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Instrucciones para los soldados británicos en Alemania, 1944
“Don’t be too ready to listen to stories told by attractive women. They may be acting under orders.” This was only one of the many warnings given to the 30,000 British troops preparing to land in the enemy territory of Nazi Germany nine-and-a-half months after D-Day. The newest addition to the Bodleian Library’s bestselling series of wartime pamphlets, Instructions for British Servicemen in Germany, 1944 opens an intriguing window into the politics and military stratagems that brought about the end of World War II.
The pamphlet is both a succinct survey of German politics, culture, and history and a work of British propaganda. Not only does the pamphlet cover general cultural topics such as food and drink, currency, and social customs, but it also explains the effect of years of the war on Germans and their attitudes toward the British. The book admonishes, “The Germans are not good at controlling their feelings. They have a streak of hysteria. You will find that Germans may often fly into a passion if some little thing goes wrong.” The mix of humor and crude stereotypes—“If you have to give orders to German civilians, give them in a firm, military manner. The German civilian is used to it and expects it”—in the text make this pamphlet a stark reminder of the wartime fears and hopes of the British.
By turns a manual on psychological warfare, a travel guide, and a historical survey, Instructions for British Servicemen in Germany, 1944 offers incomparable insights into how the British, and by extension the Allied forces, viewed their fiercest enemy on the eve of its defeat.
76 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1944
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Bodleian Library
495 books18 followersThe Bodleian Library, established in 1602, is the main research library of the University of Oxford and one of the oldest libraries in Europe. In Britain it is second in size only to the British Library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 16, 2021
A highly interesting historical document revealing a whole lot about the attitude of the British military (as instructed by the British government) towards the Germans, and of course about the perception of Germany in 1944.
There's also a bilingual version with a foreword by Christian Kracht and his editor Helge Malchow, Leitfaden für Britische Soldaten in Deutschland, 1944. Zweisprachig.
There's also a bilingual version with a foreword by Christian Kracht and his editor Helge Malchow, Leitfaden für Britische Soldaten in Deutschland, 1944. Zweisprachig.
February 11, 2025
Interesanta laikmeta liecība.
October 26, 2019
I bought a physical copy of this book when I was in London. It's really small and very short, less than a hundred pages.
The amount of perspectives we can use to look at WW2 never ceases to amaze me. This booklet seeks to explain Germans to the British troops as well as to clarify the expected behavior.
I was surprised to read that in ww1, lots of German women married British men. The book talks about ww1 a lot, constantly comparing between the two occupations. It was interesting to read because I haven't thought about it like that. The fact that as an occupy force, the British soldiers still had time to be concerned about alcohol and movie theaters made me think about how no one ever really is only war.
The book mentions the "European collective amnesia" but really, I felt like the values outlined here do reflect modern politics in many way. Like, the view that once a country fixes its way, it should be accepted in all ways, the idea of being just, showing that you are different. Although yeah, it's wild to think about all of the Nazis that stayed working in German for decades after the war, despite everyone's efforts.
All in all, this definitely reflects a period. It's interesting to see that the writing style sounds British. Like, I can't pinpoint what it is but it doesn't read American. We see what matters to the soldiers and what they were taught about Germany.
what I'm taking with me
• the part that has a German dictionary is very telling.
• there's a conversation about honor here which I liked.
• when they claim Germans are all obedient robots is wild.
The amount of perspectives we can use to look at WW2 never ceases to amaze me. This booklet seeks to explain Germans to the British troops as well as to clarify the expected behavior.
I was surprised to read that in ww1, lots of German women married British men. The book talks about ww1 a lot, constantly comparing between the two occupations. It was interesting to read because I haven't thought about it like that. The fact that as an occupy force, the British soldiers still had time to be concerned about alcohol and movie theaters made me think about how no one ever really is only war.
The book mentions the "European collective amnesia" but really, I felt like the values outlined here do reflect modern politics in many way. Like, the view that once a country fixes its way, it should be accepted in all ways, the idea of being just, showing that you are different. Although yeah, it's wild to think about all of the Nazis that stayed working in German for decades after the war, despite everyone's efforts.
All in all, this definitely reflects a period. It's interesting to see that the writing style sounds British. Like, I can't pinpoint what it is but it doesn't read American. We see what matters to the soldiers and what they were taught about Germany.
what I'm taking with me
• the part that has a German dictionary is very telling.
