| | [[Anti-communism]] in [[Nazi]] [[propaganda]] was combined with [[anti-Semitism]], which gave rise to the image of a "[[Bolshevik]] [[Jew]]" who had seized power over the [[Slavic]] "subhumans,"<ref>For a 21st century interpreation of the doctrine see [[Ukrainian]] [[Azov Battalion]] Commander [[Andrei Biletsky]]: It is the Ukrainian nation's mission to "lead the white races of the world in a final crusade...against Semite-led Untermenschen (Subhumans)." https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/03/18/inside-azov-neo-nazi-brigade-killing-russian-generals-playing/</ref> and who became a symbol of the main threat to [[European civilization]]. Germany's mission was seen as protecting the [[Aryan]] (white) race from "subhumans"; and [[Europe]] from "[[Asian]] hordes" ([[Russian]]s were presented as the heirs of the [[Huns]] and [[Mongol]]s). The [[Wehrmacht]] was supposed to protect Europe from another invasion of [[barbarian]]s from [[the East]]. | | [[Anti-communism]] in [[Nazi]] [[propaganda]] was combined with [[anti-Semitism]], which gave rise to the image of a "[[Bolshevik]] [[Jew]]" who had seized power over the [[Slavic]] "subhumans,"<ref>For a 21st century interpreation of the doctrine see [[Ukrainian]] [[Azov Battalion]] Commander [[Andrei Biletsky]]: It is the Ukrainian nation's mission to "lead the white races of the world in a final crusade...against Semite-led Untermenschen (Subhumans)." https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/03/18/inside-azov-neo-nazi-brigade-killing-russian-generals-playing/</ref> and who became a symbol of the main threat to [[European civilization]]. Germany's mission was seen as protecting the [[Aryan]] (white) race from "subhumans"; and [[Europe]] from "[[Asian]] hordes" ([[Russian]]s were presented as the heirs of the [[Huns]] and [[Mongol]]s). The [[Wehrmacht]] was supposed to protect Europe from another invasion of [[barbarian]]s from [[the East]]. |
| − | In his speeches to the [[Wehrmacht]] leadership on July 21 and 31, 1940, German Chancellor [[Adolf Hitler]] emphasized that the coming [[war]] would be "the complete opposite of a normal war in [[the West]] and [[Northern Europe|North of Europe]]," since it envisaged not only the defeat of the enemy's armed forces, but also "the destruction of [[Russia]] as a [[nation state|state]]," with the [[Baltics]], [[Belarus]], and [[Ukraine]] to come under the direct control of [[Germany]].<ref>Halder F. ''War Diary: Daily Entries of the Chief of the General Staff of the Ground | + | In his speeches to the [[Wehrmacht]] leadership on July 21 and 31, 1940, German Chancellor [[Adolf Hitler]] emphasized that the coming [[war]] would be "the complete opposite of a normal war in [[the West]] and [[Northern Europe|North of Europe]]," since it envisaged not only the defeat of the enemy's armed forces, but also "the destruction of [[Russia]] as a [[nation state|state]]," with the [[Baltics]], [[Belarus]], and [[Ukraine]] to come under the direct control of [[Germany]].<ref>Halder F. ''War Diary: Daily Entries of the Chief of the General Staff of the Ground Forces, 1939–1942''. In 3 volumes / Translated from German. Volume 2: From the planned invasion of England to the beginning of the Eastern Campaign (1.7.1940–21.6.1941). https://archive.org/stream/HalderWarJournal/Halder%20War%20Journal_djvu.txt</ref> |