READING MATERIAL: The Germans and their soldiers

Long summer evenings tempt you to read, maybe on the roof, with a glass of red wine, if you have the time and the muse. Currently, the kiosk offers a magazine where the Iron Cross immediately catches the eye of those interested in military history. ZEITGeschichte, the special issue on the history from the newspaper "Die Zeit," attempts to explore the field-grey part of German history.

This is not a small topic that can be covered in a magazine style in just over 100 pages. Three helmets immediately strike a chord with the nation, and on the right you can see the entire content. Each era is also illustrated with field post letters.

The historian Ute Frevert, who has written a very good book on German military history, introduces the magazine. And yes, it couldn't be more concise. The Iron Cross, established in 1813 and still preserved as the badge of sovereignty of the Bundeswehr, symbolizes everything. And of course, the military is always the violent instrument of a state, the "ultima ratio," as it was once cast on the cannon barrels of the Old Fritz.

German military history is a difficult chapter because it always leads to turning history into a criminal album. But beyond the many soldiers who "fulfilled their duty," whether they were more or less imbued with the ideologies of different eras, there are always figures who stand out. Just to mention a few names: Clausewitz, Scharnhorst, Stauffenberg...

In the 19th century, conscription was introduced, and the prejudices of that time have a lot in common with those of today. In Germany, conscription is currently suspended, "serving" is not very modern. And yet the state is realizing that it seems necessary to have more than just employees. The debate over a new conscription is just starting.

"German militarism" is a special chapter in Central European history, in which the role of the soldier was quite unique. Just as there are "citizens in uniform" today, once the role of the officer was the highest civilian honor, a status that equated citizens with nobles. With the modern mass armies, the army was an instrument of social mobility and opportunities for advancement.

Wars against the whole world have a bit of tradition in Germany, the First World War is also compactly covered in the ZEITGeschichte issue...

...as well as the Second World War. The topics also address violence and terror and resistance.

Nice pictures of the NVA. In terms of aesthetics, perhaps the better German army to look at, their parade uniforms somehow reminiscent of Hugo Boss. And although communist, the German tradition apparently remained largely unbroken.

The issue concludes with a very interesting discussion between historians Sönke Neitzel (Institute for Military History/University of Potsdam) and Hannes Heer (Wehrmachtsausstellung). On our Facebook page, we will add the discussion as "reading material."

History is always somewhat bizarre. The "German Hair Force" had air supremacy after 1968. Nowadays, hair is worn shorter again. And instead of world wars, the whole world finds a home in Germany, while Germany has to consider what a professional military must be able to achieve in its society and in partnership with Europe and NATO.

CONCLUSION: A concise overview of German military history, exciting and rewarding to read.

ZEITGeschichte, "The Germans and Their Soldiers - History of a Difficult Relationship," ZEIT Verlag, 2018, currently available at kiosks, Euro 6.90