The German Empire maintained its fighting strength for an extended period before realizing defeat. The Nazi defeat gradually dawned on everyone in an endless series of severe setbacks. After achieving rapid victory at the beginning the war Hitler’s top commanders began recognizing they were losing the battle.
During the early months of war their army carried many victories into battle. Poland? Gone. France? Crushed. The Soviet Union seemed on the brink of total downfall after a few short weeks. Blitzkrieg worked. The Wehrmacht advanced through Europe using its perfect fighting machine design. But then came Moscow. They didn’t take it. During winter conditions made it difficult for supply shipments to reach their destination. Soviet resistance stiffened. Confidence cracked.
Then came Stalingrad, 1942–43. The military failure at Stalingrad hurt Germany at its core. An entire German army failed to escape the overwhelming army surrounding them. It shattered illusions. The Soviet military resistance held its ground against enemy forces. From there, reality set in.
Kursk ended all chance of success in the eastern theater by 1943. During its offensive to break Soviet defenses Germany experienced strong enemy counterattacks. As the Allies started their invasion in Italy they also struck the Normandy beachhead. D-Day—June 1944—opened the West. One side of the problem became fatal for Germany when it experienced defeat from both directions.
During winter 1944 the German military tried its final great effort against Allied forces at the Battle of the Bulge. It failed. Big time. Once this happened every top-ranked military leader recognized the path to defeat. Germany was on the verge of crash while losing ground.
They properly assessed the situation in early 1945 given the Axis Powers situation. The war was lost. People kept fighting mainly because they felt trapped by duty even if they recognized that their cause was hopeless. Germany was finished. The machine that conquered Europe had broken down while being surrounded and bleeding.
The end did not arrive instantly through an explosion. It came in pieces. Together the signs showed clearly that the war was about to end.
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