


          * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
          *                                                         *
          *                THE WAR IS FINALLY OVER                  *
          *                                                         *
          * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

          Viewed a half century later, the end of the war in Europe
          was a surrealistic tragedy. As April drew to a close, German
          resistance on the western front disintegrated. It continued,
          however, on the eastern front, in order to allow as many
          Germans as possible to escape Russian control. In the
          meantime, a weird drama unfolded in Berlin.
          
          In order to get in and out of Berlin, it was decided to
          convert a street in the Tiergarden, a wooded area west of
          the Brandenburger Gate, into a landing strip. At one point,
          this precipitated an argument in Hitler's bunker over
          whether it would be necessary to cut down a number of the
          trees! After some wrangling, Hitler ordered the trees be
          spared. This scene was not only absurd but ironic, since
          Berliners later cut down all the trees in the Tiergarden to
          keep warm.
          
          The Allies rejected an offer from Himmler to surrender
          German forces in the West but not in the East. Goering,
          who had left Berlin, enraged Hitler by offering to replace
          him.
          
          These spectacles were followed by a series of melodramatic
          events. Italians murdered Mussolini and his mistress Clara
          Petacci and left them hanging by their heels. Hitler, in a last
          minute display of domesticity, married his mistress Eva
          Braun. He proclaimed that the German people had failed
          him and appointed Admiral Doenitz his successor. He and
          Eva Braun then killed themselves on April 30, and their
          aides burned their bodies. The next day Goebbels and his
          wife killed their six children and themselves.
          
          With the world collapsing about him, Admiral Doenitz
          declared his intention to save the German people from
          Bolshevism. In his negotiations with Eisenhower he stalled
          for time, to permit as many Germans as possible to escape
          to the West. Eisenhower, in another controversial decision,
          ordered Patton not to take Prague. In the meantime, he
          negotiated surrender terms simultaneously with Allied
          capitals and the Germans. After a week of tension, the war
          finally officially ended on May 8. Fighting in the East
          continued for a short while but then ceased. 
          
          
          Having fought Hitler's war, the German generals still
          expected mercy, if not from the Russians at least the
          western Allies. After signing the Act of Military Surrender,
          General Alfred Jodl, Chief of Staff of the Doenitz
          government, made a brief statement. Noting how much the
          Germans had suffered, he concluded, "In this hour, I can
          only express the hope that the victors will treat them with
          generosity." Eisenhower and other Allied officers
          appropriately greeted this statement with silence. Throughout
          this whole procedure and afterwards, none of the German
          generals or admirals showed any sign of remorse.
          
          The western allies were later generous to the German
          people, not because they were feeling charitable but out of
          fear of the Russians. This benevolence did not, however,
          extend to Jodl. After his trial at Nueremberg, he finished his
          days at the end of a rope.                                   


          VE-DAY IN REGENSBURG

          With the end of the fighting, I breathed a great sigh of relief.
          May 8 found us in Regensburg, with the Danube on our
          doorstep. My reaction and that of those immediately around
          me was indicated by a letter home.
          
          Dear Folks, May 14, 1945, Germany
          
          It was inevitable that it should come, but many times it
          seemed very far away, and we tired of anticipating it. But,
          now, peace has come for a time to Europe. And we are all
          very happy indeed. This means an end to what for many of
          us has been long months of struggle and hardship. It is a
          reward richly gained. The manner in which the battle fell
          apart precluded any sudden feeling of hilarity for us. For
          weeks before the end it was plainly coming. The only
          question was the exact day and hour. Then, that arrived.
          The war in Europe is over.
          
          VE night was a quiet one. Everyone had one drink, and we
          went to bed. There may have been wild celebrating in the
          States and in places over here, but for the people who have
          fought the war and the Germans who have endured it, the
          end could never be a climax. For the first time in a year, I
          prayed. There was simply nothing else that seemed proper.
          
          But all that is behind now. New days lie ahead. This past
          is better if forgotten or only half-remembered. Real work
          faces us. The war is yet to be won, and meantime there is
          the readjustment to peace to be made here. Neither will be
          easy.
          
          For myself, I'm relaxing and having a good time. We are
          located just now on a very beautiful river. A mile away are
          forty nurses, who are likewise resting. It is quite natural,
          then, isn't it, that I take advantage of this? The object of my
          attentions just now is a Ruth Chastaine, from
          Massachusetts. Small, brunette, very attractive. We have
          very good times together.
          
