Hitler became embittered over the collapse of the war effort, and his ideological development began to firmly take shape.[44] He described the war as "the greatest of all experiences", and was praised by his commanding officers for his bravery.[45] The experience reinforced his passionate German patriotism and he was shocked by Germany's capitulation in November 1918.[46] Like other German nationalists, he believed in the Dolchstoßlegende (stab-in-the-back legend), which claimed that the German army, "undefeated in the field", had been "stabbed in the back" on the home front by civilian leaders and Marxists, later dubbed the "November criminals".[47]