Reforging The Iron Cross: The Search for Tradition in the West German Armed Forces

by Donald Abenheim

Examines how military leaders, academics, & politicians in the 1950s shaped the self-image of the new West German soldier to be acceptable to the new democratic Germany. Unjacketed.

Genres: History, Germany

344 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1950, after Post War Germany had been De-Militarised for 5 years, the Korean War and other Cold War crises suddenly called for American, British, and French attention elsewhere- and the Allies decided it was time for a German Army to defend Germany. West Germany set about creating such a force- the Bundeswehr. But where would it look for its Tradition? Germany has so many "Traditions", The Germanic Tribes that fought Rome to a standstill, Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Epmire, the Teutonic knights spreading Christianity in the East, Frederick the Great and the Enlightened Tactics of his era, Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Clausewitz and their Anti-Bonaparte Nationalism, The Grasping Nationalism of the Kaiser period (1870-1918), the Inert "Non-Politics" Politicization of the Reichswehr, the Brilliant Grand Tactics but Political Complicity of the Wehrmacht so recently destroyed, or the Futile Coup attempt of July 1944 - all are part and parcel of German military history. What would be "kosher" to salute as Genuine and Good- what would be thrown away and reviled? Donald Abenheim, a Naval Post Graduate School professor takes us through the struggle with a clear and erudite voice in a compelling way.

Now that we sit here in 2020, and this Bundeswehr is older itself than the Kaiser's Army ever was, or the Reichswehr, or the dynamic Wehrmacht, for all their impressive achievements, we can be a bit bemused by this struggle. But when the army was stood up in 1955, by necessity many of its officers were former Wehrmacht/Luftwaffe/Kriegsmarine men. Some had served in the Reichswehr as well- creating their Second Army in the wake of a defeat. Some saw a strength in continuing Regimental ties to the Kaiser's army. Others saw any attention paid beyond The July 1944 Coup plotters was to return to Royalism, Colonialism and Fascism. When you pour on top of this internal roiling, the overt elements of German politics in the 50s, 60s and 70s- and the Cold War itself- it makes for a really engaging narrative.

This book is fully of subtle and direct adult themes- so I think a Junior reader should be at least 13 with a basis in Modern history before taking on this academic work. For my Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast audience, this is really a good background book- but won't help directly with Scenario/Diorama development. On the other hand- if you are a BattleGroup Modern/Team Yankee/Red Storm Rising player- with a Bundeswehr force to paint and base- this might help get you in the mood- a discussion of morale and morals for the modern soldier.