Here is an interesting perspective.
Before I traveled to Normandy, a good friend told me a "can't miss" is the German cemetery. Well, I missed it. The German cemetery is well maintained, to the credit of the French. One wonders, why have a German cemetery at all? They were the invaders and killed people on behalf of one of the worst ideologies ever seen on the planet. But my friend's point was that, while well maintained, it is stark and dark and lifeless. A major contrast to the Allied cemetery.
So the question becomes, what drove these erstwhile young people to do this? So my wife has taught me, in any problematic situation, to first look at yourself and find how you contributed to letting this happen. Of course, the Allies learned after WW1 and helped rebuild Germany/Japan. I have recently found the few years following the war to be just as interesting as the war. Where do you begin? How to start the dauntless task of rebuilding cities and lives? How do you put away the anger? Relative European peace in the 50's through the recent war in Ukraine is an incredible story given the hate and damage done. Reading the book, A Higher Call, the German fighter pilot recalls walking away from the aerodrome after fighting for six years and not knowing if he'll be shot for desertion even though Germany had surrendered. He hides his uniform so people won't know he was a pilot. At one point, recognizing his fighter pilot boots, he gets dragged into an ally and beat up for not giving his life protecting the homeland. Really crazy times.
In this article, the writer discusses a similar cemetery dedicated in Italy. The commander turns his back on the audience and addresses the men who died under his command; facing the cemetery. he apologizes that they had to die and apologizes if anything he did, or failed to do, led to their death. He comments that this isn't a celebration of their deaths. He also comments that glorifying these horrific events isn't the goal. He muses that there are times when war is necessary, but that it was leaders who created war that killed these kids regardless. He then finishes, does not address the crowd, and simply walks off stage quietly. A man.
Anyway, a good read if you are into such things. It strikes me that today may not be the day but what day is good?
Reflections, for Memorial Day, on my recent trip to the American — and German — military cemeteries in Normandy.
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