20 Quotes From Germans About American Troops After World War I
You might be surprised to read some of things defeated German soldiers had to say about American troops after World War I…
The year was 1919, following the allies defeat of Germany, when the U.S commissioned a report regarding German attitudes to their American counterparts, albeit enemies, during the war. The surprising thing was that after compiling everything from interrogation reports to interview transcripts to intercepted letters from Germany, the Americans were more than just a little shocked at the German’s attitude to them.
Check out these little-known but powerful quotes from Germans about American Troops…
1. Chief of Staff for General v. Einem, Third German Army
“I fought in campaigns against the Russian Army, the Serbian Army, the Roumanian Army, the British Army, the French Army, and the American Army. All told in this war I have participated in more than 80 battles. I have found your American Army the most honorable of all our enemies. You have also been the bravest of our enemies and in fact the only ones who have attacked us seriously in this year’s battles. I therefore honor you, and, now that the war is over, I stand ready, for my part, to accept you as a friend.”
2. Karl Finkl of Bolingen
“The prevailing opinion in Germany before our entry into war, was, that American was a money hunting nation, too engrossed in the hunt of the dollar to produce a strong military force. But since our troops have been in action the opinion has changed, and he says that though Germany is at present a defeated nation, he believes that they would be victors in a war with any nation in the world with the exemption of the United States.”
3. Antone Fuhrmann of Mayschoss
“There were only a handful of Americans there but they fought like wildmen.”
4. Peter Bertram, shopkeeper of Dernau
“I had been told by other soldiers that the American infantryman was reckless to the point of foolishness.”
5. Paul Heinman
“The Americans were what might be called bad prisoners. A group of 14 were brought in one day and when asked about their units refused to talk. They refused to work and talked back to the officers, much to the annoyance of the officers and the concealed delight of the men.”
6. Pietro D’Paris
“The Americans were the chief complainers when the food was bad which was always.”
7. Postal Censorship, April 12, 1919
“Prisoners of war under American jurisdiction continue to send home glowing reports of good treatment. It is clearly deducible that they are more satisfied with their present condition, than they would be at home”
8. M. Walter of Minderlittgen
“The attitude of the American officer towards enlisted men is very different than in our army in which officers have always treated their men as cattle.”
9. Michael Simon of Neuerburg
“Children have constantly talked of the Americans’ arrival, and pictured them as a band of wild Indians, however, when they troops arrived, we were astonished at their behavior and pleasant attitude toward our people.”
10. Karl Schramem, Landstrumer of Zermullen
“The American troops show much more consideration for the private rights of the inhabitants of the village than did the German troops.”
11. M. Erasmi of Kylburg
“The Americans can very well serve as an example for our own troops whose behavior as they passed through here was none too good.”
12. Karl Felder of Bieder Breisig
“The people here hate the French more than they do the British. They much prefer the Americans as troops of occupation. Since the Americans have arrived the German people have learned to like them.”
13. Weekly Resume from the 3rd U.S. Army
“Complaints, coming especially from the smaller towns, accuse the Americans of immorality and drunkedness.”
14. Letter from Ehrenbreitstein
“All male persons from 12-60 years old must give up their beds to the troops of occupation. Children under 12 years certainly never had any claim to a bed. We are supposed to sleep on the floor.”
15. Letter from Mia Clausen
“Our Americans are very good. But the officers and General are boasting scoundrels…in our house 10 men and 2 officers are quartered. They slam the doors so hard that the whole building shakes.”
16. Letter from Lani Schuster, Coblenz-Leutzel
“Many German girls go around with the Americans, I simply can’t understand it. If any American talks to me I am prepared to give him an answer.”
17. Letter from Hote Koetter, Neuwied
“They are like children and find their joy only in playing and eating which they do the whole livelong day…of course there are exceptions as in anything else, but some of these men are so far beneath, that their origin from the ape can be plainly seen upon their faces. How the censors will rave when they read this letter, but I am only writing the truth. They are the wildest when they are after the girls. But thank God that they can at once recognize the difference between a ‘decent’ and a ‘common girl.'”
18. Letter from Frau Lemka of Wollstein
“Katchen Schroder was thrown into jail from Monday to Tuesday because she told a soldier to ———. Another girl was unceremoniously spanked in broad daylight, and she is 23 years old too. And what can one do? However, it serves them right. Why don’t they leave the soldiers alone?”
19. Frau Frieda Fischer of Lohndorf
“[I] like the American soldier individually but do not like the nation as a whole…America entered the war for what money she could get out of it.”
20. Mrs. Anton Bursch, shopkeeper in Echternach
“A German officer said that the Americans came over here only to see the world and for the sake of adventure.”
[Featured image credit: www.vetfriends.com]
