The volume originates from a conference held in Vienna in September 2021, titled “Wehrmachtsdeserteure. Neue Forschungen zu Entziehungsformen, Solidarität, Verfolgung und (digitaler) Gedächtnisbildung,” organized by the Institute of Contemporary History at the University of Innsbruck in collaboration with the Institute of Contemporary History at the University of Vienna. The conference aimed to explore various aspects of desertion in the German military during World War II. The contributors shed light on the experiences of Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS deserters who defied the Nazi regime, highlighting their challenges and motivations. Desertion involved crossing multiple boundaries, including those set by military justice, territorial barriers, ideological divides, and ethnic hierarchies. Moreover, deserters sought refuge, amnesty, and recognition, navigating complex political and social contexts shaped by partisans, allies, neutral states, and post-war successor states of Nazi Germany.
The volume is composed of 18 diverse chapters, organized into three distinct sections, each providing a comprehensive exploration of desertion during and after World War II. Part I, “Akteure und Schauplätze,” focuses on the individual actors and contexts of desertion, examining the experiences of deserters from various regions, including Austria and Slovenia, and their attempts to flee to neutral countries. It also delves into the stories of deserters from ethnic Germans who joined Yugoslav partisans, Cossack volunteers in Upper Italy, and flight helpers in the mountainous regions of Austria and South Tyrol. Part II, “Verfolgung und Justiz,” investigates the mechanisms of persecution and the judicial system, with a particular emphasis on the roles of judges, courts, and the legal interpretation of desertion and draft evasion. It also covers the trials of those who assisted deserters, highlighting the legal repercussions faced by helpers. Finally, Part III, “Nachkriegshandeln und Gedächtnisbildung,” explores the post-war treatment of deserters and the narratives surrounding them in different countries, including Austria and the German Democratic Republic. This section also explores how desertion has been represented in public history and commemorated through memorials, as well as its lasting impact on both public and family memory.
The book presents a variety of perspectives, exploring the experiences of individual soldiers, their social networks, and communities, while also emphasizing the viewpoints and interpretations of younger generations of Wehrmacht members. A key feature of the book is its experiential approach, particularly evident in the first section, where the personal stories of deserters and their support networks are examined in depth. The authors vividly depict the complex decision-making processes that led individuals to desert, offering insights into their personal motivations and the challenges they faced.
Part II, in stark contrast, examines the administrative and official side of the issue, focusing on the perspectives of judges and officials responsible for interpreting desertion within the military justice system. A notable example is the joint chapter by Thomas Geldmacher and Magnus Koch, “Österreichische Wehrmachtrichter im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Sozialprofile, Spruchpraxis, Nachkriegskarrieren,” which delves into the social profiles, decision-making practices, and post-war careers of Austrian Wehrmacht judges. This dual approach highlights both the experiences of the persecuted and the system behind their persecution, offering a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the broader context.
The book not only explores desertion among German and Austrian soldiers but also illuminates the experiences of minorities within the ranks of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, including groups such as Carinthians, Slovenes, and voluntary Cossack units (Waffen-SS). This aspect is particularly significant, given the multinational composition of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS, which included, for instance, naturalized non-German citizens (in occupied or annexed territories) who were later conscripted. From the perspective of forced conscription, desertion can be understood as a response to marginalization within the Wehrmacht, as illustrated in Brigitte Entner's analysis of Slovenes (51–64) in her chapter “Slowenische Soldaten—Organisierte Flucht innerhalb der Reichsgrenzen?”. Similarly, it may reflect reactions to mistreatment within the Wehrmacht, as discussed by Martha Verdorfer in the context of South Tyroleans (65–80). From this perspective, desertion can be understood as a response to two main factors. First, it may stem from being forcibly conscripted into the Wehrmacht despite a lack of German identity, as illustrated by Brigitte Entner's study of Slovenian soldiers (51–64). In such cases, soldiers may have felt disconnected from the German war effort or viewed their conscription as unjust, given their non-German background. Second, desertion could occur even among those who, despite wearing the German uniform, experienced persistent feelings of marginalization or ethnic discrimination. As explored in Martha Verdorfer's work on South Tyroleans (65–80), this sense of alienation could arise even when individuals were officially considered German by the Reich. For these soldiers, desertion may have offered an escape from mistreatment, constant bullying, and the oppressive environment of the Wehrmacht.
