German Troops and the Barbarization of Warfare

German Troops and the Barbarization of Warfare explores how the behavior and ideology of German soldiers contributed to escalating brutality in World War II. Bartov analyzes the cultural, organizational, and ideological factors that led regular troops to commit or facilitate atrocities, arguing that violence became normalized within the military.

Using testimonies, official documents, and operational records, the book traces how warfare on various fronts devolved into systematic cruelty against combatants and civilians alike.

It situates the German army's conduct within broader transformations in modern warfare and genocide.

The book is influential in studies of military history and the Holocaust for connecting institutional practices with mass violence.