From Theodor Haecker’s (1950) Journal in the Night:

Qua soldier, the German soldier is the strongest and most frightful in the world because he does not need to know what he is fighting for, and in point of fact, under the Prussian hegemony, never has known. It does not occur to him to ask. He is simply hypnotised by his favourite calling, for which he has an immense talent. And even the most depraved creature can catch his imagination at this point, and lead the nation into the direst suffering with absolute certainty. But it doesn’t matter. The German soldier will continue to function immeasurably better than his machines, themselves quite good enough.