Editing Defeatism (section)

==="Defeatism" in Nazi Germany===

Defeatism became a buzzword in Germany following its capitulation in 1918, particularly among the Nazi Party led by [[Adolf Hitler]], who routinely blamed this loss on a "defeatist mentality".<ref>Ian Kershaw (2001) ''Hitler 1936-1945 Vol. II'' p. 168</ref> After seizing power, his obsession with denouncing opponents for "defeatism" grew more acute as time went on, and was widely noted.

During [[World War II]], Hitler unexpectedly dismissed many generals for defeatism. More prudent military commanders such as Field Marshal [[Albert Kesselring]] felt constrained to present the ''Führer'' a rosier account of the battlefront situation than was realistic, to avoid being labeled "defeatist".<ref>Kershaw 2001, p. 580: ''"[Hitler] was much influenced by the views of the Commander-in-Chief South, Field Marshal Kesselring, one of nature's optimists and, like most in high places in the Third Reich, compelled in any case to exude optimism, whatever his true sentiments and however bleak the situation was in reality. In dealings with Hitler — as with other top Nazi leaders whose mentality was attuned to his — it seldom paid to be a realist. Too easily, realism could be seen as defeatism. Hitler needed optimists to pander to him..."''</ref>

During the last year of war, the German [[Volksgerichtshof]] ("people's court") executed many people accused of defeatist talks or acts, and their names were announced weekly in a pink colored poster pasted on billboards around the country.<ref>H.W. Koch: ''In the Name of the Volk: Political Justice in Hitler's Germany''. I.B. Tauris, 1997. {{ISBN|1860641741}} pp. 228</ref> In March 1945, as [[Red Army]] tanks were closing in on [[Berlin]], Nazi officials worked feverishly to suppress "cowardice and defeatism" in their own ranks with summary death sentences.<ref>[[Antony Beevor]], 2003, ''The Fall of Berlin 1945'', p. 131.</ref>