News of Muammar Gaddafi’s death got me wondering how Americans of the World War II era responded to the passing of Adolf Hitler, another dictator responsible for the lives of millions of people. I found an article from Yank, a U.S. Army publication, dated June 1, 1945. In it, several servicemen commented on the news that Hitler had committed suicide. Their responses are full of candor:
A solider from Chicago, who was wounded in action by a German, said:
“I hope the ______ was as scared of dying as I was when that SS officer left me have it in the stomach. I thought I’d had it. . . I don’t think Hitler’s death changes anything about Germany. It just might be part of a deal to soften us up so they can stick another knife in a soft spot.”
A Sergeant from Scranton, PA commented:
“Mussolini is dead. Hitler is dead—but what’s the difference? There are lots more.”
A Southern soldier put it this way:
“I wish I was the guy who killed him. I’d kill him a little slower. Awful slow.”
And a Minnesota soldier said:
“Why waste words on Hitler?”
(http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/pdf/YANK%201945.pdf)
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