Text 21067, 67 rader
Skriven 2008-09-19 17:05:00 av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
  Kommentar till text 21055 av Jeff Smith (1:14/5)
Ärende: Duty Honor Count
========================
Jeff Smith wrote to Robert Bashe on Friday September 19 2008 at 04:38:

RB>> All depends on the circumstances. After 1934, German solders swore
RB>> their oath of allegiance directly to Adolf Hitler, not to the
RB>> constitution or to Germany.

JS> Part of the problem is when one swears an oath of allegiance to a
JS> person or individual instead of to a document or office of leadership.
JS> I would think that even limiting a oath of allegiance to a single
JS> office of leadership could pose problems. My point being that the more
JS> focused one's oath is toward a single person or office the bigger the
JS> chance for that allegiance to be led astray.

How true. Wikepedia states:

* Reichswehreid vom 14. August 1919:
(German military oath starting August 14, 1919)

"Ich schwöre Treue der Reichsverfassung und gelobe, dass ich als tapferer
Soldat das Deutsche Reich und seine gesetzmäáigen Einrichtungen jederzeit
schützen, dem Reichspräsidenten und meinen Vorgesetzten Gehorsam leisten will."

I swear loyalty to the Imperial Constitution and pledge that I, as a brave
soldier, will protect the German Empire and its legal entities at all times,
and loyally obey the Imperial President and my Superiors.

* Neue Eidesformel der Reichswehr vom 2. Dezember 1933:
(New German military oath of December 02, 1933)

"Ich schwöre bei Gott diesen heiligen Eid, dass ich meinem Volk und Vaterland
allzeit treu und redlich dienen und als tapferer und gehorsamer Soldat bereit
sein will, jederzeit für diesen Eid mein Leben einzusetzen."

I swear this holy oath by God that I will always loyally and honestly serve my
people and my country, and as a brave and obedient soldier will be prepared to
give my life for this oath at all times.

* Reichswehreid (März/Mai 1935 in Wehrmacht umbenannt) ab 20. August 1934:
(German military oath (army renamed "Wehrmacht" in March/May 1935) as of August
20, 1934)

"Ich schwöre bei Gott diesen heiligen Eid, dass ich dem Führer des Deutschen
Reiches und Volkes, Adolf Hitler, dem Oberbefehlshaber der Wehrmacht,
unbedingten Gehorsam leisten und als tapferer Soldat bereit sein will,
jederzeit für diesen Eid mein Leben einzusetzen."

I swear this holy oath by God that I will unquestioningly obey the Fuehrer of
the German Empire and People, Adolf Hitler, supreme commander of the German
Army, and as a brave soldier will be prepared to give my life for this oath at
all times.

RB>> Some of them broke that oath when they later attempted to assassinate
RB>> Hitler. Were they traitors or patriots, a disgrace or an honor to
RB>> their uniform? Even now you can still get some disagreements on this
RB>> point.

JS> Did they break their oath to Hitler or to Germany?

Good question. See the oath above.

Cheers, Bob

P.S. The translations are by me and may not be 1000% accurate. The German is
original.

--- GoldED+/W32 1.1.5-0613
 * Origin: Jabberwocky System - 02363-56073 ISDN/V34 (2:2448/44)