• there's a conversation about honor here which I liked.
• when they claim Germans are all obedient robots is wild.
December 7, 2015
Ein wirklich charmantes Dokument aus einer Zeit, die wir alle nur zu gut aus den Geschichtsbüchern kennen, aber - zumindest ich - nicht so sehr aus der Perspektive der Alliierten.
Ich fand es besonders vor dem Aspekt interessant, dass damals gemeinhin angenommen wurde, das deutsche Volk sei im Kern aggressiv und kriegerisch veranlagt und man müsse sehr streng mit diesen Deutschen umgehen, um sie auf einen "besseren" Weg zu führen.
[Klammer auf] Spannend, so im Rückblick, denn eigentlich ist Deutschland doch ein wunderbares Beispiel dafür, dass sich Politik ändern und bessern kann, und daran denke ich gerade in letzter Zeit so oft, wenn ich höre, dass manche Kulturen oder Länder die Gewalt und den Krieg einfach im Blut haben und nie demokratische Werte lernen werden. [Klammer zu]
Ich fand es besonders vor dem Aspekt interessant, dass damals gemeinhin angenommen wurde, das deutsche Volk sei im Kern aggressiv und kriegerisch veranlagt und man müsse sehr streng mit diesen Deutschen umgehen, um sie auf einen "besseren" Weg zu führen.
[Klammer auf] Spannend, so im Rückblick, denn eigentlich ist Deutschland doch ein wunderbares Beispiel dafür, dass sich Politik ändern und bessern kann, und daran denke ich gerade in letzter Zeit so oft, wenn ich höre, dass manche Kulturen oder Länder die Gewalt und den Krieg einfach im Blut haben und nie demokratische Werte lernen werden. [Klammer zu]
July 21, 2016
"This book is published in November, 1944, at a time when our Armies have barely entered Germany and Hitler and the Nazi regime have not yet been overthrown. Many important events may happen between now and the time when you first read this book."
This is quite an understatement.
Being German it was interesting to see my country from a stranger's point of view. The chapter "words and phrases" and the guide on pronunciation were unwittingly amusing.
The part of Germany I live in was occupied by the US. I heard some tall tales about these times from older relatives, which might or might not be true. I'll try to find a similar book about it. Given that Elvis was garrisoned in my former hometown I'm sure there are some.
This is quite an understatement.
Being German it was interesting to see my country from a stranger's point of view. The chapter "words and phrases" and the guide on pronunciation were unwittingly amusing.
The part of Germany I live in was occupied by the US. I heard some tall tales about these times from older relatives, which might or might not be true. I'll try to find a similar book about it. Given that Elvis was garrisoned in my former hometown I'm sure there are some.
June 25, 2017
Purchased at the bookstore at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial site. A fascinating read. Provides an insight into the thinking and mindset of that particular time.
July 3, 2022
Como los otros libros de la serie, una curiosidad simpática sin más.
December 3, 2018
Lustige, interessante und - abseits weniger essentialistischer Zuschreibungen - vor allem überraschend sachliche Darstellung der Deutschen und ihrer Lebensweise aus alliierter Sicht.
March 25, 2009
It's very odd reading all these little reprints in the light of over sixty years of history. This was written with the obvious and understandable prejudices of the time, but it's still interesting to see how often it stresses that servicemen posted in Germany shouldn't listen to the Germans when they say the Bolsheviks are the real enemy! Worth reading if you're interested in the period.
October 18, 2022
An entertaining conglomeration of purported national character traits – concise, instructive, hilarious.
A gem.
A gem.
October 12, 2021
Similar to the others in this series, in this case highlighting German history, culture, and how to behave, but this time as an occupying army – and as such being far more cautionary, as the British soldiers would be amongst the enemy in Germany, as opposed to with allies in France.
There were naturally two sides for how to treat the German people after Hitler was defeated, one, with mercy, tolerance, and humanity, and the second, with toughness, and holding them accountable for having empowered the Nazis. I suppose it’s a bit like the duality found between “an eye for an eye” in the Old Testament and “turn the other cheek” in the New, and the opposite sides of the coin that Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. were on. The preface points out several Members of Parliament favored leniency as a way of being better than the Nazis (“Humanity and justice cannot be based upon hatred and revenge”), as did Winston Churchill, who ends his History of the Second World War with “In war, resolution; in defeat, defiance; in victory, magnanimity; in peace, good will.”
