Just watched this film for the first time. I almost thought it's a satire itself. Am i missing something? I can't wrap my head around how self-composed most of the characters were, given the circumstances, especially towards the end, talking about suicide like it's a walk in the park. I can understand some of the ideologies of nazism when it comes to social unity, order, pride and wanting to pulverize the "filth" out of this planet, but there's a fine line between ambition and collective insanity. Is that how Hitler's true subordinates were at the time? Fully committed and loyal to their oath and their leader, willing to take a bullet for him any day of the week even when he's dead? Keeping their cool when all hope is lost? How did a single man of such a poor academic background manage to manipulate, gain control over, but most importantly brainwash and seduce the majority of his future government into hell on earth; a group of acclaimed mds, phds, engineers, lawyers, high-ranking militants and all sorts of intellectuals? How and why did loyalty become an excuse for the majority to strip themselves off any self-worth when they failed to execute the orders of their leader? Were they really his subordinates or did they just succumb into fear they could no longer explain? It's depressing, morbid, demented and haunting, but i'm genuinely curious.
I can't wrap my head around how self-composed most of the characters were, given the circumstances, especially towards the end, talking about suicide like it's a walk in the park.
Its not uncommon; and many, many, many Officers and men of the regime committed suicide well before even the end was nigh. Soldiers of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad were known to commit suicide (now a note, not purely out of fanaticism, in fact from a sociological perspective the stress of the encirclement was probably the most dominant factor). Others who committed suicide, invoked the image of the Roman General falling on his sword; such as Model who committed suicide when resistance in the Ruhr pocket became meaningless.
As for the rest of your dozen or so questions, entire historical studies have been devoted to understanding the psychology of Germany immediately pre-1933. If you want to educate yourself on how a country was so entirely indoctrinated, you must understand the context and the time-line leading up to Nazi Germany.
Start with the 'stab-in-the-back justification.' The short of it is, Hitler played up on and convinced the nation that Communists, those of Jewish descent and the "Prussian Elite" were to blame for the failure of Germany in WWI. The lost victory through will for resistance is a strong and often - repeated chorus in the Nazi mythos.
Many of the higher echelons of Nazi power were men 'made' by Hitler; whose positions, power and influence were intrinsically tied to his regime. Many committed suicide, or continued to obey out of realization that it was either (a) victory or (b) annihilation. The idea of them being linked to Hitler was something they would quite naturally deny post-war at trials, but its without a doubt a huge factor for their almost fanatical, desperate adherence to Nazi ideology, especially as all hope was lost. Men of weak moral fiber who realized their world would disappear if the man who made it happen would be overthrown, defeated, or killed during the course of the war. Materialistic and worldly wealth is a strong 'pull'; never forget this.
Finally, as for the 'general population'; especially the younger soldiers. Consider; Hitler came to power in 1933; for many young men, their formative, pre-teen years and educations were entirely run by the Nazi state. Complete and utter doctrinal bombardment; there is simply no way to believe, logically, that a 19 year old Grenadier did not in some way subscribe to some beliefs of the Nazi state, and indeed, many subscribed to all of them. Again its a case of 'the world as they know it.' Hitler and his propaganda ministry did much to build up the myth of Armageddon; if Nazi Germany died, so did the nation. Many young men and woman near the end were utterly convinced that they risked total and utter annihilation in the face of capitulation.
Long story short: Hitler had quite a bit of time to build up a doctrinal base to convince people to conduct inexcusable acts, willingly and fervently. When resistance was noted, bribes were added; promotions, direct gifts of Reichmarks, etc. When all else failed, dissidents were removed.