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What did Walther von Brauchitsch find disturbing about the behavior of German soldiers toward Polish civilians? How did he respond?

User Vanina
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Final answer:

Walther von Brauchitsch found the behavior of German soldiers towards Polish civilians disturbing, as it involved severe atrocities that ran counter to traditional military honor. Though Brauchitsch's documented personal response is not clear, as the Commander-in-Chief of Germany's army, his ability to intervene was likely limited due to the power structure of the Nazi regime and a lack of control over the SS.

Step-by-step explanation:

Walther von Brauchitsch was disturbed by reports of the inhumane behavior exhibited by some German soldiers towards Polish civilians during the invasion of Poland in 1939. Information from historical accounts indicates that German forces, which included both the army and the SS, executed a campaign of terror and violence against Polish civilians, which included acts such as pressing people into work gangs, conducting mass shootings, and deliberately causing widespread suffering. The behaviors displayed undermined the traditional military honor that officers like Brauchitsch would have been expected to uphold.

The response from Walther von Brauchitsch, unfortunately, is not well-documented in historical texts provided. However, it is known that the German military command under which von Brauchitsch served as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, often had limited control over the actions of the SS, which were under the direct command of Heinrich Himmler and answered only to Hitler. The German High Command faced significant challenges in curbing the worst of the atrocities due to this power structure and a general environment of impunity fostered by Nazi ideology. Brauchitsch's personal response would have been constrained by these factors, and it's not clear from accessible historical documents how much he was able or willing to do in response to the brutal treatment of civilians.
Despite some efforts by certain individuals within the German military to maintain discipline, the horrors of war, combined with the genocidal policies of the Nazi regime, led to widespread atrocities that would later be uncovered and condemned by the international community after the war.

User Akash
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