However, the authors of this book took a harder line, possibly because it was appropriate to keep the troops from letting their guard down in showing mercy, or fraternizing in a way that may end up getting allies killed, but as the quotes below show, also because the bitterness of what England had been through during the war still stoked jingoistic feelings. It’s a little shocking in places as a result, but more interesting to read because of it. The brief German history section, while perhaps basic, is interesting, highlighting Bismarck, and explaining the rise of Hitler and aspects of the Nazi party (e.g. Gestapo being the first couple of letters from Geheime Staats-Polizei, Secret State Police, etc). The first German phrase in the section at the end is Hande hoch! - Hands up!, and a few more of those types of things precede the usual Guten Morgen and other niceties.
Quotes:
“From the time Hitler came to power no serious resistance movement showed itself in Germany until the attempted putsch of the German generals on the 20th July, 1944. But the cause of that revolt was not the barbarity of Hitler’s methods, but merely their lack of success.”
“Don’t be too ready to listen to stories told by attractive women. They may be acting under orders.”
Ouch:
“This mixture of sentimentality and callousness does not show a well-balanced mind. The Germans are not good at controlling their feelings, They have a streak of hysteria. You will find that Germans may often fly into a passion if some little thing goes wrong.”
“When you deal with Germans you must be on your guard. We were taken in by them after the last war: many of us swallowed their story about the ‘cruel’ Treaty of Versailles, although it was really far more lenient than the terms they themselves had imposed on Russia only a year before; many of us believed their talk about disarmament, and the sincerity of their desire for peace. And so we let ourselves in for this war, which has been a good deal bigger than the last. There are signs that the German leaders are already making plans for a Third World War. That must be prevented at all costs.
There were naturally two sides for how to treat the German people after Hitler was defeated, one, with mercy, tolerance, and humanity, and the second, with toughness, and holding them accountable for having empowered the Nazis. I suppose it’s a bit like the duality found between “an eye for an eye” in the Old Testament and “turn the other cheek” in the New, and the opposite sides of the coin that Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. were on. The preface points out several Members of Parliament favored leniency as a way of being better than the Nazis (“Humanity and justice cannot be based upon hatred and revenge”), as did Winston Churchill, who ends his History of the Second World War with “In war, resolution; in defeat, defiance; in victory, magnanimity; in peace, good will.”
However, the authors of this book took a harder line, possibly because it was appropriate to keep the troops from letting their guard down in showing mercy, or fraternizing in a way that may end up getting allies killed, but as the quotes below show, also because the bitterness of what England had been through during the war still stoked jingoistic feelings. It’s a little shocking in places as a result, but more interesting to read because of it. The brief German history section, while perhaps basic, is interesting, highlighting Bismarck, and explaining the rise of Hitler and aspects of the Nazi party (e.g. Gestapo being the first couple of letters from Geheime Staats-Polizei, Secret State Police, etc). The first German phrase in the section at the end is Hande hoch! - Hands up!, and a few more of those types of things precede the usual Guten Morgen and other niceties.
Quotes:
“From the time Hitler came to power no serious resistance movement showed itself in Germany until the attempted putsch of the German generals on the 20th July, 1944. But the cause of that revolt was not the barbarity of Hitler’s methods, but merely their lack of success.”
“Don’t be too ready to listen to stories told by attractive women. They may be acting under orders.”
Ouch:
“This mixture of sentimentality and callousness does not show a well-balanced mind. The Germans are not good at controlling their feelings, They have a streak of hysteria. You will find that Germans may often fly into a passion if some little thing goes wrong.”
“When you deal with Germans you must be on your guard. We were taken in by them after the last war: many of us swallowed their story about the ‘cruel’ Treaty of Versailles, although it was really far more lenient than the terms they themselves had imposed on Russia only a year before; many of us believed their talk about disarmament, and the sincerity of their desire for peace. And so we let ourselves in for this war, which has been a good deal bigger than the last. There are signs that the German leaders are already making plans for a Third World War. That must be prevented at all costs.
