1943. He wrote to my grandmother that it was routine when the Wehrmacht entered a village, to line up the Men, shoot or hang them publicly and then to tell the rest of the inhabitants that they will be killed if they do not tell about partisan members in the village. This was however not done so aggressively in the west, most likely because of Nazi anti-slavic spurring racism.

[@LifeofCharles]

This is a direct translation from the Barbarossa Decree in May of 1941. All history books on the Second World War since 1945 have been written by victors, but this is a primary source and indisputable. Google it, "German Wehrmacht Barbarossa Decree". You cannot claim to be a student of German military history if you refuse to believe this primary source document. They DID commit atrocities and the orders came from the TOP, as shown here.

[@LifeofCharles]

I did give the caveat that von Reichenau was an ardent Nazi, however, the Barbarossa decree applies to every unit partaking in Operation Barbarossa. Rommel is an excellent example of those in the German military (especially those of Prussian military heritage) that did not like the Nazi party.

[@bakters]

11 neo-nazzis...

[@laurendeifel6241]

The average German soldier at that time did not necessarily agree with what was happening. "A soldiers job is not to reason why, but to do or die".

[@shlomoshekelberg2163]

11 people who know the truth.

[@skimsakj642]

@@shlomoshekelberg2163 "the truth"

[@jeskler]

@@shlomoshekelberg2163 Aka 70 year old Nazi Propaganda

[@jonathand3842]

@@laurendeifel6241 the problem with that statement is that you can't prove that, all you have is sources that contradict this mythical theory completely made up by far right-wingers nazis sympathisers. I wish you can use your critical thinking and stop using these premade arguments about this issue

[@LifeofCharles]

Additionally, this is a primary source and a translation, hardly revisionist if you ask me. Now my AP US History textbook from high school, that's a different story.

[@flyboyfx]

I'm writing an essay for my final on the Whermacht's "Clean Hands"

[@LifeofCharles]

I did not say the Heer was part of the SS, what I am proving here is that the Heer had specific orders that they would not be punished if they committed war crimes, and were ordered to in some cases (such as the treatment of partisans) include actions we would consider to be war crimes in their procedure. The notion that the Heer had clean hands and attributing all the war crimes on the SS and the Einsatzgruppen is completely false.

[@dylanvestige9935]

Good Work Young Man. I thoroughly enjoyed the lesson. And I enjoyed being entertained by the trolls nit picking at specifics to defend their position whereby they lose sight of the whole argument. - Historian

[@kimsey0000]

Christ, i dont' think i've ever seen any army manual from 19th c onwards that blatantly says it's ok to do whatever to civilians; you won't be punished for it. What's up with the barbaric streak in the German military i wonder? It reminds me of what I was just reading in the Boxer Rebellion where Kaiser Wilhelm II basically insists that his soldiers commit atrocities in China because the Chinese deserve it... and from one account they did his "veiled" request; The Imperial German army committed atrocities on the Chinese civilians so bad, that the Americans and Japanese soldiers decided to stop them (even though they were German allies), and ended up wounded some of the German soldiers in the process. That was really petty of the Kaiser to promote that kind of behavior among his troops. A real leader like Robert E. Lee would have done the opposite, such as general order no 73: Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia Chambersburg, Pennsylvania June 27, 1863 The commanding general has observed with marked satisfaction the conduct of the troops on the march, and confidently anticipates results commensurate with the high spirit they have manifested. No troops could have displayed greater fortitude or better performed the arduous marches of the past ten days. Their conduct in other respects has with few exceptions been in keeping with their character as soldiers, and entitles them to approbation and praise. There have however been instances of forgetfulness on the part of some, that they have in keeping the yet unsullied reputation of the army, and that the duties expected of us by civilization and Christianity are not less obligatory in the country of the enemy than in our own. The commanding general considers that no greater disgrace could befall the army, and through it our whole people, than the perpetration of the barbarous outrages upon the unarmed, and defenceless [sic] and the wanton destruction of private property that have marked the course of the enemy in our own country. Such proceedings not only degrade the perpetrators and all connected with them, but are subversive of the discipline and efficiency of the army, and destructive of the ends of our present movement. It must be remembered that we make war only upon armed men, and that we cannot take vengeance for the wrongs our people have suffered without lowering ourselves in the eyes of all whose abhorrence has been excited by the atrocities of our enemies, and offending against Him to whom vengeance belongeth, without whose favor and support our efforts must all prove in vain. The commanding general therefore earnestly exhorts the troops to abstain with most scrupulous care from unnecessary or wanton injury to private property, and he enjoins upon all officers to arrest and bring to summary punishment all who shall in any way offend against the orders on this subject. R. E. Lee General

