The Wehrmacht (4/5) : Resistance

For educational purposes

Among the ranks of the Wehrmacht there was limited opposition to Hitler.

Most officers initially felt enthusiastic about the prospect of war and were grateful to Hitler whose war-mongering had furthered their personal careers.

Furthermore all soldiers had to make an oath of allegiance to The Fuhrer and up until the very end.

There were many who felt unable to break this pledge.

There were, however, some officers who opposed Hitler.

For some it was on moral grounds and for others because they thought that his military tactics would lose them the war.

There were plots against Hitler and attempted coups, the best known being the July bomb plot led by Claus von Stauffenberg.

Some soldiers refused to bear arms and were shot, others deserted, others still carried out quiet acts of sabotage and subversion.

By and large, however, the Wehrmacht carried out the orders Hitler issued, even if it involved perpetrating acts of atrocity.