: While fanatical Nazism played a role, Stargardt emphasizes that basic patriotism and familial bonds were often stronger motivators for "ordinary" Germans to fulfill their duties, even if they harbored personal reservations about the regime. Primary Source Perspective
: Nazi propaganda successfully framed the conflict not as a war of aggression, but as a defensive struggle for national survival. Many Germans believed they were fighting to prevent a repeat of the 1918 defeat and to protect their families from "Judeo-Bolshevism". The German War: A Nation Under Arms, 1939-1945
The book is noted for its immersive use of personal documents, including: The German War: A Nation Under Arms, 1939-1945 : While fanatical Nazism played a role, Stargardt