The Cursed Generation : Talking to Wehrmacht Soldiers for the Last Time (World War II from a German Point of View)

The Cursed Generation brings 13 rare eyewitness interviews to light—rank‑and‑file German soldiers who spoke candidly only at the end of their lives.Conducted by historian Christian Hardinghaus over five years, these accounts cover North Africa’s heat and dust, the encirclement at Stalingrad, D‑Day on the Western Front, captivity in the Rhine meadow camps, and encounters with Allied forces.What they recall: childhood in the Third Reich; what they knew—and didn’t—about the Holocaust; fear, hunger, comradeship, and moral ambiguity at the front. Their voices are raw and unvarnished—neither heroic nor exculpatory.This edition provides careful context and sourcing. It separates the Wehrmacht as a mass institution from the Nazi leadership while documenting crimes where they occur. There is no glorification.Includes: 38 original photos and drawings from the period, plus editorial notes for orientation. First published in German in 2020, the book became a category bestseller. With this English edition, the last witnesses speak beyond Germany.Representative voice (with editorial framing):“Only a few of us were carried away to commit atrocities. But those few were enough to cause great harm. I don't blame myself, though. I'm a man of my time; I did what I thought was right.”—Wigand, artillery man in StalingradEditor’s note: Statements like these are presented with critical commentary and historical context to examine responsibility, self‑perception, and the documented record.For readers of: A Woman in Berlin; The German War (Stargardt); Ordinary Men (Browning); frontline histories by Antony Beevor.Content note: Descriptions of warfare, antisemitism, war crimes, and civilian suffering. Presented with critical commentary and references.Disclaimer: This work documents experiences with critical historical context; it does not glorify the Wehrmacht or Nazi ideology.Social proof (source: German edition): “Die verdammte Generation” holds approx. 4.6★ from 600+ ratings on Amazon.de (figures may vary by date and marketplace). Read more