May 8, 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) and Kriegsende (the end of war) in Europe. While the world commemorates this day as liberation from National Socialism, the voices of those who experienced these times have almost fallen silent. After years of documentation work, I am pleased to make these valuable World War II witnesses‘ testimonies accessible to an international audience.
Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of “Kriegsende”
As we approach the 80th anniversary of VE Day, these testimonies offer a unique window into a world that is rapidly fading from living memory. The witnesses I interviewed experienced the Kriegsende (end of war) from different perspectives—some as soldiers surrendering, some as children watching their world collapse, and others as women facing an uncertain future in a devastated country.
The Triple Perspective of War
World War II was a conflict that knew no boundaries—neither geographical nor moral. It affected every aspect of life and left deep scars on an entire generation. In my work as a historian, I have documented three different perspectives of this conflict:
The Cursed Generation – Soldiers at the Front
Between 2015 and 2020, I had the privilege of interviewing men who had participated in the decisive battles of the war. They reported firsthand about the hell of Stalingrad, the tank battles at Kursk, the chaos of D-Day, the desert combat at Tobruk, and the desperate Ardennes Offensive.These World War II witnesses—machine gunners, tank drivers, Stuka pilots—entrusted me with their stories so they would not be forgotten. All of them have since passed away. Their accounts are now the last authentic voices from the front.
Hitler’s Lost Boys – The Sacrificed Children
As the war entered its final phase, increasingly younger age groups were drafted. About 200,000 anti-aircraft auxiliaries, some as young as 15, defended German cities. In autumn 1944, the Volkssturm became mandatory for everyone from age 16, and by 1945, even 14-year-old boys were fighting in tank destroyer units.
In this volume, Hitler Youth survivors recount how they were sacrificed as anti-aircraft auxiliaries or in special combat units for the “final victory.” They speak openly about their enthusiasm for combat at the time and reflect on how systematic indoctrination shaped their childhood. Very few of these WWII witnesses are still alive today.
Hitler’s Betrayed Daughters – The Female War Experience
War was not just a male experience. Women in World War II experienced it in their own, often overlooked way. In this volume, front-line nurses speak about facing horror on a daily basis. Wehrmacht auxiliaries and war service maidens report on their duties. Women who remained in the bombed cities tell of surviving under the Allied bombing raids.
Particularly harrowing are the accounts of refugees and displaced persons who lost everything and often experienced violence and rape. I recently wrote an article about these female perspectives for the 80th commemoration of the expulsions for EMMA, Europe’s leading feminist magazine.
The Universal Message of the Witnesses
All three volumes contain historical introductions and 13 personal testimonies each. The message of these German war testimonies is powerful and timeless: war, in all its forms, is a catastrophe for humanity.
The parallels to today’s conflicts are frighteningly clear. Even today, children are used in wars. Even today, women experience sexualized violence in conflicts. Even today, wars threaten that do not spare even Europe.
The witnesses I interviewed did not want to accuse or politicize. They wanted to warn. Their message is clear: Never again war. Never again should children be made into soldiers. Never again should women have to endure the particular sufferings of war.
An International Legacy
After great demand and at the explicit request of the witnesses themselves, I recently had these books translated into English. It was their wish that their WWII oral history be heard not only in Germany but worldwide.
Most of these witnesses have since passed away. Their voices live on in these books—as a reminder, as a warning, and as a legacy for generations to come.
For the 80th anniversary of Kriegsende, all three e-books are available from May 8 to May 9, 2025, at a symbolic 80% discount at Amazon—as a remembrance of this historic milestone and as an opportunity to learn about these important German war testimonies.
Special Anniversary Collection
Click on a book cover to find the book on Amazon, or visit my homepage for more information about the contents
- The Cursed Generation: 13 testimonies from German soldiers
- Hitler’s Lost Boys: 13 testimonies from Hitler Youth members
- Hitler’s Betrayed Daughters: 13 testimonies from German women
Each book contains extensive historical context, rare photographs, and the unfiltered voices of those who lived through one of history’s darkest chapters.
Dr. Christian Hardinghaus (Doc)
Historian and Author
