| Publication |
2008.
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| Summary/Abstract |
In the long academic debate about the role of the Wehrmacht in anti-partisan warfare during World War II, the Western theatre of war in general and France in particular have been neglected. Having begun as a relatively moderate occupation with even some progressive methods, the German occupation policy radicalised in the last months before withdrawal began in August 1944. This article seeks to deliver explanations for this development. Special emphasis will be given on Eastern Front experiences and their effects on German behaviour in fighting the French resistance movement. It will be demonstrated that experiences from the Eastern Front did contribute considerably to the radicalisation in anti-partisan warfare in France in 1944. Moreover, other factors like elite identity of a unit, duration of deployment in anti-partisan warfare and especially Nazi ideology played an important role also.
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