ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Myth of the clean Wehrmacht

Okay kiddo, let me explain this to you. During World War II, Germany had a strong and powerful army called the Wehrmacht. Many people believed that this army was very disciplined and only followed orders, but some people still think that they were "clean" or innocent of any war crimes.

Now, imagine you have a toy soldier army. These are just toys, so you can play with them and have fun. But in real life, armies are made up of human beings who have feelings, emotions, and the ability to make choices. Some of those choices can be really bad, like hurting or killing innocent people.

During World War II, the Wehrmacht did some really bad things. They invaded other countries and killed a lot of people who didn't deserve it. Some of their soldiers even committed horrible crimes like rape and murder.

Even though some people still believe the Wehrmacht was "clean," this is just a myth. It's important to remember that just because someone is a soldier or in the military, it doesn't mean they're automatically innocent or blameless. Everyone is responsible for their actions, and the Wehrmacht was not an exception.