Obedience to Hitler: The War Crimes of General Anton Dostler
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In 1934, the German military swore personal loyalty to Adolf Hitler — a fateful oath that tied the army to the crimes of the Nazi regime. Among those officers was Anton Dostler, a career soldier who rose through the ranks of the Wehrmacht and served in campaigns across Europe.
In March 1944, Dostler ordered the execution of fifteen captured American commandos in Italy — soldiers who had landed behind enemy lines in uniform under Operation Ginny II. Claiming he was “just following orders,” Dostler faced the first Allied war crimes trial after the war.
The tribunal rejected his defense, ruling that obedience to unlawful orders could not justify murder. On December 1, 1945, Dostler was executed by firing squad. His case became a cornerstone of international law and a warning to every future soldier: blind obedience does not absolve guilt.
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