They're just people

Dairy farmer Mulder from Jukwerd describes how exhausted German soldiers from Loppersum arrive at his farm in April 1945. "It seems that things are changing now. They fired from Nansum to Loppersum today.

There were large fires in the vicinity of Loppersum. Last night we had three Germans here aged 40 or 50. They came from Loppersum and they wanted to eat. I was milking. And the captain wanted to knock me down immediately if there was no food. He had to have bacon and sausage. But we didn't have this. Finally, he was satisfied with mutton. But it was a difficult man. And now we've had three more tonight. Those were 20-year-old boys. I will never forget how far a man can sink who believes in the ideals of another man. They were our enemies but when they were with us no more. (…)

They asked for some food because they had fought in Loppersum that day and had no food. We could talk to them. They could see that the Krieg (War) was lost to them. They were exhausted. But when we suggested that they surrender and go back home, they woke up again and it sounded bitter from their hearts. No, we never surrender. Fight until we can't anymore. Kill as many people as possible.

When we asked if they wanted to shoot us, they said no. But Tommy's. And they didn't want to go home anymore, because they no longer had a house. The Tommys had destroyed everything. And then the pictures of them came out. From Mother who is no longer alive and from further family. Real happy photos but now either missing or killed by the violence of war. We checked those three boys when they said goodbye to us with a handshake. They wished us that we could get through these war days well and good.”