Dishonoured Forever? - Rehabilitation of Wehrmacht Deserters

Deserters of the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) were not discussed in Germany and Austria for decades. Their refusal to join in Hitler's crusade of death had not been worth of any positive notice in postwar German and Austrian society and memory. On the contrary, they were faced with accusations for "backstabbing comrades and fatherland." It was not until the 90s that people "woke up" and got active. Representatives of science, politics and media demanded and succeeded in achieving a decriminalisation and lawful rehabilitation for the former deserters.

But how was it possible to change public and political opinion like that? How much resistance had to be overcome? Who were the opponents? Hannes Metzler's analysis shows clearly how the answers of those questions in Austria differs from the answers in Germany. Additionally, there is an excursus about Luxembourg, proving how a different way of thinking towards deserters is possible.