Remembering Victory in Europe: A Veteran’s Perspective
Eighty years after the guns fell silent in Europe, the echoes of World War II still resonate. For Jack Appel, a 101-year-old veteran, Victory in Europe Day holds a profound significance, a testament to the fight against tyranny and the preservation of civilization. As the world commemorates this milestone anniversary, Appel’s story offers a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made and the values defended.
"World War II was a major, major fight for civilization," Appel emphasized, underscoring the high stakes of the conflict. His words are not mere platitudes; they stem from firsthand experience. As a soldier in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, Appel witnessed the horrors of the war firsthand, including the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp.
The images he encountered at Buchenwald remain etched in his memory, a stark reminder of the depths of human depravity. "Seeing the ovens, it was just unbelievable that any civilization could…" His voice trailed off, the weight of the memory heavy on his voice. He continued, "It was 11 million people total, 6 million of them Jews, and the others political enemies, homosexuals, gypsies."
Appel, a Jewish man from Brooklyn, understood the personal danger he faced had he been captured by the Nazis. Early in his deployment, heeding the advice of a friend, he concealed his Jewish identity, claiming to be Catholic instead. During a bout of meningitis that nearly claimed his life, a priest administered Last Rites, an act he believes contributed to his survival. Despite the dangers, Appel considers himself fortunate, having lived what he calls "a relatively charmed life" during the war.
As one of a dwindling number of World War II veterans, Appel’s reflections on V-E Day are imbued with humility and gratitude. "There’s hardly a day that goes by without someone saying to me, ‘Thank you for your service,’" he shared. "And I am very grateful for that. We knew we were fighting for a purpose."
V-E Day, marked on May 8, 1945, signifies the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied Forces, a coalition that included the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China, among others. These nations stood united against the Axis Powers, comprised of Germany, Italy, and Japan. The war raged across two primary theaters: Europe, encompassing parts of the Middle East and North Africa, and the Pacific. V-E Day marked the end of the European campaign, a hard-won victory after years of brutal conflict.
While the surrender of Germany brought jubilation to many, the war in the Pacific continued. Japan had not yet yielded, and fierce battles raged on islands like Iwo Jima and Okinawa. It was not until the United States deployed atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians, that Japan finally surrendered.
Peter Donovan Crean Sr., vice president for education and access at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, described the atmosphere following V-E Day. "There was a sense of unfinished business," he noted, "but it was also a moment of joy and elation and hope, and a signal to the world that dawn was beginning to break."
World War II officially ended on September 2, 1945, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. An estimated 80 million people, approximately 3% of the world’s population at the time, perished in the conflict. Europe lay in ruins, its cities decimated, and its population scarred by years of war and occupation. The Holocaust, the systematic genocide perpetrated by the Nazis, claimed the lives of six million Jews and millions of others deemed "undesirable," including LGBTQ+ individuals, ethnic minorities, and disabled people.
The United States suffered significant losses in the European theater, with approximately 250,000 American troops killed. Key battles involving U.S. forces included the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, and the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944. Over 16 million Americans served in uniform during World War II, and more than 400,000 lost their lives.
According to the National World War II Museum, citing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 66,143 World War II veterans are still alive in the United States, most of whom are in their nineties or older. Recognizing the urgency of preserving their stories, Crean emphasized the importance of capturing their memories before they are lost forever.
The museum’s "Voices from the Front" project aims to do just that, collecting oral histories from veterans, Holocaust survivors, and those who served on the home front. This interactive exhibit allows visitors to engage with these stories, ask questions, and "talk" with individuals who experienced the war firsthand.
"It’s so important that we capture their stories now so future generations can learn those lessons and understand the context of the world you’re living in," Crean stated. As the years pass, the voices of those who fought for freedom and justice during World War II become increasingly precious, their stories vital to understanding the past and shaping a more peaceful future. Jack Appel’s story, like those of his fellow veterans, serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made and the values that must be defended.
