Hey guys, at a bit of a loss for starting this assignment so I thought I'd utilise this valuable resource. I'm third year uni taking a modern history subject as an elective, any guidance or reading material greatly appreciated!
The full question is : Assess the relative importance of ideology and circumstances in explaining the conduct of German military forces in ea St eastern Europe. To what extent does the German military share responsibility for the holocaust?
Sorry for the late reply.
The Wehrmacht took an active role in allowing the Einsatzgruppen to operate behind the lines. There are reports from the murder squad commanders that the army was cooperating and was not interfering. In Army Group North Einsatzgruppen A advanced right behind the advancing infantry. The OKW even issued guidelines, before Barbarossa, allowing ruthless actions against Jews. The commander of Sixth Army called for the complete destruction of the Jewish-Bolshevik system. One German commander even complained to Field Marshall von Leeb, Army Group North commander, about the mass executions, von Leeb did not protest but only said to "keep clear of them."
So yes, the German Wehrmacht did share the responsibility for the mass murder. All the way up to Field Army commanders down to the average Landser.
Source: Hitler's War of Extermination- Stephen Fritz