I do not understand why the Germans continued to fight post-1943 when all was lost and it was only a matter of time.
The professional German officer thought little of the ill advised strategies of Hitler. He was oft spoke of as “the corporal”. To stop his attack on England to change strategy by attacking a huge nation like Russia which he had a non aggression pact with was moronic. He blew his chance to decimate the British at Dunkirk during the boat lift.
Hitler was a horrible military leader.
The Germans fought on to buy time so that advanced weapons such as the V-2 Rocket and jet aircraft could be more widely used. V-1 or V-2 Rockets armed with atomic war heads would have changed the direction of the war completely and may have spelled disaster for the allies, especially Great Britain.
Quintus: People should know when they are conquered.
Maximus: Would you, Quintus? Would I?
Do some reading on the "Dulchstoss". It will explain everything.
Sam, you might want to check a map. The Russians were coming from the east, the US and British were coming from the west.
You said: “I do not understand why the Germans continued to fight post-1943 when all was lost and it was only a matter of time.”
The answer is easy: Leaving Germany to the red hordes was never a alternative to most German soldiers.
Most of them were simply involved into a war they never wanted. Nevertheless they were patriots and defended they country. Most of them were uneducated. Therefore they believed to fight for something good and holy.
The Holocaust was a strictly kept secret of the SS. A Example: Although my grandfather was a officer of the Luftwaffe (air force) back then, it took him until early 1945 to find out the bitter truth.
There is something that can be learned from the German tragedy: Never trust politicans.