MovieChat Forums > Mai wei (2012) Discussion > Ironically The Army that Treated Jun Sh...

Ironically The Army that Treated Jun Shik The Best

posted 12 years ago by Jakealope
12 replies | jump to latest

Of all the 3 armies that he was forced to serve in, the Japanese, Red then Nazi armies, The German army treated him and its men the best, even despised foreigners. If nothing else, the Germans realized that a well trained, experienced soldier was too valuable an asset to thrown away in pointless bloody charges and battles. The Soviets were the worse, they treated their men like dirt and regarded their lives as nothing. The Japanese were very brutal to their men, especially Koreans and other non Japanese, but a Red Army soldier had more to fear from his own side than the enemy. Not only would they gun their men down, but they would throw untrained, unarmed recruits directly into battle, something the Nazis never did.

What are they doing? Why do they come here?
Some kind of instinct, memory, what they used to do.

[–] creegah-3 11 years ago

You are 1000% correct.

God might, I won't.
-JCVD

[–] Jakealope 11 years ago

I am not trying to let the Nazis or the Germans off the hook. But they always treated their men pretty well and trained them well too. Except in cases on the front, when they couldn't supply them with the basics like in Russia. Then even German regulars turned to ruthless looting and pillaging just to keep from starving and freezing.

[–] creegah-3 11 years ago

There is an amazing book called "The Forgotten Soldier" which has a first-person account of a German soldier in WW II. Almost made into a movie in 2008 but was cancelled for lack of sufficient funding.

God might, I won't.
-JCVD

[–] g6kim 11 years ago

The Russians were notorious for treating their soldiers as if they were nothing more than a piece of trash to throw away. The Chinese soldiers, under Mao, are probably the only army that may have been treated worse. The Germans, the Japanese, the British, and the Americans usually treated their soldiers with a lot more respect. Yes, even Jewish-Germans who decided to fight for the Germans.

[–] Jakealope 11 years ago

The Germans understood best that if you train and treat a soldier well, but with harsh discipline if he messed up, it was the for the best. There was a large investment in creating a good soldier and recklessly throwing his life away was a poor use of it. Besides, they were mostly fighting on conquered land, they were less hesitant about trading land for lives and time. The Japanese had a core of good soldiers, sailors and aviators in 1941. But they were so gung ho to die for the emperor that once they went through their prewar cadres, they never were able to produce good enough replacements since there were not enough experienced teachers to teach the replacements.

[–] Yellowman88 11 years ago

Japanese failed b/c of over expansion. They colonized way too many areas. had beef with China, South pacific, Australia, Soviet unions and the US.

[–] Jakealope 11 years ago

In spite of their alliance, the Germans & Japanese never worked together on any common strategy.

[–] sic_one11 11 years ago

I just finished a book called "Hitler's Wars" by David Irving. Very controversial book, but interesting read nonetheless. Its sources are exclusively primary (so actual documents, or eye-witness accounts).

Hitler's policies towards the treatment of his own army stems from his own experiences during WWI. Of course all sides treated their men like crap - sending them over the top and into a massacre.

So Hitler wanted the best training and equipment possible, and also wanted to make sure his men were well-fed and given enough leave time.

And according to primary sources, he was deeply upset when hearing that soldiers on the Eastern front had inadequate winter clothing, and was furious with his subordinates on this matter.

So yea, interesting how this movie portrays that quite accurately.

There are many reasons why regular Wehrmacht soldiers (non-ideological/non-Nazi's) could still become loyal to Hitler due to the amount of care they were given.

[–] Jakealope 11 years ago

There were reforms made in the post WW l Reichwehr in the same direction by von Seekt and others that sought to over come the old fashioned class divide between the officers vs the enlisted men. Meanwhile Hitler had no problems ordering his troops to defend hopeless positions to the last man.

[–] cobra_freak_006 11 years ago

the germans were known for treating prisoners of war (with the exception of the russians) very well. captured american and british soldiers sometimes got mail, they got their rations, and they got basic tools to stay busy till the war was over. on the other hand they felt like the russians were filth. they didnt feed them very well (if at all), they forced them into working, shot them on the spot, ect. but when they were conscripted to add more man power they were treated like every other german soldier.

[–] jaipex 9 years ago

As I watched this movie, I was actually very curious as to whether that was more or less accurate, or a creative liberty taken by the director and writing team. I found it kind of strange that they were allowed to take time to play soccer, swim, and generally relax, especially since they were essential foreign conscripts..

Anyone able to confirm or deny or provide references?

[–] Jakealope 9 years ago

I'm sure it was no bed of roses being in the German Army. The Germans had an incentive to treat them half way decently since better to have willing recruits than forced foreigners who could turn on them.