Review by Choice Review
Bartov (University of Tel Aviv) has written a carefully documented study of the causes and extent of barbarization of German troops on the Eastern Front during WW II. Discussion of criminal activities of the German armies in the war against the USSR have often been taboo among traditional German historians. Bartov shows that the barbarization of the German troops resulted from conditions on the Eastern Front, the social and educational backgrounds of the junior officers, and the political indoctrination of the troops. Here is a ``view from below'' of German soldiers in three combat divisions. The final chapter demonstrates how barbarization resulted in the mistreatment of Russian POWS, the murder of civilians, and the exploitation of western Russia and its inhabitants. Bartov proves that contrary to the claims of German generals in their memoirs, the armies of the Third Reich faithfully executed Hitler's brutal policies in the USSR. Recommended for WW II collections as well as for those in German history.-K. Eubank, Queens College, CUNY
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
