Comments about ‘Salt Lake German community honors country's war dead’

Does that mean you're mourning for these Nazi Germans, too?

As a retired US Army officer, I mourn the sacrifice of all men caught up in the tragedy of war. Yes, there are undoubtedly Nazi soldiers who died thousands of miles from home and family in our POW camps. I do not honor or glorify the Nazi government who sent them to war, and I do not support the evil their government brought to the world. But by an large the men we are remembering were soldiers, and politics aside, most of these soldiers were doing their civic duty to their country as they saw fit - willing to put their life on the line (or drafted to do so), for their fellow soldiers, their home and their families. I can respect that. Even if they were my enemy.

Daniel C. Glad
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army (Retired)

Harry - Just because they were POWs and fought in the German military during WWII doesn't make them Nazis. Many people were forced into service for Hitler's regime and were NOT Nazi party members. I am sure many of them fought and died for something they wished they knew was wrong, but had no choice in the matter. That is a real tragedy, being forced to fight for evil. I should know my great uncle was in the Wehrmacht in the campaign against the Soviets and was held in a Soviet gulag until the mid 50s. Though I am a full blooded American, I regret that many young soldiers had their life wasted on the German side because some dictator had illusions of grandeur and wanted to rule the world.

Also, remember modern day Germany is nothing of its former self. They despise all things Nazi and they are ashamed of what things were perpetrated by Hitler. I am sure they wouldn't commemorate dead Nazis.

What an inappropriate commment, cloaked as a question, Harry has made about an event honoring human life.

It is great to hear that these soldiers are being honored and remembered.

The photo depicted a memorial marker that indicated those that were POW's from WW1, that was not Hitler's war. German war dead should be remembered for their sacrifice and spirit of nationalism.

Yes some of these soldiers were once enemies of our country, but not anymore. That should speak volumes to you harry, cause he points out the fact that we are all in the same boat in life and will eventually share the same fate as each other.....death.

It doesn't matter what side you have fought on, war is inevitable sometimes but it is events like this and memorial/veterans day, that remind that war should always be a last resort, and that no matter who it is every soldier has a family....and someone thats cares about them back at home.

I am glad the Germans honor there dead like we do, it keeps long lost men like this alive in some degree

Looking back on American history, there are several groups or nations who once were our enemies and now are, or should be, close friends and allies, e.g., England, France, Germany, Japan, Native Americans. It would be nice if national leaders could skip over the enemy phase and move quickly into the friend phase. Meanwhile, honoring those who lost their lives for their countries is appropriate and it reminds us of the tragedy of conflict.

I worked at the VA hospital for a number of years, and had the chance to talk with many Vets of WWII.
Some had experiences so bad that the nightmares continue 60 years later. I have to wonder if we are being fair to them. THe suffered fighting German, and Japan. Now we honor the enemys war dead. THis must be very hard for those old vets to understand. Yes, war is bad because of what it does to people. I just do not want to see more suffering caused by us, to our own vets.