June 7, 2024
Leitfaden für britische Soldaten in Deutschland 1944: Zweisprachige Ausgabe von Bodleian Library
Kurzbeschreibung
Als sich die britischen Soldaten 1944, noch vor Kriegsende also, auf den Weg nach Deutschland machten, steckte dieses Büchlein in ihren Hosentaschen. Eine Anleitung des britischen Außenministeriums, wie mit uns Deutschen umzugehen sei, ein Attest der britischen Zivilisiertheit und eine Warnung vor einem »merkwürdigen Volk«. Die Soldaten sollten psychologisch geschult werden, um nicht auf die Propagandamittel der Nazis hereinzufallen. Es sollte ihnen aber auch deutlich gemacht werden, dass sie sich allen Deutschen gegenüber immer fair zu verhalten hätten.
Sehr konkret und teilweise auch ziemlich skurril wird beleuchtet, was wir gerne essen und trinken, welche Sportarten wir betreiben und wie wir feiern. 400.000 Soldaten haben 1944 diesen Leitfaden erhalten, der ihr Bild von uns Deutschen entscheidend geprägt hat. Uns kann er auch heute noch einen Spiegel vorhalten, und das Bild von uns, das wir in diesem Spiegel sehen, ist manchmal erschreckend, manchmal amüsant und oft unfassbar komisch.
Kurzmeinung / Leseerlebnis
Mir wurde die zweisprachige Ausgabe freundlicherweise geliehen. Die Kapitel habe ich abwechselnd auf deutsch und auf englisch gelesen. Es gibt vom gleichen Herausgeber Bände für British Servicemen in France und für American Servicemen in Australia und sogar Anleitungen wie man eine gute Ehefrau oder ein guter Ehemann ist.
Ein sehr interessantes Zeitdokument!
Kurzbeschreibung
Als sich die britischen Soldaten 1944, noch vor Kriegsende also, auf den Weg nach Deutschland machten, steckte dieses Büchlein in ihren Hosentaschen. Eine Anleitung des britischen Außenministeriums, wie mit uns Deutschen umzugehen sei, ein Attest der britischen Zivilisiertheit und eine Warnung vor einem »merkwürdigen Volk«. Die Soldaten sollten psychologisch geschult werden, um nicht auf die Propagandamittel der Nazis hereinzufallen. Es sollte ihnen aber auch deutlich gemacht werden, dass sie sich allen Deutschen gegenüber immer fair zu verhalten hätten.
Sehr konkret und teilweise auch ziemlich skurril wird beleuchtet, was wir gerne essen und trinken, welche Sportarten wir betreiben und wie wir feiern. 400.000 Soldaten haben 1944 diesen Leitfaden erhalten, der ihr Bild von uns Deutschen entscheidend geprägt hat. Uns kann er auch heute noch einen Spiegel vorhalten, und das Bild von uns, das wir in diesem Spiegel sehen, ist manchmal erschreckend, manchmal amüsant und oft unfassbar komisch.
Kurzmeinung / Leseerlebnis
Mir wurde die zweisprachige Ausgabe freundlicherweise geliehen. Die Kapitel habe ich abwechselnd auf deutsch und auf englisch gelesen. Es gibt vom gleichen Herausgeber Bände für British Servicemen in France und für American Servicemen in Australia und sogar Anleitungen wie man eine gute Ehefrau oder ein guter Ehemann ist.
Ein sehr interessantes Zeitdokument!
December 4, 2022
Another reprint of a pamphlet issued to the British armed forces in WWII, this time for those being sent to Germany in 1944.
I've read the one for France, which focused on having sympathy and compassion for the civilians who have suffered under German occupation. The tone of this one is the other side of the coin; dont be taken in by the sob stories of the German civilians. They are the enemy, and you cannot trust them.
Interesting reading what the military perceptions of Germany were at the time, and of the German people.
I've read the one for France, which focused on having sympathy and compassion for the civilians who have suffered under German occupation. The tone of this one is the other side of the coin; dont be taken in by the sob stories of the German civilians. They are the enemy, and you cannot trust them.
Interesting reading what the military perceptions of Germany were at the time, and of the German people.
July 13, 2019
Short and not as fascinating as some people describe it. Yes, a few bits here and there made me smirk, but neither was the description of the German people of that time detailed nor particularly entertaining. If you came here for deeper understanding of a people or for funny jokes on Germans, you came to the wrong place, book...
August 14, 2025
Unsure how to probably review this text as its effectively a manual on how to follow orders.
Nevertheless for a military instruction booklet it was light on jargon while full of interesting information. Its commentary on German culture and history often tally with my own observation so it somehow remains a partially relevant document.
Nevertheless for a military instruction booklet it was light on jargon while full of interesting information. Its commentary on German culture and history often tally with my own observation so it somehow remains a partially relevant document.
