This Veteran’s Day marks the 100th anniversary of
the end of World War I, the War to End All Wars. It marks the end of a very
dark time in global history and celebrates the victory of “good over evil.” As
I am reflecting on this, I am reminded that my own story was shaped by this
war, well before my birth. My great grandfather, whose was known for his kind
and gentle nature, fought in this Great War… on the side of the Germans.
He always said he was conscripted, and his German military documents
show that he was enlisted on October 18th, 1914. He served with the
German Pioneer Corps, which meant that he helped to engineer the roads,
bridges, and transportation of the Central Powers. His “Militarpak” lists out
his activity, where he served, when, and in what capacity throughout the war.
It is an incredible snapshot of his military career.
Also included in my great grandfather’s papers were a series
of war photographs. Most were of the aftermath of battles and the destruction
of towns. One photo was exceptionally striking to me though. It is of a damaged
church with gravestones barely visible in front of it. The caption on the back
reads in part: “Church where 1000 Canadian French and German soldiers buried”. I
don’t know if it was a battle he saw personally, but it impacted him enough to
carry that photograph for the rest of his life.
One of the stories he shared was of how he received an Iron
Cross during battle for shooting down an airplane. That would be an Allied
airplane, British, French, Canadian, or American. The downed pilot of that
plane may have been an ancestor of someone living today, he could have been a
husband, and he certainly was someone’s son. I don’t know if he lived or died,
but I do know that my great grandfather’s actions that day deeply affected
someone’s life.
Even though my ancestor may have played a part in history
that he was not particularly proud of, it was one that shaped the man he became.
It helped him leave a legacy that his descendants can be proud of. My great
grandfather was a good man, but he fought for the enemy. War is not black and
white, but many shades of grey, where good men fall on both sides of the line.
This morning I asked my nearly six-year-old son what it
meant to be in the military. His response? “Saving the world!” So today we
thank our service men and women, those active, those retired, and those who
gave all. Your sacrifice has not been in vain and we remember.
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| Church where 1000 Canadian French and German soldiers buried |
