Liberated....65 years later

This year Europe has been celebrating the 65th anniversary of the end of WWII and Strasbourg was no exception. As Whit and I were riding our bikes home from church Sunday the American Army, literally, came rolling through town to liberate us. Actually it was french actors dressed in American GI gear and driving American WWII jeeps and trucks. It was extremely patriotic.


We were initially shocked and as we were transported back in time, then overcome with extreme pride to be Americans. Even though it's 65 years later the French have not forgotten the sacrifice Americans and the rest of the allies made to save them. We watched with pride as this dramatic parade of "Liberators" descended upon Strasbourg and were amazed that the French citizens were out on the street cheering as if it was actually happening!

Later that afternoon, we caught up with the army in downtown Strasbourg.

These gents (dressed in American and French WWII uniforms) are holding a german sign from WWII that was taken down by the advancing allied forces in their march east to liberate France.

I stopped for a couple of photos with some of these guys and their were extremely eager to talk about the history of the liberation of Strasbourg.

This gentlemen explained to me that the US Army's 44th Division, 324th Infantry was the force that liberated Strasbourg along with two french infantry divisions. Here is the 44th's patch from his uniform. The division insignia consists of two blue figure 4's back to back on a golden orange circular background within a blue border. The colors are those of the House of Nassau, whose Dutch settlers inhabited what is now New York and New Jersey, and are used because the division was organized from National Guard units of this region. As a side note, the 44th is action in Baghdad at this very moment, sacrificing for you and I!

You can see the 44th markings on the front of this guy's jeep. Also, on a side note, when driving in the country we see old US army "willys jeeps" often. I assume their were left here after the war and the french have restored them and drive them around with pride.

Also, their was a special guest appearance by none other than Lt. General George Patton himself, apparently still on the move to liberate europe.


In reality I have never seen a more authentic display of American WWII apparel and equipment, including guns, radios, etc outside of a museum... even in the US. Maybe this will destroy some of those French stereotypes and remind us that the old man slowing us down in traffic may have sacrificed so much of his youth so that we can live with freedom!!