The German War: A Nation Under Arms, 1939-1945 Access

The book is noted for its immersive use of personal documents, including: The German War: A Nation Under Arms, 1939-1945

: Unlike standard histories that suggest morale collapsed after the 1943 defeat at Stalingrad, Stargardt argues that these setbacks actually radicalized German society. The existential threat of total defeat spurred a "patriotic defiance" that kept the nation fighting until the very end. The German War: A Nation Under Arms, 1939-1945

In historian Nicholas Stargardt explores how ordinary German citizens—soldiers and civilians alike—experienced, justified, and sustained the Second World War. Rather than viewing the German populace as mere victims of a totalitarian regime or helpless dupes of propaganda, Stargardt argues that most Germans were actively complicit and continued to support the war effort long after military defeat seemed inevitable. Key Themes and Arguments The book is noted for its immersive use