Terror in the Balkans

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Germany’s 1941 seizure of Yugoslavia sparked a violent insurgency, prompting a brutal counter-insurgency campaign by the Wehrmacht. By 1943, German troops were engaged in some of the largest operations of the European war, employing massive reprisals, village destructions, and extensive mobile operations against both insurgents and civilians suspected of supporting them. This study delves into the motivations behind the Wehrmacht’s extreme measures in southern and eastern Europe, shifting the focus from high-ranking generals to lower-level units and their officers, many of whom were of Austrian descent. Utilizing Austro-Hungarian army records, the author examines how the personal experiences of these Austrian officers during World War I influenced their brutal conduct in Yugoslavia. By comparing Wehrmacht counter-insurgency divisions, the author analyzes the behavior of various midlevel commanders and their units across different regions of Yugoslavia. The findings reveal that the campaign’s violence stemmed not only from National Socialist ideology but also from the historical context of ethnic conflict, on-the-ground conditions, and military doctrines that shaped German and Austrian mindsets since the late nineteenth century. The study also explores the varying degrees of ruthlessness and restraint exhibited by different Wehrmacht units during the campaign.