I have no idea what of what you wrote could come across as defending Nazi. None of it sounds like defense at all (neither soldier farmers nor origin of word nor us media). I am not from US and had little access to postwar US media. Instead I read multiple books written by Historians about WWII, Germany and Hitler. I am not sure what does origin of the term Holocaust have to use with the thread. We can use Shoah and will not change a thing.

The wehrmacht was national army with long tradition. They took over most of Europe including significant part of Russian territory. Not clueless farmers and clueless farmers were not in leadership. Moreover, Germany was preparing for war for years and that included school system trying to help raise soldier material. As for bicycles, bicycles don't require gas which is why popularity among both army and civilians. Add to it restrictions imposed on German army by WWI victors (which Germans broke, but had to be careful not to do it too openly) and it all becomes logical.

Polish army was still using primary horses and did not anticipated modern war. Germans actually came with better technology.

Lastly, the idea that bad things started with war and later Holocaust is not correct. The state performed repressions of political opposition and violent social control started at earliest, the moment nazi took power. Plans were ready in advance. The nazi themselves were like that even before they took state power into control and violence etc played role already during democratic state, including during elections.