Letter: Experiencing the end of World War II in Germany

Jason Thibodeaux, Fort Pierce

Letter: Experiencing the end of World War II in Germany

As a veteran of World War II, and one who was on the battlefields of Europe when the end of hostilities was declared on May 8, 1945, I feel obligated to describe to your readers, how momentous an occasion this was.

The economy of Europe today makes it possible to hide the devastation that existed on that day. The real fact is that this act stopped the most devastating war that Europe had ever known. Most of the factories of the greatest industrial power, Germany, was in ruin. The male population in western Europe had been diminished heavily. The cost in lives was in the tens of millions The most powerful nation in Europe at this time was the Soviet Union.

On May 2 our division, the 89th, was halted by army headquarters on the outskirts of Chemnitz, Germany, which would become the occupation territory of the Soviet Army. Although we faced no organized enemy force we soldiers were aware of the possibility of some sniper killing one us, and each of us was determined not to be the last American killed. Our mission at this time was to defend our position and maintain our equipment in preparation of retreating to Fulda, where we were to take up positions as occupational forces.

As we bivouacked in this harvested grain field, we became surrounded by German women of all ages who at first remained distant but friendly; but gradually began making flirtatious advances. We soon found out that these women were told that the Russian soldiers would rape them.

We received the news of the end of hostility with joy and apprehension, joy because we were going to leave this area, but saddened by the fact that we knowingly would leave these helpless German women to the mercies of the Russian soldiers.