The Darkest Side Of American Soldiers In WWII France

On the morning of September 1, 1939, the world was suddenly ripped apart at the seams. With little warning and no provocation, the German military launched a full-scale invasion of Poland. Unleashing a new tactic known as blitzkrieg or “lightning war”, the Nazi forces hit the unsuspecting Polish defenders like a freight train. Dive bombers screamed, tanks unleashed furious salvos, and highly mobile infantry troops swarmed across the border on motorcycles. Within days, France and Great Britain declared war on Germany, finally accepting the size of Adolf Hitler’s ambitions. The people of Poland defended their homes for over a month, but eventually the Polish army was beaten into submission.

The winter of 1939 and 1940 saw a lull in the fighting, but when spring arrived the Germans unleashed another offensive, this time against the Low Countries and France. Outmaneuvered and still weary from the First World War, the French found themselves between a hammer and an anvil. Forcing their way through a gap in the allied defenses, German armored divisions plowed into the French countryside. By June of 1940, they were at the outskirts of Paris. Though some French soldiers managed to escape with their British allies during the evacuation of Dunkirk, the majority of them were forced to surrender. Within six weeks, France had fallen to the German troops.
For the next four years, the people of France lived under the boot of Nazi oppression. Though Nazi forces were slowly pushed back by Russian armies in the East and cornered by British and American troops in Africa and southern Europe, France remained fully under German occupation until June 6, 1944: D Day. The allied troops that landed on the beaches of Normandy (and later in Southern France) began the violent struggle that was the liberation of France. Social memory remembers the American troops who mad up the bulk of this counter invasion as heroes; history, on the other hand, paints a different picture. In this video, we will examine the crimes committed by American GIs against the French population during WWII, and the response of the US military command to these crimes. This video is not intended to dismiss the valor shown by the allied soldiers that fought to liberate France, but rather to serve as a reminder that in war, no side is free of crimes and abuses.

#ww2 #frenchliberation #americaww2

Sources:
Von Rohr, Matthieu, “The Dark Side of GIs in Liberated France,” Spiegel International
Kehoe, James & Thomas, “Crimes Committed by U.S. Soldiers in Europe, 1945-1946,” The Journal of Interdisciplinary History, vol. 47, 2016.
Roberts, Mary Louise, What Soldiers Do: Sex and the American GI in WWII France.

Copyright © 2023 A Day In History. All rights reserved.

[ives]

"War's tragedy is that it uses man's best to do man's worst." - Harry Emerson Fosdick

[MARYREED-nhgb]

I wasn't around during WWII. My father was one of the Rangers who when up the cliffs of Point Du Hoc. What I do is this: If you were found guilty of rape during WWII, you were hung and buried in an unmarked grave. It went down something along these lines: The victim's statement was submitted via the local police. The victim was interviewed by US military police and/or prosecutor with local investigator present. The crime was then presented before a US military crimes board by the CO, XO, and other officers. Needless to say, the perpetrator was taken into custody, placed in the brig, changed, and medical evidence obtained (if applicable). If found guilty, and many were, the sentence would be death by hanging. It was usually carried out within 2 weeks. That was a special process as well. In very early hours of the day of the hanging, all your insignias would be removed including buttons. You would be dishonorably discharged, and a copy of that document was placed in you left breast pocket. After a meeting with a minister of your choice and your finial declaration, you would be hung. The rope would not be removed. A length of it would be cut, and it would remain around your neck. You would be buried in an old blanket, in a trench. The next convict would be buried with his feet towards your head, and so forth. This area is often in some out of the way corner of a cemetery surrounded by a hedge, so that no one has to look upon you. The graves remain unmarked.
I served in Viet Nam. The convicts were not hung, but they were sentenced to much stiffer terms than anything I ever saw in the civilian court. And the evidence presented did NOT require the victim to give in court testimony. Remember: That when you disgrace that uniform, you disgrace ALL who wear it.

[daveerk]

This is why EVERY ARMY HAS MILITARY POLICE 🚨🚓

[michaelsonnon]

My mom was born in 1930 in a suburb of Paris called Meudon. During the occupation, several of her schoolmates were taken by German soldiers and, well, abused. Her family and entire neighborhood were forced to hold and wave small Nazi flags as soldiers would march by, then they would take the flags back and rough up some of the older men, my grandfather being one of them. She spoke often of the day of liberation and the celebrations taking place while smaller battles and sniper fire raged on. She said it was the biggest celebration she ever saw, and nobody much cared about nearby gunfire. One thing she always stated was how grateful they were to all the soldiers who came to their rescue. She swore then that she'd marry an American someday, met my dad, and here I am talking about it! I visited the city when I was stationed in Germany in the late 70's. I was treated like a king by both my extended family and their friends. That was quite a week of memories I'll always keep. It's Memorial Day today, and I thank every one of the soldiers who did what they did. It was because of them that I am here today. Thank you all!

[robertkarp]

Don't forget Poland was also being invaded by Russia at the same time. Poland was faced with fighting on two fronts at once.

[andrewcombe]

It’s why Military Police are an essential part of any army. Plus the civil police need to be restored as soon as possible by any occupying power.

[abrabutler]

You guys forgot the USSR invasion of Poland and should not have drawn the German lines across all of Poland.

[Darkmesna]

Now imagine this across the Pacific. I remember something about MacArthur being worried that a Japanese insurrection would occur if his GIs didn't behave.

[briansaunders]

I visited a former Nazi internment camp in Lithuania. It was sobering. The guide told us that once the Russian army defeated the Germans in Lithuania, the Russians were worse than the Nazi's. War is awful on so many fronts.

[johnnygood]

No one was guiltless during that time.

[markvincent]

Funny that when he talks about americans who fought through france, he shows marines in the Pacific theater

[jamesroseby]

Why isn’t the Soviet invasion of Poland from the east when the Germans invaded it ever mentioned?…I know it’s not the point of the video but it shouldn’t be omitted.

[andrewforward]

just to say, German soldiers which did bother French civilians and abuse woman, which were not accused to be "resistance", were harshly handeled by Army Justice, which is proven by French and German documents.

[captainamerica]

"When morals go up morale goes down". Gen George Patton Jr

[bobbycollins]

They did the same thing in Korea & Vietnam. Leaving behind a lot of children that were mixed race And looked down upon by both countries. And the mother's left to try and bring them up themselves.
It happens in all wars going back thousands of years. War brings out the darkest aspects of mankind. Which usually means men. And is always down played or covered up. War is madness.

[InalienableLiberty]

Still pales in comparison to what the Soviets did when they arrived in Berlin.

[meyersculimbrene]

This documentary does not mention that while Germany moved into Poland, Stalin attacked from the east. Finland also a part of Europe, was also attacked by the Soviets. What happened to the women of Berlin is not mentioned. They were not even paid for their contributions to the lust of young men. As an American assigned to a base in Thailand during the Viet Nam war, the Air Force operated two segregated brothels for the enlisted men. War is hell, and it will never end the natural inclinations towards the world's oldest profession. Just wish all sides were covered in this docu.

[zacharytremblay]

Lets not forget french war crimes in italy

[davidhbrown]

This said the military was worried the press would find out they had formed a sponsored brothel, BUT they had this going full swing in Hawaii for military men. There are photos of lines going down the street in Honolulu.

[Joy-TheLazyCatLady]

My uncle died fighting in France and is buried there. I never met him because my parents hadn't even met yet. They met in 1944 in America.