From the Publisher
"Insightful, stimulating, compelling, controversial. Students read it, understand it, debate it, and are edified by it."—Otto M. Nelson, Texas Tech University
"Bartov's book is fascinating. It certainly flies—and flies well!—in the face of the traditional interpretation of the Wehrmacht's wartime attitudes."—D.R. Dorondo, Western Carolina University"An important new book....Rather convincingly, Bartov asserts that the savagery of war reshaped the Werhmacht in Hitler's image and that the Wermcht embraced the idea of war as a defence of civilization against 'Jewish/Bolshevik barbarism.'"—Canadian Jewish News (Toronto)"A unique interpretation of a much disputed subject."—T.E. Smuck, University of Hawaii, Hilo"Excellent study. Reflects keen insights into the links between Hitler's social revolution and the war in the East."—Ronald Smelser, University of Utah"Exciting new insights."—Alvin D. Coox, San Diego State University"Impressively researched and imaginatively presented....No one will be able to ignore his argument, which is solidly based on primary sources (military records, letters, diaries) and skillfully informed by the latest published scholarship. This book is an impressive achievement."—American Historical Review"Exciting and provocative....A chilling reminder of how rapidly State-led violence can degenerate into military barbarism."—Observer (London)"With liberal quotes from letters, diaries and military reports, Bartov successfully challenges the notion that the German Army during WW II was apolitical and reveals how thoroughly permeated it was by Nazi ideology."—Publisher's Weekly"Well-written....If you're interested in this subject, I must recommend Omer Bartov's effort. It's the best book I've ever read on the subject."—Monitor (Texas)"Persuasively argued....Thought-provoking, widely researched, and explicitly revisionist."—CHOICE"Drawing upon a large base of interesting primary sources, Bartov effectively refutes apologetic postwar statements and memoirs by German generals (such as Guderian) who disclaimed all knowledge of, let alone particpation in, war crimes."—The Historian"Bartov argues quite convincingly that these conceptions are nothing but postwar myths created by victorious allies, eager to place the blame for atrocities of a scale beyond most imaginations on the Nazi leadership and the SS, by elite Nazi political soldiers and by a conquered German population anxious to deny the horrific events for which they might by held responsible....Bartov's volume...is invaluable for students of World War II. Hitler's Army broaches a truth denied in the past. Bartov's scholarship is convincing and, after reading his work, many commonly held concepts seem naive."—Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky"This fascinating book offers an unexpected and disturbing insight into the German character, with its possible effects on the European Community."—Scottish Book Advertiser"It is an interesting interpretation of why German soldiers fought so hard with so little."—R. Cole, Luther College"The author must be congratulated for his extensive research. Many of his conclusions are valid as well as helpful."—Douglas W. Richmond, University of Texas at Arlington"While Bartov's book is important in its own right as a contribution to a contentious debate about the nature of nazi Germany, this brief summary should indicate that it also has implications for the study of armies and warfare beyond the period of the Third Reich."—Bob Moore, The English Historical Review