Soldaten: On Fighting, Killing, and Dying

An excellent study of the mindset of German soldiers and sailors during World War II. This book relies on clandestine — thus candid — recordings of conversations between German prisoners of war. Their Allied captors had hoped to glean secret information about weapons and troop movements, but instead the recordings of these conversations provide tremendous sociological lessons. These Germans discuss their hopes, fears, beliefs, ideologies and gripes in an open and honest way — free from the Nazi apparatus and ignorant of their captors' deceit. Neitzel and Welzer do an exceptional job of editing and examining the unvarnished revelations these prisoners expressed about everything: death, sex, the Holocaust, military life and Hitler. These conversations are put into historical context, but the authors are also adept at pointing out the moral and ethical implications of these soldiers' actions. A superb book for the student of history and sociology.

Great subject, good material. However the authors find themselves more important than the subject they are covering. I bought this book to read about the thoughts and interviews by the German POWs. Unfortunately the authors find their own musings very important. As a result the book loses a lot of its appeal. I would recommend to skip this one.

This is a very serious book and certainly not for the squeamish. How did Germany produce soldiers who, without hesitation, would kill non-combatants with little or no provocation? Why were they willing to fight to the death when the end was obvious? The pressure to earn/win medals and decorations is also covered. I suggest another book, but about US Forces, entitled "The Kill Switch".

I found this to be a very interesting book on war. Lots of. Interesting story's. Put in the mindset of the soldier.

This title did not disappoint. Over the years I have met some combat veterans of the Wehrmacht. The book captures the characteristic manner of period military personnel in the German services. It also provides excellent insight into the environment which shaped their thinking and behaviours. Highly recommended for any reader with a professional or serious interest in WW2.

Extremely interesting and valuable evidence is assessed and presented from the point of view of mass psychology. Not apologizing or justifying Wehrmacht atrocities, but setting the record straight.

An interesting sociology book about war that uses history as a backdrop.I found it fascinating and the rationalizations curious and intriguing, providing unique insight into the human condition and mass psychosis of National Socialist Fascism.

Good analysis overall. Wanted more direct protocol translations and a little less "play by play" commentary. It is a solid read, keeps your attention and inspires further research into the protocol transcripts.

I love the subject, but just didn't enjoy this particular book.

Very interesting read. Found it hard to put down.

Well worth reading if you are at all interested in WW2 in Europe. It contains shocking first-hand casual testimony of the most awful atrocities carried out by ordinary German soldiers. It will influence your view of history more than most books. Don't miss it.

The authors have used the record of the private conversations of prisoners of war to bring out the way in which the whole German war machine was implicated in atrocity. This revelation is placed in a wider context, showing what the human cost of war always is.

An ok book. Most of it is the analysis of the German pyche during the war which I was not expecting.In short, it needed far more pages of the soldiers talking together, rather than the odd page here and there.

This was a bit of an eye opener

Not the easiest thing to read , but a great insight into the way that ordinary people talked about their part in horrors without the hindsight and self protection of later years. Really fascinating.

Frightening insight into the minds and attitudes of soldiers in theaters of war.

positive

excellent and frightening book , highly recommended

This is a very good book On Fighting, Killing and Dying: The Secret Second World War Tapes of German POWs powerful reading

Very pleased

Brilliantly told.

first class read

Very interesting book.