Last WWII veterans reunite in Berlin for Bundeswehr’s 70th anniversary
Five U.S. veterans, now nearly 100 years old, gathered in Berlin to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Bundeswehr. These remarkable individuals, among the last living witnesses of World War II, played a crucial role in liberating Germany from the Nazis.
Frank Athanason, the youngest at 96, attended the Nuremberg Trials, witnessing justice served. Hilbert Margol, a 101-year-old veteran, served in the 42nd Infantry Division and helped liberate Dachau concentration camp. Enoch 'Woody' Woodhouse, at 98, faced racial segregation in the U.S. Army Air Corps but overcame it to become a respected veteran.
Gideon Kantor, now 100, was a member of the Palmach at 22 when he played a significant role in liberating the Ohrdruf subcamp of Buchenwald. Fred Nungesser, also 100, fought in Germany during World War II. Kantor later served as part of the 'Ritchie Boys' unit, helping liberate the same camp. Woodhouse, a multilingual veteran, surprised Bundestag President Bärbel Bas by thanking her in German during his visit.
These veterans, including Athanason, Margol, Kantor, Woodhouse, and Nungesser, are living testaments to history. Their presence at the anniversary celebration served as a poignant reminder of the past and a beacon of hope for the future.
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