[@hhitchings]

I found your video very informative. I have done some personal study of the war in Germany during WWII. I have watched the following video documentary " The Wehrmacht " series which gives a detailed history of the German Army including the war crimes of WWII. I am a first generation German American and I did have some family members in the German Army. I found this documentary very informative and horrifying. This is what hate can do. Thanks for all your video's and keep up the good work.

[@fiftyhunnug]

Do more of these videos man. More people should in my opinion.

[@CarlGGHamilton]

I gotta get this book, i love source books, it's a shame this isn't a more viewed video.

[@icemanfanf1140]

aerianrode- yes they were young drafted soldiers but many followed these orders commiting these crimes.

[@alienet51]

But it is a direct quote from a Wehrmacht order. How can that possibly be liberal or conservative or biased? The book he is using is a reprint of Wehrmacht orders, so it is simply a book that has translated, word for word, what the orders of the German army were before the invasion of the Soviet Union. I understand the worry about bias, but the difference between a textbook and primary sources (documents from the historical era) is massive.

[@deiongoldsmith515]

Holy shit my professor used this book wish I wouldn't have sold it though after the class was over. my favorite entry in this book was the atrocities at treblinka some really sick stuff it was moving. reading it made me actually uncomfortable

[@lifelessperson1993]

Perhaps some members were, Stauffenberg and Rommel had little sympathy for them as far as I can tell.

[@alienet51]

Very succinct video with good primary source documents.

[@LifeofCharles]

Perhaps you have some suggestions?

[@LifeofCharles]

It's very hard to take your seriously when you believe that all the text books in schools today are written by some sort of hidden Jewish agenda to brainwash society's youth, and you don't use proper grammar/spelling to boot. Somewhat amusing as well.

[@lifelessperson1993]

Frankly all armies commit war crimes, sooner or later. The Soviets did it, the Americans, the French the Brits and the Wehrmacht should be no exception. The difference comes from what you said about hot and cold blooded, vengeance or war crimes. Wehrmacht definitely had some cold blood but to say they were part of the SS, Einsatzgruppen and Sonderkommandos death squads in their function I think is slightly inaccurate.

[@apotato5567]

The Wehrmacht another level

[@dizkoteck]

Read elementary school books they have now... if you're not vomiting, youre crying

[@Terrorkekx]

Ok...it was an Orders from the Reichsführung....but the thing was....did every Officer of the Wehrmacht execute this Order in all its Points....You see that also SS-Divisions would join them...

[@DeepPurpleAreKings]

Very informative and interesting. Thank you!

[@Lobos222]

I found this interesting.

[@theabstract100]

The Wehrmacht wasn't totally innocent, but they did not mainly, what you describe here. The high rank officers, were partly nazis, but the so called "orders" by you, are no real orders. In the end the officers in the field decided, and the most of them were no nazis, so the could ignore it and most also did. And to take one nazi officer, and count it to the whole wehrmacht is really not the right way to argue... There is enough shame on german shoulders, no need of generalisation like all germa

[@lifelessperson1993]

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, I know you didn't say they were literally part of the SS et c I'm just making the stand alone statement that despite them receiving orders to commit war crimes, I don't believe they were ever intended by the Wehrmacht high command or the Nazi upper echelon to function as the primary executors of the final solution... that I think was the meant for SS et c, though I'm speaking more from fact based opinion that concrete facts...

