The Thanks of the Fatherland : German Veterans After the Second World War

"A very interesting and readable account of how former Nazi war veterans reacted to defeat in 1945, and successfully re-adjusted to life under the Federal German Republic."--History Today (UK) "A major contribution to the early history of the Federal Republic. . . . Provides the first systematic account of one of the most important chapters of postwar West German social welfare policy."--American Historical Review "This cogently written and organized work analyzes the social, economic, and political integration of organized veterans into the Federal Republic of Germany during the decade following World War II."--German Studies Review "[An] important monograph that evaluates a wide range of archival materials and, in an extensive conclusion, offers many thoughtful comparisons concerning the situation of German ex-soldiers and their families after the two World Wars."--Journal of Modern History "Meticulously researched and ably written. . . . It deserves serious attention."--Central European History "The first full-scale study of veterans' politics in Germany after World War II. In analyzing how German soldiers' organizations behaved in the postwar milieu, Diehl provides an invaluable case study in the political culture of the young Federal Republic. His book is thoroughly grounded in archival research, intelligently conceptualized, and very gracefully written."--David C. Large, Montana State University German veterans never embraced the Weimar Republic, created out of the ruins of World War I. Former soldiers demanded a state that was militant, nationalist, and authoritarian, and their rejection of the new democratic Republic played a major role in its collapse and the Nazi rise to power. After Hitler's defeat, German veterans again represented a source of social instability and a potential threat to democracy. Examining the activities of major veterans' groups, James Diehl shows why Bonn succeeded where Weimar had failed in defusing the threat of disgruntled veterans. Most accounts of veterans' activities in the Federal Republic have concentrated on the involvement of a minority of ex-soldiers in extremist and neo-Nazi movements. Diehl broadens the focus to provide a more comprehensive picture, treating veterans not only as a political factor but as a historical and social phenomenon as well. He has consulted extensive ministerial and organizational archives that became available to scholars only in the 198Os. While the Third Reich had heaped praise on veterans, its promises of material benefits were often specious and largely unrealized; veterans' benefits were further reduced immediately following the Second World War as a result of the remilitarization policies of the occupying powers. After its establishment in 1949, however, the Federal Republic actively worked to satisfy the legitimate demands of ex-soldiers, passing legislation to aid disabled veterans, returning POWs, and former officers. The enactment of this legislation, Diehl argues, successfully integrated the majority of German veterans into the Federal Republic's social and political fabric and isolated extremist elements. Diehl's book also shows how the changing fortunes of German veterans illustrate larger changes in German society that helped to erode militarism and facilitate the growth of parliamentary democracy. Examining the activities of major veterans' groups, James Diehl shows why Bonn succeeded where Weimar had failed in defusing the threat of disgruntled veterans. Most accounts of veterans' activities in the Federal Republic have concentrated on the involvement of a minority of ex-soldiers in extremist and neo-Nazi movements. Diehl broadens the focus to provide a more comprehensive picture, treating veterans not only as a political factor but as a historical and social phenomenon as well. He has consulted extensive ministerial and organizational archives that became available to scholars only in the 1980s. While the Third Reich had heaped praise on veterans, its promises of material benefits were often specious and largely unrealized; veterans' benefits were further reduced immediately following the Second World War as a result of the remilitarization policies of the occupying powers. After its establishment in 1949, however, the Federal Republic actively worked to satisfy the legitimate demands of ex-soldiers, passing legislation to aid disabled veterans, returning POWs, and former officers. The enactment of this legislation, Diehl argues, successfully integrated the majority of German veterans into the Federal Republic's social and political fabric and isolated extremist elements. Diehl's book also shows how the changing fortunes of German veterans illustrate larger changes in German society that helped to erode militarism and facilitate the growth of parliamentary democracy An account of the problems facing German veterans after WWII and the ways in which they were addressed in the decade following Germany's defeat. The primary focus is on the major pieces of veterans' legislation passed in the early years of the German Federal Republic. Historical context is provided by the first two chapters and the conclusion, which compares and contrasts the fate of veterans and their sociopolitical impact on German society following the two world wars. Originally published in 1993. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.