October 16, 2021
Very neat look into WW2 from the perspective of a British Army Bureaucrat.
I honestly have no idea why I read this.
I honestly have no idea why I read this.
November 30, 2022
Breve manual entregado a los soldados británicos destinados en Alemania durante la 2a GM. Interesante como curiosidad histórica.
August 7, 2023
Curioso
January 17, 2024
Amusing read as an Anglo-German!
September 8, 2024
Silly to give these historic pamphlets star rating, but I definitely found it interesting and well worth the read!
April 7, 2025
Simple but incredibly factual when it comes to beliefs and known history of the time period, would highly recommend to anyone interested in WW2.
August 17, 2014
Ein unglaublich interessantes kleines Büchlein! Es sind einige sehr amüsante Dinge dabei (siehe z.B. Sport) und ich hatte viel Spaß beim Lesen (die sicherlich auch Briten beim Lesen haben würden!).
Aufgeteilt ist das Buch in die folgenden Kapitel:
Vorbemerkung
Einleitung
(ab hier Original:)
Vorwort
Zur Einführung
Das deutsche Land
Deutsche Geschichte
Was die Nazis aus Deutschland gemacht haben
Was der Krieg aus Deutschland gemacht hat
Wie die Deutschen sind [Mein Highlight!]
Wie die Deutschen leben
Geld
Wie man sich verständigt [Auch sehr amüsant!]
Was man tun soll
Was man lassen soll
Sicherheitshinweise
Aufgeteilt ist das Buch in die folgenden Kapitel:
Vorbemerkung
Einleitung
(ab hier Original:)
Vorwort
Zur Einführung
Das deutsche Land
Deutsche Geschichte
Was die Nazis aus Deutschland gemacht haben
Was der Krieg aus Deutschland gemacht hat
Wie die Deutschen sind [Mein Highlight!]
Wie die Deutschen leben
Geld
Wie man sich verständigt [Auch sehr amüsant!]
Was man tun soll
Was man lassen soll
Sicherheitshinweise
July 8, 2015
Ķelnē apmeklējām izdevējus šai grāmatiņai un citām līdzīgām citu laiku un karu karavīru instrukcijām. Feins izdevums, kur WWII Sabiedroto karavīriem pastāstīts, kas tad ir vācieši, kā ar viņiem runāt, kāpēc tik daudz nacistu, ka katrai 4.sievietei vecumā no 15-45 ir pa lipīgai venēriskajai slimībai, un citas übersvarīgas, noderīgas lietas.
Mani pārsteidza, cik ideoloģiski izklāstošs ir šis "manuālis", un cik salīdzinoši maz praktiskas informācijas tas satur.
Vācijā šis bijis bestsellers ar vairāk kā 200 000 eksemplāru lielu tirāžu, un sērijā ir arī amerikāņu norādījumi kā okupēt Irāku. Diez cik izplatītas ir venēriskās slimības Tikumiskajos Austrumos?
Mani pārsteidza, cik ideoloģiski izklāstošs ir šis "manuālis", un cik salīdzinoši maz praktiskas informācijas tas satur.
Vācijā šis bijis bestsellers ar vairāk kā 200 000 eksemplāru lielu tirāžu, un sērijā ir arī amerikāņu norādījumi kā okupēt Irāku. Diez cik izplatītas ir venēriskās slimības Tikumiskajos Austrumos?
June 12, 2015
An excellent memoraphilia booklet that showed the situation that was present at that period of time in Germany.
A historical valuable information and for someone like me that loves history a wonderful reading full of interesting events and information.
A historical valuable information and for someone like me that loves history a wonderful reading full of interesting events and information.
May 7, 2009
Another in a series of informative and insightful source documents that add depth and character to broader historical texts. The entire series is worthy of review.
March 31, 2015
Sehr interessant und ein toller Einblick in die Sichtweise der Briten.
April 1, 2015
Short and amusing. A small window in a very interesting part of Germany's history. I enjoyed reading this.
July 26, 2021
Quite forward-thinking to issue this at the time to provide occupying soldiers with a sense of what place they're getting into.
January 20, 2021
I like this small book very much.
Very precise and gives a great look on how British were seeing the Third Reich and Germans at the times of WW2.
Very precise and gives a great look on how British were seeing the Third Reich and Germans at the times of WW2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews