Abstract
This article analyzes the experiences of standard German infantry between the First and Second World Wars. Particularly, it compares and contrasts the motivations of ordinary German civilians who entered into the German Army as well as their justifications, or means, for enduring such strenuous fighting. Notably, a sense of nationalistic duty toward the protection of Germany and adherence to the nation's cultural standards for masculinity urged many young men to join the military in both 1914 and 1939. This article also addresses how the devastating effects of the First World War led to a desensitization towards excessive violence in later Nazi political and military ideology. Thus, resulting in the intensified brutalization of German military conduct--precursing the Holocaust--by the outbreak of the Second World War.
This article is further subdivided into three subtopics, or research questions. The first is rather obvious, yet essential. What motivated ordinary German men to fight in both World Wars? The second question expands off the first, analyzing the psychological mechanisms of German infantrymen during wartime. What enabled these men to endure the physical and psychological stress of their respective conflicts? The final research question addresses the culmination of Nazi German brutalization and normalization to violence. How and why were German soldiers motivated to commit genocide during the Second World War?
Recommended Citation
Calcaterra, Charles J.
(2025)
"On the Motivations of German Infantry During the World Wars,"
Grand Valley Journal of History: Vol. 8:
Iss.
1, Article 5.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gvjh/vol8/iss1/5