In May, 1945, Germany was a nation destroyed; the entire infrastructure from trains, to electricity to running water lay in ruins; the political system founded on the principals of National Socialism lay shattered as millions of Germans fled the advancing Red Army and the military was suffering the greatest losses of the war, up to 450,000 dead in one month.  The lack of fuel, ammunition and transportation meant that the Wehrmacht was doomed to fight with rifles and machine guns against thousands of tanks and planes on each theater. Despite these terrible realities, the German killers who had operated in the East were let loose on the German population and through intimidation and executions, they drove the population onward to the very end.  Finally, when the war did end, millions of former slave laborers were free from their guards and took to the streets.  Even with the best of intentions, they were driven to violence in the simple act of eating as there was no organization for their care.  And, many were filled with a hatred of all things German after seeing their countries and their families, not to mention their own personal experiences at the hands of the “Master Race”.

When we think of WWII in the Pacific, we tend to think of the great naval battles which involved mighty navies in ship to ship gun duels and epic air battles over many thousands of miles of ocean.  Yes, we remember some of the islands on which so much blood was shed, but for Americans, it seemed to be a great conflict between two great navies.

From 1932-45, millions of individuals were slaughtered by Hitler and Stalin in pre-war Eastern Poland, the Baltics, Ukraine, and modern-day Belarus.  Although we tend to think of the nearly six million Jews who were murdered, other ethnic groups suffered in huge numbers as the policy of collectivization was applied and as the Nazi and Soviet armies occupied the same area one after another bringing with them their ideologies, economic theories and security concerns. The numbers are staggering, especially when on realizes that the numbers involved were very often accomplished on a one on one basis.  The deaths were not the result of vast bombing raids or clouds of poison gas but were rather individuals methodically executing people one after another, day in and day out.

It has been claimed that Field Marshall Erich von Manstein was the best strategic general to come out of World War II.  His development of the “Sickle Plan” which was adapted by Hitler led to the defeat of France in 1940, actions in the attempt to rescue the Sixth Army at Stalingrad while at the same time foreseeing the Soviet attempt to destroy Army Group South, his counter offensive which recaptured Kharkov and other actions, all fought while out numbered in men, tanks and aircraft, point to a military mind which was superior to many of his contemporaries.  While his excellence was acknowledged by many in the Wehrmacht, his arrogance and drive were also resented by many and those factors were key reasons why he never attained his goal, shaping the total military direction of the Germany war effort on the Eastern Front.  The final decision maker, Hitler himself, while acknowledging the brilliance of von Manstein, did not want so strong a personality around him and trying to influence him.

At the end of January 1968, during the first day of the Lunar New Year (Tet), across South Viet Nam, tens of thousands Viet Cong and North Vietnamese regulars attacked administrative centers, military bases and cities in the belief that they would be met joyously by the citizens of the South as liberators. 

As we are growing up, we have a tend to either ignore or tune out the stories and experiences of our parents.  We think their ideas are so old fashioned, or that their experiences do not impact on our lives, little realizing that their stories and memories are in reality subtle learning tools for us to lead better lives.  Later, when they are old and we have families and real lives of our own, we sometimes ask them about some memory or story they mentioned years ago, but with failing memories or sadness caused by those stories, they may be reluctant to dredge them up.  We then are sad and realize that experiences in their lives will be lost forever and that someday, we shall be like them, trying to remember the good and trying to keep their sorrows and mistakes buried.

Okinawa is an often-forgotten battle; begun on April 1, 1956 and lasting for over two months, it was often overshadowed by the final days of the war in Europe (VE Day is May 8).  The news stories of the victorious Allied armies meeting at the Elbe, the fall of Berlin and the surrender of hundreds of thousands of Germans took first place ahead of a battle on a grimy island that few had ever heard of and still fewer could find on a map.  Yet, this (at the time) obscure battle had a decisive factor on the remaining war between the U.S. and Japan, for it was during this battle that the U.S. faced a full attack from the Kamikazes, a Japanese foe who was fighting on their home territory and where U.S. casualties began to equal Japanese losses.