Military Heroism in Germany: A Contested and Ever-Changing Concept

In Germany, the concept of the (military) hero has been heavily burdened in particular by the crimes of the Hitler regime and subsequently tabooed for many decades. The paper discusses in which ways a new perception of heroism is in the making in the context of the German armed forces, also in the aftermath of Russia’s violent invasion of Ukraine. It argues that a concept of the “democratic military hero” has gradually emerged, emphasizing soldiers’ commitments to democratic principles and the defense of liberty and equality for all. Despite the historical burden and taboo associated with heroism in Germany due to the crimes of the Hitler regime, the societal need for heroes to provide orientation and support in uncertain times did not cease to exist. The German case shows, by analyzing the Bundeswehr mission in Afghanistan, that the nature of heroic images as well as the contested status of heroism within a society can change over time. The concept of heroism has always been contested in one way or another throughout German history and is subject to develop in any context, depending on society’s norms as well as the security framework. Heroic images provide us with information on values and needs of societies and as such are diverse and can take on contradictory, yet meaningful and motivational forms for all members of society.