STRAFBATTALION by Walter S. Zapotoczny ( 9781781556474 ) - Books & Audio Books at Pickabook.co.uk

Item Details

Title:

STRAFBATTALION
HITLER'S PENAL BATTALIONS

By:

Walter S. Zapotoczny

Format:

Hardback

List price:

£25.00

Our price:

£18.25

Discount:

27% off

You save:

£6.75

ISBN 10:

1781556474

ISBN 13:

9781781556474

Availability:

Reprinting. This item may be subject to delays or cancellation.

Delivery rates

Stock:

Currently 0 available

Publisher:

FONTHILL MEDIA

Pub. date:

23 November, 2017

Pages:

224

Description:

Hitler's penal battalions were designed to change attitudes of prisoners towards national policy while instilling a sense of duty honour and purpose. These goals were to be achieved through harsh discipline and punishments, indoctrination programs and leave restrictions. Troops surviving their missions were eventually transferred to regular units.

Synopsis:

When war broke out in 1939, Hitler created `Strafbattalion' (Penal Battalion) units to deal with incarcerated members of the Wehrmacht as well as `subversives'. His order stated that any first-time convicted soldier could return to his unit after he had served a portion of his sentence in `a special probation corps before the enemy'. Beginning in April 1941, convicted soldiers-even those sentenced to death-who had shown exceptional bravery or meritorious service were allowed to rejoin their original units. However those in probation units were expected to undertake dangerous operations at the front. Refusal entailed enforcement of the original sentence. The soldiers who `win back an honourable place in the national community' had done everything that was asked of them: risky advance teams, spyware and shock troops, laying mines under enemy fire. This book examines the penal units, their combat history and order of battle.

Illustrations:

18 black and white illustrations

Publication:

Imprint:

Fonthill Media

Returns:

Returnable

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