Christian Hardinghaus
UNHEARD VOICES FROM THE GERMAN SIDE
The Cursed Generation opens a previously locked window into the past: the personal experiences of German Wehrmacht soldiers in World War II. Bestselling author and historian Dr. Christian Hardinghaus presents 13 carefully documented eyewitness accounts from men who fought on the German side—from icy Stalingrad to the scorching heat of Africa. These revealing reports, enriched with 38 original photographs, offer a nuanced perspective on a war whose history is often told from only one side.
The witnesses speak openly about their childhood in the Third Reich, their war experiences, and their knowledge of the Holocaust. Without downplaying the crimes of the Nazi regime, this book adds an important dimension to our historical understanding.
Discover these fading testimonies before they're lost to history – expand your understanding with perspectives rarely heard in the Western world
Weitere Formate
The Cursed Generation: Untold Stories of Wehrmacht Soldiers – A Groundbreaking Historical Perspective
A New Dimension of War History
The Cursed Generation illuminates an often-overlooked facet of World War II: the personal experiences of German soldiers who served in the Wehrmacht. While the Holocaust rightfully occupies a central place in our understanding of history, this groundbreaking work offers a nuanced perspective on the men who fought on the German side.
Renowned German historian Dr. Christian Hardinghaus spent over five years interviewing more than 100 eyewitnesses with the utmost historical accuracy, without whitewashing or moralizing. The result is a bestseller in the German market that is now finally being made available to the English-speaking world.
Beyond Simplified Portrayals
Germany has been grappling with its culture of remembrance for decades, often failing to distinguish between National Socialists and Wehrmacht soldiers. This difficulty has silenced many conversations about the experiences of the latter. However, research studies have shown that most soldiers were not primarily interested in National Socialism or the „new order“ that Nazi leaders sought to impose upon Europe.
In German schools, military history or people’s daily lives during the war are rarely addressed. The Cursed Generation corrects the one-dimensional image of German soldiers as heartless villains and offers deeper insight into their complex reality.
Authentic First-Hand Eyewitness Accounts
Through exclusive interviews with 13 witnesses who served on different fronts, the book reports on:
- Struggles for survival in the Stalingrad pocket
- The agonizing heat of Africa and the relentless battles in the Mediterranean
- Personal encounters with Allied soldiers
- Candid conversations about their childhood in the Third Reich and the German perspective
- Honest discussions about what they knew and didn’t know about the Holocaust
These men kept their stories silent for decades out of fear and shame. Now, at the end of their lives, they want to set the record straight.
An Invaluable Historical Testimony of WWII history
Featuring 38 original photographs and drawings from soldiers‘ daily lives, The Cursed Generation offers an invaluable contribution to the historical record. It enables a better understanding of the experiences of German soldiers in World War II without downplaying or relativizing the crimes of the Nazi regime.
„Only a few of us allowed ourselves to be carried away to atrocities. But those few were enough to cause great harm. I don’t blame myself, though. I’m a man of my time; I did what I thought was right.“
- Wigand, artilleryman in Stalingrad
Immerse yourself in these previously untold stories and expand your understanding of one of the most complex and tragic epochs in world history.
