The Family of Trees
Félix Vallotton – 1922
I did not intend to write an article today. But I just realized that today is the anniversary of D-Day, and I have a story to tell. In fact, it is a story I have already told, but …
One of my uncles survived D-Day for reasons he cannot understand. He then went north to Holland where he was asked to accompany prisoners of war who were being transported. They were seated at the back of a truck. All was well.
Out of the blue, one of the prisoners leaped from his seat and lowered my uncle’s body. My uncle nearly fell and he lost his rifle. The prisoner of war then helped him get up and retrieved the rifle. My uncle could not understand what had happened. So, the soldier showed him a metal wire the truck had just driven past. It would have decapitated my uncle had this “enemy” not seen it and acted promptly.
This was a moment of grace and innocence. It was a moment so precious that my uncle never forgot. In peacetime, the two young men would have enjoyed a long conversation over coffee. War had separated them.
It has been seventy-five years. Yet, tears still come to my uncle’s eyes when he remembers.
Schubert, Trio op. 100 – Andante con moto
Par le Trio Wanderer (Voyage d’hiver 2007 – Carte Blanche au Trio Wanderer, réalisation Jean-Pierre Barizien – CLC Productions)
Chrysanthemums and Autumn Foliage
Félix Vallotton – 1922
© Micheline Walker
6 June 2019
WordPress
Micheline's Blog 
A lovely story. Even in war time there is usually more that unites us than divides us as human beings.
LikeLike
We are all human beings. It could be that this young soldier saw my uncle as a human being first, and, second, as a soldier doing what he was told to do. Our humanity is the common denominator. There will always be a few rotten apples, but this young soldier was a good human being and most of us are. We have to look after one another. I hope you are well. I keep you in my thoughts. 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: A Moment of Grace // Micheline’s Blog | Ace Friends & Bloggers News
I thank you for linking to my post. That story is extremely touching. My uncle has never forgotten that a kind German soldier saved his life.
LikeLike
You can tell that story as often as you like
LikeLike
Derrick, It’s a beautiful story that gives me hope and gives others hope. In fact, it has had a profound impact on me and on other members of my family. That young soldier was a thoroughly good human being.
LikeLiked by 1 person
voilà une émouvante histoire.
Je comprends que ton oncle en ait eu les larmes aux yeux en y repensant.
LikeLike
Mon oncle n’a jamais oublié le jeune soldat qui n’a écouté que son instinct et lui a sauvé la vie. Ce soldat avait sans doute été pris en otage lui-même. Histoire incroyable, mais il y en a eu d’autres. 🙂
LikeLike
LikeLike
Nice story and an example of their humanity that can be found, even during war. Not all Germans soldiers were bad. They were just being led and bullied by maniacs. However, if we were to believe all the stories put out about the Germans, we would think that they were all involved in the horrors of the death camps, when in fact only a very small number were as brutal and terrible as that. Thanks for sharing your story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The young soldier didn’t have enough time to think. He was a good human being who saved another human being’s life and he was one of tens of thousands of good persons who fell victims to an insane régime and suffered immensely. Thank you for writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like soldiers on any side, of any war, the majority of German soldiers were only fighting in the name of/for their country. The people who would have you believe that every German was complicit in the holocaust are as filled with hate as the perpetrators of the holocaust. — YUR
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true. It is said the victors write the history, and the allies certainly vilified the entire German people. The young of Germany seem to carry that guilt today yet had no responsibility for what happened any more than did the most of their ancestors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Young and not-so-young citizens of Germany still feel guilty, but they are innocent. I lectured in Stuttgart and met very good people. Thank you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sounds a bit like history repeating itself, though not economically. The victors punished the Germans via the Treaty of Versailles. Their guilt and depression made them ripe targets for a charismatic, messianic figure. — YUR
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful gesture from the side of the soldier. Incidents like these tell us that the world is beautiful. We do have negativity in this world but positivity and kindness still wins.
LikeLike
You’re right. Positivity and kindness still wins. These are the stories we should tell our children. Nothing prevents us from making this world beautiful. I thank you for writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Swati, I thank you for your sweet reply.
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its nice to hear stories of kindness, in times of war, and even more coming from enemies, it makes you reason there is goodness in the World, despite the hate we hear all the time. 🙂
LikeLike
Such stories give one hope. That young man, the so-called enemy, saved my uncle’s life. Fortunately, the prisoners were not tied. So, the young soldier was free to jump and prevent a death. My uncle is still thinks about the fine German soldier who protected his life and returned his rifle to him. War is terrible. Thank you for writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hatred exists, but destiny gives us a break from time to time. It’s a real story. Many thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful PEACE story! — YUR
LikeLike
It’s very touching.That young man did not see a soldier taking him to a prisoner of war camp. He saw another young man. The German people suffered a great deal during the second World War. They were the victims of the Nazi regime. But all were drafted, and so my uncle. He was in Britain waiting for D-Day. What I find amazing is that the German soldier acted spontaneously. He was a very good man who followed his instinct. My uncle told us his story. He never forgot. For him, the Germans lived under a terrible regime. They were victims. I am certain there are other such stories. The Holocaust was one thing: absolutely horrible. But that was Hitler and his boys. It was not every German. I lectured at the university of Stuttgart and met the real Germans: a very good people. There is too much hatred in this world. We have to transform it to the extent that we can. Thank you Uncle Rave.
LikeLike