I just engaged in an argument where a guy who thought a film about German soldiers painting them in a heroic light and explaining the reasons why they might have believed in the things they did or witnessed could be the catalyst for meaningful discussion. I argued that a film that made the men who took part in some of modern mankind's worst atrocities should not be portrayed as heroic. He said my view was dangerous and wrong and the German soldiers were forced to do things they did. I said even if they were forced they still did and shouldn't be called heroes for doing so. we went on like for a while so my question is:

What is the popular consensus right now when it comes to German soldiers during World War 2 and how responsible they were for the atrocities that took place?