What were Wehrmacht soldiers feeling in late 1944 and early 1945, knowing the war was lost? How did they manage to keep going despite everything?

  In late 1944 and early 1945, many Wehrmacht soldiers likely felt a deep sense of despair, fear, and exhaustion as it became increasingly clear that the war was lost. By this point, Germany was facing overwhelming odds, with the Allies advancing from the west and the Soviet Union pushing in from the east. The once-powerful German military was in retreat, suffering heavy losses, and morale was rapidly deteriorating.

Despite this grim reality, soldiers continued fighting for several reasons:

Fear of Reprisal: The fear of punishment from their own military hierarchy or the brutal consequences of surrendering to the Soviets often kept soldiers fighting. The Nazi regime maintained strict discipline, and desertion or retreat was punishable by death.

Propaganda and Ideology: Nazi propaganda continued to stress the idea of fighting for the "Fatherland" and portrayed surrender as worse than death. Many soldiers, particularly those who had been indoctrinated into Nazi ideology, clung to a sense of duty or a belief in the possibility of a last-minute miracle.

Camaraderie and Loyalty: Bonds formed with comrades also played a significant role in keeping soldiers fighting. Even when hope was lost, soldiers often continued for the sake of their fellow troops, relying on each other for survival in a dire and hostile environment.

No Clear Way Out: In many cases, soldiers simply had no choice but to continue fighting. Retreat was not always an option, and there were few safe paths to surrender. For many, the war became about survival rather than victory.

Ultimately, many Wehrmacht soldiers fought on, even when they knew defeat was inevitable, out of fear, indoctrination, loyalty to their comrades, or simply because they had no alternative.