[@ethanworner864]

I liked it. You should do one on american war crimes during the Vietnam War

[@robertglenn5398]

It's one thing to attribute one's behavior to field orders (your book) and actual field behavior. The regular German army by majority was reticent to accept barbarous orders and habitually ignored them. General Guederian is one example of a commander who summarily torn them up. The atrocities to which most attribute German barbarity took place weeks and months following the departure of the Wehrmacht. In the East, many such atrocities were committed by Ukrainians under orders of the SS.

[@Landsneckt5]

I thought this was pretty cool

[@pointly]

Thank you for the info. Keep it up. Can you document info on the Soviet Union next and their war crimes in Poland? The slaughter of Polish Army officers and such? Well I always figured that the German Army was guilty of war crimes but I knew they were not Nazis. Having met a few retired German soldiers none claimed to be Nazis or supporters. I believe they were being honest with me too. Why lie? They have nothing to fear being soldiers obeying order. As for crimes they committed, I did not ask

[@GermanSharp1]

:(

[@dahvisibleinvisible]

hmm. Thanks for busting that myth for me. Then again: History is complex. There were countless individual combatants involved, and an order from the top doesn't "prove" that the Wehrmacht were comitting warcrimes as ordinarily and routinely as they'd go out on a patrol. You should make more videos like this one, informative, academic, primary sources, short and to-the-point. Keep it up!

[@robfl100]

still more true than a clean red army

[@Patrix299]

Complain fffffffwip to the russian front

[@Jinseual]

I understand the first few sentences regarding Partisans and guerrilla warfare. Guerilla warefare itself is a crime because of how non uniformed civilians take the role of a soldier then hide back in their homes pretending to be civilians again. No country can deal with such things honorably even the Americans and Russians themselves took extreme measures to eradicate the guerillas. Afghanistan, Chechnya, Vietnam, Iraq, regular armies have to commit war crimes because of the confusion and uncertainty of who's innocent. Terrorists like those in the Middle East should stop crying about their own civilians dying when they are constantly used as human shields. This still does not mean I agree with the other rules of the Whermacht about the being able to freely kill without direct punishment. However, you should also note that the Soviets did not sign any conventions for good conduct of war. In the very first few days of Operation Barbarossa, when Soviet soldiers captured German troops they would strip them naked and cut them to pieces and throwing their genitalia too their open stomachs. Even though many captured Soviet troops and civilians died in German hands note that the Eastern Front is a very cruel war compared to the west which both sides show no mercy to each other from the start and still to this day people from both sides claimed to be "honorable"

[@TheAmazingchickens]

Soviet POW (captured by the Germans) survival rate was 3 times lower than that of German POWs under Soviet supervision. three quarters of German POWs survived, compared to only one quarter of captured soviet soldiers. The Survival rate for Axis POWs was of course unacceptably high under Soviet supervision, however they weren't committing an industrial campaign of extermination like the Germans clearly were, it was mostly just revenge attacks/hate crimes at the lower level.

[@owenwilliams3477]

TheAmazingchickens z

[@josephd27]

ya both sides did horrible things. i would like to see more videos like this. i liked it

[@jamesland9003]

I find that blaming the Wehrmacht for what the Nazi Party and Shutzstaffel(SS) did is like blaming our troops for what the Democratic Party is doing.

[@hedgehog3180]

Like what? Obamacare? I'm not from the US but I'm pretty sure that the democrats are pretty decent people.

[@RealH0rr0rsh0w]

You would have a point if US soldiers swore an oath to Barack Obama the man and to uphold Democratic Party values of social liberalism, as opposed to the constitution. Wehrmacht soldiers wore a personal oath to ADOLF HITLER.

[@Retro-Future-Land]

When you're fighting the devil, be a devil yourself is what comes about in war. Especially what was started in 1917 during the Bolshevic Communist Revolution.