Based largely upon unpublished sources, Omer Bartov's study looks closely at the background of the German army on the Eastern Front during the Second World War. He describes the physical hardship, the discipline and morale at the front, and analyses the social, educational and political background of the junior officers who formed the backbone of the German army. Only with these factors in mind - together with the knowledge of the extent of National Socialist indoctrination - can we begin to explain the criminal activities of the German army in Russia and the extent of involvement of the army in the execution of Hitler's brutal policies.

List of Tables - Preface - List of Abbreviations - Introduction - PART 1 LIFE, HARDSHIP AND DEATH AT THE FRONT - The Military Events - Manpower and Casualties - Physical Hardship - Discipline and Morale - PART 2 THE OFFICERS: BACKBONE OF THE ARMY - Introduction - The Sample - Data Analysis - PART 3 INDOCTRINATION AND THE NEED FOR A CAUSE - Introduction - Forms and Intensity of Ideological Instruction - The Enemy as 'Untermenschen' - The Efficacy of Indoctrination - PART 4 BARBARISM AND CRIMINALITY - Introduction - The Maltreatment of Russian POWs - Fighting Partisans and Murdering Civilians - Exploitation, Evacuation and Destruction - Conclusion - Appendix: Maps - References - Bibliography - Index