          Just the other night the officers gave a party. We are
          billeted in a beautiful home - formerly that of a German
          general - and it was ideal for the affair. The lilacs are in
          bloom and they gave real atmosphere to the living room and
          dining room, the latter being used for dancing. We had
          punch and other drinks, a light dinner at 2200, dancing etc.
          It was really a very nice party, and everyone had a grand
          time. For many this was their first in a year. This is poorly
          written I know, but I just cannot settle down to letter
          writing just now.
          
          Love, John
          
          Soon after writing this letter, the 29th FA Battalion moved
          to Gunzenhausen, a small town south of Nuernberg, as an
          occupation force. Shortly after we arrived there, Tommy
          asked me to scout around and see how the Germans were
          reacting. In the course of my inquiries I came upon an
          elderly American woman who had spent the war there. I do
          not recall all she said, but one thing made a strong
          impression. "Captain, many people you will talk to here will
          tell you that they did not support Hitler. This is pure
          nonsense. As long as things were going well, they were
          enthusiastic about Naziism. It is only recently, when defeat
          became certain, that they changed their tune."
          
          Shortly after arriving in Gunzenhausen, I received a letter
          from my father saying that my mother was ill. There had
          been hints of this before, but I had pushed them aside.
          Even now I was unwilling to admit to myself that it might
          be serious. Hence, in a letter to my father I said, "I hope
          this letter finds my dear mother feeling better." Preoccupied
          with myself, I then turned to a long discussion of my
          chances of getting out of the Army.                 


          AN UNPLEASANT DUTY

          From time to time, I had served on military courts, as
          prosecutor, defender, or judge. None of these trials, however,
          involved serious crimes. In Gunzenhausen I was selected to
          defend an enlisted man in another unit against the charge
          of rape. As a result, I made a trip to interview the woman
          who had brought the charges, as well as witnesses.
          
          Dear Folks, May 25, 1945,Gunzenhausen, Germany
          
          Yesterday I took a trip to the south. A Mr. Lee, of the
          division judge advocate office, an interpreter, and I had to
          travel to a small village called Thanning, which is east of
          Wolfratshausen. It was concerning an alleged rape case. You
          see, I'm defense counsel for the accused.
          
          As one gets south of Munich, the Alps many miles to the
          south can be seen. They make a very beautiful sight.
          
          The interview with the German people was slow and tedious
          as they always are when you must use an interpreter. Such
          cases are always rather unpleasant and sordid.
          
          Sorry to hear that mother is still none too well. As you say,
          with summer coming on, things should improve.
          
          Oh, yes, I'm Special Service Officer now. My job includes
          recreation and athletics. As you can imagine, this keep me
          busy. We have movies about every three days. Then we fill
          in with shows, concerts etc. or nothing. Our swimming pool
          should be open in a day or so. Then when it warms up,
          we'll have something else to offer the men.
          
          Love, John
          
          The visit to a farm near Thanning was a chilling experience.
          While the alleged rape was taking place, there were a
          number of people in the room, including a man. He
          maintained that the soldier had threatened him with a gun.
          On the other hand, he went out of the house in the course
          of these events to milk the cows. Everyone agreed that the
          enlisted man had been drinking heavily. When I asked the
          woman who had brought the charges if she understood that
          the soldier could be condemned to death, she replied, "Yes,
          I know that. He should have thought of that before raping
          me."
          
          The court found the enlisted man guilty and sentenced him
          to fifteen years. The evidence against him was very strong,
          but I felt sorry for his wife and children in the US. When
          the trial ended, he turned to me, shook my hand, and
          thanked me for defending him. While I had done the best I
          could, it seemed to me improper to put an amateur like me
          up against a prosecutor who was a professional lawyer in
          such a serious case. That, however, was the system at that
          time. Since the war, it has been changed to provide
          professional attorneys for defendants. (In doing research for
          this book, I have learned that this man got off relatively
          lightly. According to a report of the Headquarters,
          Communications Zone European Theater of Operations,
          nineteen men were executed for rape between July 30, 1943
          and February 25, 1945.)
          
          The question inevitably arose as to how firmly we would
          enforce the orders against fraternization. To expect the
          enlisted men to ignore the girls in the town was wishful
          thinking. Nothing was ever made explicit, but a solution
          emerged. There were woods near the town, and the battalion
          officers managed to stay out of them.
          
          These problems and our pleasant life had a short duration.
          In early June we received word that the 4th Division was
          returning to the US - on its way to the Pacific.       