The individual contributions underscore the far-reaching consequences of desertion, not only for the deserters themselves—who often faced severe punishments such as imprisonment or execution—but also for their families. The practice of “Sippenhaft” (family liability), a form of collective punishment, extended the repercussions of desertion to relatives, who were often subjected to forced relocation and other punitive measures, as documented by Peter Pirker in cases from Vorarlberg and South Tyrol (3–31). This volume offers fresh insights by examining the often-overlooked dimensions of desertion, focusing not only on the deserters but also on the impact on their families and the role of sympathizers and aides, as emphasized by scholars like Verdorfer. This broader perspective deepens our understanding of the complex dynamics surrounding desertion and its consequences. There is a particular focus on the participation of women, who played crucial roles in hiding deserters (or draft evaders) and providing them with food. The authors investigate not only a range of supportive roles but also distinct local and regional communities of helpers and affected (individual deserters and their family). Many Wehrmacht soldiers who originated outside of the “Altreich” (the German Reich in the borders of 1938, without the annexed countries) sought ways to desert in their home region, making it easier for them to find support, shelter, and food, particularly in regions such as Carinthia, Tyrol, and Slovenia, where deserters received assistance within local communities. Alternatively, they relied on mountain guides to facilitate their journey over the border, for instance, to Switzerland, or from occupied regions like Norway to Sweden.
In Switzerland, deserters who managed to evade capture by German or Austrian border guards were often placed in camps, as described by Michael Kasper in “Flucht über die Berge” (33–50). Similarly, German-occupied Norway, as depicted by Maria Fritsche in “Ambivalente Machtverhältnisse-Der Umgang der Wehrmachtjustiz mit Deserteuren und ihren Helferinnen im besetzten Norwegen, 1940–45” (241–258), became a significant region for desertions among the German occupational forces. Here, deserters faced various challenges beyond navigating treacherous terrain, including language barriers and unfamiliarity with the region and its nature. Nevertheless, many Norwegians extended support to deserters, either by aiding their escape across the border to Sweden or by offering them refuge. Fritsche's analysis, based on trial files from Wehrmacht courts, highlights the local communities' involvement in supporting deserters, despite potential repercussions from the occupying forces. These diverse scenarios illustrate how individual actors demonstrated resourcefulness in seeking refuge and assistance in foreign countries, often facing greater obstacles than in their home regions. However, it also underscores their ability to persuade locals to provide aid, despite the perception of being representatives of the occupying force. These geographical dimensions of desertion exemplify the roles played by various actors, including smugglers, food suppliers, guides, and particularly women (who remained at home to provide for their families while fathers and husbands were called to the front or labor), in facilitating desertion and supporting deserters along their journey.
The desertions prompt inquiries and scrutiny regarding the soldiers' loyalty and sense of duty. In this context, the backgrounds and interpretations provided by the courts in desertion cases can shed light on the decision-making process. Claudia Bade, in her examination of death sentences and judicial decision-making (“Todesurteile gegen Deserteure – Urteilspraxis und Selbstbilder der Wehrmachtrichter”, 149–166), highlights that the Nazis perceived desertion as a breach of the loyalty expected from a German soldier (159). However, research efforts, including Richard German's study on the Austrian Divisions (“Entziehungen im Feld – Spruch- und Vollstreckungspraxis von Todesurteilen im Spiegel von Militärakten zweier „ostmärkischer“ Divisionen”, 1942–1943, 225–240), as well as preceding investigations, suggest that non-Germans exhibited a greater propensity for desertion compared with their counterparts from the Reich (226). These studies, along with earlier research endeavors, underscore a marked disparity in desertion rates between Germans and non-Germans.
This collective volume represents a significant contribution to the study of desertion, as well as conscription, loyalty, and national duty. Importantly, it expands the scope of research on the Wehrmacht beyond the German context, offering a more diversified perspective on the topic. Despite the title suggesting a narrow focus on desertion, the discussions within the conference proceedings extend to various actors and landscapes involved. While the book predominantly concentrates on the Wehrmacht, with only two chapters exploring the Waffen-SS, there is a call for further exploration in this area for future research endeavors, especially regarding the Waffen-SS. Additionally, bridging the gap in research concerning non-German soldiers, particularly across different countries, could enhance its relevance for an international audience. Therefore, consideration should be given to translating the book into English.
In conclusion, this book fills a significant void in research and provides valuable insights into the individual experiences and societal impacts of desertion and draft evasion during World War II. It challenges conventional narratives surrounding loyalty and duty, emphasizing the nuanced complexities inherent in these concepts.
