Today, you will not find much at all about German World War One veterans because most war
related records were cleanly purged during the Allied "re-education" programs in Germany after
World War Two. These programs were geared to "destroy the German will to wage war forever",
and during this relentless campaign, most old war memorials, art of wartime, military libraries and
museums which had been built after August 1,1914 ( the date adopted by both the British and
Americans to give their actions legitimacy ) were destroyed. In some cases, even grave markers and
commemorative plaques were removed, but especially those seen as "glorifying war or nationalism".
Some old 19th century and earlier war monuments survived, but not all. Honoring Germany's
veterans of either war is still frowned upon.
related records were cleanly purged during the Allied "re-education" programs in Germany after
World War Two. These programs were geared to "destroy the German will to wage war forever",
and during this relentless campaign, most old war memorials, art of wartime, military libraries and
museums which had been built after August 1,1914 ( the date adopted by both the British and
Americans to give their actions legitimacy ) were destroyed. In some cases, even grave markers and
commemorative plaques were removed, but especially those seen as "glorifying war or nationalism".
Some old 19th century and earlier war monuments survived, but not all. Honoring Germany's
veterans of either war is still frowned upon.
In World War One, many soldiers were just boys,
some as young as 14. They came back from war to
a country thrown into political chaos, wracked by
poverty and starvation. The British hunger blockade
which killed thousands of German civilians continued
for a time even after armistice. The "peace terms" of
the Versailles Treaty drove the country further into
confusion at a time when the people were already
suffering and grieving. The veterans did not receive
the attention or respect they deserved and it definitely
caused resentment. Twice as many German soldiers
were killed as soldiers of the British Empire's
some as young as 14. They came back from war to
a country thrown into political chaos, wracked by
poverty and starvation. The British hunger blockade
which killed thousands of German civilians continued
for a time even after armistice. The "peace terms" of
the Versailles Treaty drove the country further into
confusion at a time when the people were already
suffering and grieving. The veterans did not receive
the attention or respect they deserved and it definitely
caused resentment. Twice as many German soldiers
were killed as soldiers of the British Empire's
Nun deutsche Schmiede hämmert
stahlhart das deutsche Herz
Der blut´ge Morgen dämmert
rings starrt die Welt in Erz
Reicht Brüder euch die Hand
"Gott, Kaiser, Vaterland!"
Aus den zerfetzten Fahnen
raunt es wie Geistesspruch
Der Segen unsrer Ahnen
rauscht um das Bannertuch
uns eint ein heilig Band
"Gott, Kaiser, Vaterland!"
stahlhart das deutsche Herz
Der blut´ge Morgen dämmert
rings starrt die Welt in Erz
Reicht Brüder euch die Hand
"Gott, Kaiser, Vaterland!"
Aus den zerfetzten Fahnen
raunt es wie Geistesspruch
Der Segen unsrer Ahnen
rauscht um das Bannertuch
uns eint ein heilig Band
"Gott, Kaiser, Vaterland!"
Laßt euch die Wege weisen
zur Weichsel und zum Rhein
Und eure Hand sei Eisen
und euer Herz sei Stein
Die Feinde überrannt
"Gott, Kaiser, Vaterland!"
Brecht durch nach allen Seiten
gleich wie ein brandend Meer
die großen Toten schreiten
im Sturmwind vor Euch her
Nun lod´re. Weltenbrand
"Gott, Kaiser, Vaterland!"
zur Weichsel und zum Rhein
Und eure Hand sei Eisen
und euer Herz sei Stein
Die Feinde überrannt
"Gott, Kaiser, Vaterland!"
Brecht durch nach allen Seiten
gleich wie ein brandend Meer
die großen Toten schreiten
im Sturmwind vor Euch her
Nun lod´re. Weltenbrand
"Gott, Kaiser, Vaterland!"
When the last surviving German army veteran of World War I was recently reported to have died in
Hanover at age 107, there was no official confirmation available because Germany keeps no official
records on its veterans from either world war! This event, when it was a soldier from the USA,
Britain or France, resulted in headlines, ceremonies and numerous articles. Yet, even the German
army's Military Research Institute, which studies German military history of the 20th century, was
"unable to provide information" about Germany's last living veteran of World War One. A
spokesman for the institute said. "Any form of commemoration of military events is seen as
problematic here," he said. "Our veterans only take part in public ceremonies when they are invited
abroad to join commemorative events with veterans from other countries. World War I is seen as
part of a historical line that led to World War II. You can't equate the two but there is much debate
about it." Ah, "debate" again. Thus, those who bravely served their nation received no honorable
remembrance.
Hanover at age 107, there was no official confirmation available because Germany keeps no official
records on its veterans from either world war! This event, when it was a soldier from the USA,
Britain or France, resulted in headlines, ceremonies and numerous articles. Yet, even the German
army's Military Research Institute, which studies German military history of the 20th century, was
"unable to provide information" about Germany's last living veteran of World War One. A
spokesman for the institute said. "Any form of commemoration of military events is seen as
problematic here," he said. "Our veterans only take part in public ceremonies when they are invited
abroad to join commemorative events with veterans from other countries. World War I is seen as
part of a historical line that led to World War II. You can't equate the two but there is much debate
about it." Ah, "debate" again. Thus, those who bravely served their nation received no honorable
remembrance.
2,000,000 German soldiers were dead and 100,000 were missing and presumed dead. An astonishing
4,814,557 were wounded and another 14,673,940 suffered from illnesses. 60% of soldiers in the
field had to be replaced because of injury or illness at every stage of war and the German army lost
about one third of its men each year, so the replacement soldiers got younger as the war progressed
until 85% of eligible German males were mobilized at some part of the war. The war changed every
aspect of German society, from gender hierarchy to education, health care, and even the family
structure and the discipline of children. From 9 to 14 percent of Germany's pre-war population was
killed or wounded in the conflict, with millions of others indirectly lost to starvation from the hunger
blockade and food shortages, or from influenza and other epidemics.
4,814,557 were wounded and another 14,673,940 suffered from illnesses. 60% of soldiers in the
field had to be replaced because of injury or illness at every stage of war and the German army lost
about one third of its men each year, so the replacement soldiers got younger as the war progressed
until 85% of eligible German males were mobilized at some part of the war. The war changed every
aspect of German society, from gender hierarchy to education, health care, and even the family
structure and the discipline of children. From 9 to 14 percent of Germany's pre-war population was
killed or wounded in the conflict, with millions of others indirectly lost to starvation from the hunger
blockade and food shortages, or from influenza and other epidemics.
One-armed, one legged or one-eyed men,
blind men, men with torn noses or ripped
mouths or only half a face stood begging for
food carried signs proclaiming "The War
Cripples are Starving!". They came home
with indelible mental scars as well. Some
went home as barely functional half-humans
with shell shock or battle fatigue called "the
shivers". Many lost their homes in German
lands given away at Versailles. Germany was
in financial and social ruin, and communists,
anarchists, socialist and labor agitators took
advantage of the pain. The veterans received
little respect and gratitude and their suffering
went uncomforted.
blind men, men with torn noses or ripped
mouths or only half a face stood begging for
food carried signs proclaiming "The War
Cripples are Starving!". They came home
with indelible mental scars as well. Some
went home as barely functional half-humans
with shell shock or battle fatigue called "the
shivers". Many lost their homes in German
lands given away at Versailles. Germany was
in financial and social ruin, and communists,
anarchists, socialist and labor agitators took
advantage of the pain. The veterans received
little respect and gratitude and their suffering
went uncomforted.