The German Perspective: End of WWII

 On May 9th the War was over in Europe. American and Soviets forces cheered and the world sighed in relief as all Nazi forces had surrendered their position. we know of the jubilation of the allies, but what of the Germans? How did the people who were enthralled  by Hitler feel or believe about the collapse of the German Reich?


Civillians

This Varied wildly, many civillians did fully believe the doctrine proclaimed while other did not but where forced to follow it. This is why there is not single answer for the civillian population. For a great many a sense of depression and dread filled them. According to sources at the time a great many where shocked at how the germans went from ruling Europe to bein occupied and divided by the Allies. To these groupd the war was a great tragedy and they looked to the future as bleak, Other however were more optimistic. Many of those who saw the fighting were relived that the terrible war had ended. Even more interesting these sentiment would become Geographically orientated. Obviously with time it would heal but Eastern Germany who was occupied by soviets had a massive sentiment of Nastalgia towards Hitler and the reich. This was mostly due to the way the soviets treated them. While in the west that sentiment faded away much faster. The american and other allied ofrces began a mass rebuilding campaing and restructured their goverment but largely allowed them to heal, of course while making sure to stamp out Nazi sentiment when possible.

The Military

The average foot soldier was like the civllians a mixed bag of beliefs at the end of the war. According to Wikipedia and History.com their was a distinct difference. Almost all soldier where in some way relived that the fighting had stopped. Of course they had lost but they no longer had to bleed in fields. The Military High command is a much different story. Some Generals truly never believed n Hitler was doing but followed along, those Generals seemed to view the end as almost a form of Karma, a way to repent for their sins. The other side is those who truly believed in Hitler and wished that before the end they could have done more. The ladder would see their end in Nuremberg where they would pay for the sins with a rope around their neck.