Jewish Soldiers in the Wehrmacht

I had the pleasure of listening to a very informative lecture by Bryan Mark Riggs, author of Hitler's Jewish Soldiers. Professor Riggs conducted tremendous original research into men of Jewish lineage who served in Hitler's Army. This research is truly ground-breaking as the issue of Jews in the Wehrmacht was neglected by the entire academic community before Professor Riggs delved into this subject. Moreover, Professor Riggs is a highly skilled orator. Among the points that I learned from Professor Riggs' lecture are the following:

• There were about 1,800 Jewish officers in Hitler's army. There were about 90,000 soldiers of one-half Jewish blood and about 60,000 soldiers of one-quarter Jewish blood. Of extreme importance to note, almost none of these soldiers - Professor Riggs' research only revealed about 18 to 20 men of Jewish blood - took part in the Holocaust.
• Hitler believed that if a mischling (a person of a combination of Aryan and Jewish blood) looked Aryan (e.g. had blond hair and blue eyes), such person would be deemed to have dominant German blood and recessive Jewish characteristics.
• Also, some German women who had Jewish husbands saved their children by claiming that they had affairs with German men and that their children were the product of such relationships.
• Persons of 100% Jewish blood were barred from serving in the Wehrmacht. However, persons of one-quarter or one-half Jewish blood were required to serve in the army. These mischling could not be officers without Hitler's direct permission.
• In April 1940, men of one-half Jewish blood were discharged from the Wehrmacht, except those needed in various campaigns. Some 70,000 Jews were dismissed. This purging of (one-half) Jews occurred before Germany went to war with the Soviet Union, where 85% of German fatalities occurred.
• Hitler did allow clemency for men of one-half Jewish blood to remain in the Wehrmacht. Some were allowed to remain, some where given permission to remain and be promoted, and some were deemed to be of pure German blood. Those who remained in the army did so to save their families and, in fact, such service did, at least, delay deportations.