Patriotism In Karl Fuchs's 'Your Loyal And Loving Son'

The book, Your Loyal and Loving Son, is a compilation of letters home written by Karl Fuchs, a young German male sharing his experiences, feelings and emotions from 1937, when he comes of age for the Labor Service until his premature death on the Eastern Front in 1941. Even though many contend that serving in the German military during WWII inevitably classifies an individual as evil, Karl Fuchs, a young man who grew up in Germany during the Nazi Party 's escalation of power ought not be generalized into the taxonomy of 'immoral Nazi ' for the underlying principle, his only true offenses of patriotism, a sense of nationalism and honor developed as a result of exposure to the Nazi faction 's propaganda machine.
Many argue that service in the

Even though many argue that service in the German military during the 2nd world war makes a person criminal, Karl Fuchs, a young man who grew up in Germany during the Nazi Party 's rise to power should not be placed into the category of being "evil" because his only true crimes were that of patriotism, a strong sense of nationalism and honor. In his letter dated 22 August 1937 to his parents, after four months at the Schnaittach, National Labor Service Camp, Karl writes:
Dear

Throughout his letters we repeatedly see this notions. However, by the Spring of 1941 he tires of waiting for battle action and anxiously awaits the birth of their son, we start to see a shift of serving primarily for the honor of the Fatherland, to one of honor for his family. For example, in a letter to Mädi from 13 May 1941 Karl writes, "I was daydreaming today...I heard church bells...announcing peace... One day peace will come and your tired soldier will come home, and rest his head in your lap."
The most important reason that Karl Fuchs should not be described as being evil, is the unfortunate fact that he grew up in a Germany consistently bombarded with Nazi propaganda. And as author Russell Grenwell is quoted as stating, "If a thing is said often enough it becomes true," certainly could be said of children like Karl growing up hearing and saying, "Heil Hitler." Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister of Propaganda, promoted the Furher 's idea of education, that it was essential that German children understand the importance of race and equip them with the necessary tools to fight for the honor of the