Shared History Commemorated

Memories Key in Commemoration
by Staff Sgt. Raymond Drumsta
138th MPAD

Weimar, GE--American World War II veterans, German World War II veterans, and German citizens commemorated shared history in a series of events held here from October 6 to 9.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Raymond Drumsta Weimar Burgermeister Dr. Friedrich Folger speaks at the plaque ceremony in Weimar. Veterans of the 80th Infantry Division, which is credited with accepting Weimar's surrender in the final days of World War II, gave the town a plaque commemorating the town's peaceful surrender.

The events took place in and around Weimar, and centered on the city's peaceful surrender to the American Third Army on April 12, 1945.

Seven veterans of the American 80th Infantry Division, which accepted the city's surrender, presented a plaque commemorating the surrender to the city.

American Veteran Albert Sidney Haley said the plaque came about as a spontaneous decision of the veterans when they visited Weimar--at the city's invitation and expense--in 1999.

"One thing we felt we could do was somehow give recognition;  our appreciation for their peaceful surrender of the city on April 12, 1945."

Haley said he and other soldiers had fears of becoming the "last soldier killed with the last bullet" in World War II.

"It was a great thrill and great relief that a of city this size surrendered,"
Haley said.  "By surrendering they  may have saved our lives"

The American veterans also laid flowers on the graves of 19 German soldiers buried in a remote wooded cemetery near the German village of Troistedt.  The soldiers were some of the last German soldiers killed in the final days of World War II.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Raymond Drumsta 80th Infantry Division Veterans Richard Bobb (left) and Albert Sidney Haley (right) lay flowers on the graves of 19 German soldiers killed in the last days of of World War II. The visit to the wooded cemetery was part of the commemoration ceremonies which took place in and around the city of Weimar October 6 to 9.

"I think that the German people may appreciate that we do think about the ones that were killed at the end of the war or during the war, because it seems, in hindsight, such a foolish thing," Haley said.

Seigfried Langer appreciated it.  His brother, Gerhardt Langer, was one of the 19 German soldiers buried in the remote graveyard.  Langer said the American visit was a redemption from the fascist label they had lived with for so long.

"It's a great feeling of honor, that finally, after such a long time,
people, especially the Americans, are honoring these [soldiers]."

 Weimar organizers Bernd Schmidt and Hans Stadelmann were instrumental in developing the relationship between the veterans and the city.

"I was interested in the unit that liberated this area in 1945," Schmidt said, "so I contacted the American embassy.  Many people are interested in seeing the true liberators of our towns and villages."

Schmidt said he hoped the commemoration events would ensure peace and a lasting friendship.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Raymond Drumsta Left to Right: 80th Infantry Division Veteran Eric Reilinger, Timothy Spellman, and 80th Infantry Division Veteran Jerry Spellman, speak with Brig. Gen. Lloyd T. Waterman, the deputy chief of staff, logistics for USAREUR, guest speaker at the Weimar plaque ceremony. Veterans of the 80th Infantry Division, which is credited with accepting Weimar's surrender in the final days of World War II, gave the town a plaque commemorating the town's peaceful surrender.

"This history is a history of the Americans and of the Germans, and we should never forget it."

Haley remembered seeing prisoners, freed from nearby Buchenwald concentration camp, looting Weimar.  Haley said that younger generations need to remember aspects of World War II like Buchenwald.

"Youth need to understand that it could happen again, in a worse way," Haley said.

American veteran Richard Bobb recalls seeing German soldiers and citizens lining the streets of the city following the surrender--a sight, he said, which at the time gave him an eerie feeling.  He said the reception given them by the German citizenry during the recent ceremonies was wonderful and delightful.

"I think about how things have changed--how at one time the majority of the German population, without a doubt, supported Hitler--such a change."

Bobb said the practice of Neo-Nazism, including the painting of swastikas on the walls of the now-memorialized Buchenwald Concentration Camp, is rooted in ignorance.

"To want to go back to something like that is appalling," Bobb said.  "they must be totally, totally disconnected with history."

American veteran Eric Reilinger said he was skeptical about the idea of friendship, at first.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Raymond Drumsta, 138th MPAD 80th Infantry Division Veteran Eric Reilinger, left, speaks with German World War II Veteran Walter Gaimmeri, right, at a reception following the veterans' visit to the graves of 19 German soldiers killed in the last days of of World War II.

"I felt we would run into bitter feelings," he said. "Surprisingly, I felt that it was worth coming back.  They were very nice. "

Ironically, Reilinger was born in Bavaria and emigrated to the United States when he was 11.   As an American soldier, he was wounded and became a prisoner of war.  He subsequently received the silver star.
 
"I was a guy of German extraction who shot at their people.  I didn't expect a friendly reception."

Reilinger said the need to remember Buchenwald is obvious.

"We've had recent situations in Bosnia and Yugoslavia which are very reminiscent of that kind of regime.  It's too easy to forget.  I think it should be kept in people's mind.  The holocaust should be kept in mind.  It's very easy to slip back into it.  Situations where young hoods paint swastikas on the walls of Buchenwald should be a warning sign that this could happen again"

Reilinger said the fight for liberty should continue.

"I believe what we did was necessary and worthwhile. I was doing a job that needed to done, despite the fact that I wanted to go home."

Some of the veterans were surprised that some Weimar citizens saw them as liberators, not conquerors.  Weimar native Peter Carl, a child when Weimar surrendered, was one such person.

"The American people delivered us from fascism," Carl said.

German veteran Gunter Werner was a sniper and a prisoner of war who made friends with captors.    He considers the American soldiers who guarded him, along with all American soldiers of World War II, as his friends, and that the commemoration events made him happy.

"I have seen some old buddies today--I call them buddies."
 
Werner said that most of all, everyone should remember all the deaths that occurred in World War II.

"We know what war brings," he said.  "People on both sides died during the war."

Brig. Gen. Lloyd T. Waterman, the deputy chief of staff, logistics for USAREUR, and Weimar Burgermeister Dr. Friedrich Folger were guest speakers at the plaque ceremony which took place in Weimar.

Waterman said the commemoration events celebrated the city's surrender- the fact that negotiation and reason prevailed as opposed to one Army having to conquer another, in order to take the city.  Waterman said the events also recognized the American soldiers who were part of the surrender.

POC for this release is Headquarters, U.S. Army, Europe Production Division, DSN 370-7124 or Commercial (49) 06221-57-7124.