I just finished watching Wonder Woman, and although I loved the movie, I did not like seeing like the 20th movie that portrayed all Germans as the absolute evil of the world. Of course there were terrible people that led or fought for the Axis and Nazi armies, but I would love to see the perspective of German soldiers and how their complex experience was. I'm sure they had quite a bit of patriotism, but I imagine quite a few had doubts, or even thought they were fighting on the wrong side or that it was wrong to fight at all.
Thank you in advance for any responses :)
For a common soldier experiences here are these books. Some are by by officers although they are all below General officer rank.
Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer is a great one.
Black Edelweiss by Johan Voss
Five Years, Four Fronts by Georg Grossjohan
Panzer Commander by Hans von Luck
By Generals and their experiences if you're interested:
Panzer General by Heinz Guderian
Also From Normandy to the Ruhr: With the 116th Panzer Division in WWII by Heinz Gunther Guderian is good but more of a divisional history.
For WWI
Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger is a classic.
Infantry Attacks by Erwin Rommel is one of my absolute favorites.
Im Westen nichts neues - Rilke
Sorry I'm in the train and can't check for the English name. It's about a boy who goes to war with his whole high-school class. It's about his "everyday life" at the front and at home.
For WWI I'd start with Rommels book and then get to Storm of Steel. Ernst Junger is a bit more detailed and reads a little slower. Infantry Attacks is a lot more fast paced (comparatively) in my opinion.
WW2 I'd go with Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer for sure. After that I'd say it's up to you. Hans von Lucks book is exceptional. Most of these are on audible of that helps you out.