By Debbie Schlussel

I’ll post my full Memorial Day piece shortly. But before I do, I want you to know about this tragic, harrowing experience of some American soldiers during World War II and how many died under the worst conditions imposed upon them by the Nazis. It’s a story many Americans still don’t know about. The American soldiers in this true, documented story were particularly heroic, as they could have saved themselves and lived, but instead, they gave their lives in solidarity with Jewish GIs who were captured among them. I’m particularly thankful to these American heroes who sacrificed when they didn’t have to. And in many cases, they died because of it, never to see their families again, never to live out their lives, never to see their children marry or their grandchildren be born.

These men are the American soldiers of Berga, a “satellite” of Buchenwald–among the most brutal Nazi concentration camps. They are men like Hans Kasten IV and Donald Hildenbrand and Anthony Acevedo. Those three men lived, but many others in their shoes, like John Simcox, did not. They were among the thousands American soldiers who were captured by the Nazis in 1945 when they were on the front lines in Germany in the Battle of the Bulge. Of those thousands, the Nazis demanded to know which men were Jewish. Some could not escape this as they had an “H” (for Hebrew) on their dog tags and/or had Jewish surnames, like Shapiro. The men were all sent to various buildings at a camp, with each building electing a leader to be the intermediary with the Nazis. One building elected Don Hildenbrand, and he and Kasten refused to identify which of the men were Jewish. As a result, the Nazis rounded up all of those in the building with Jewish-sounding names, all of those who “looked Jewish,” and the men who refused to identify the Jews. They were sent to Berga, where many of them died. They were all heroes who gave their lives, rather than point out the Jews to the Nazis.

350 American soldiers went to Berga. Many of them died there. Documentary filmmaker Charles Guggenheim was in their unit, but because of an illness he contracted, he was not there when they were captured. One day he went to look up an old friend from the unit and discovered that his friend was among the murdered who died at Berga, and he uncovered the story of what happened there. He brought it all to life in an incredibly touching and moving documentary, “Berga: Soldiers of Another War,” which aired on PBS back in 2003. Even though PBS is usually filled with anti-American, anti-Israel, anti-Semitic bullcrap, this film was one of its best programs ever. My late father, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War, called me that night, back in 2003, to watch. And I was glad I did. The phone rang that night again, after it was over, and we talked about it and how moved we both were. I re-watched the DVD of “Berga,” today, and it was one of the best–though very sad–experiences I’ve ever had on Memorial Day. (More about “Berga” here and here.)

The American men who lost their lives at Berga were truly righteous, truly heroic. They were starved and frozen and worked to death. And many of them were beaten brutally on a daily basis while they were still alive at the camp. Those who survived were darn lucky. And they were stubborn with the will to survive. Given the brutal, deadly conditions at “Berga,” often the will to survive was not enough.

If you haven’t seen “Berga,” I urge you to purchase the video and watch it. It is well worth it and an important reminder of the heroism and righteousness of our troops and what they’ve done throughout American history to save others, often–as we remember today–making the ultimate sacrifice.

Today, and every day, I remember the sacrifices of those American soldiers who went to Berga–those who died there (may they rest in peace) . . . AND those who survived and lived to tell about it. Watch the movie and let their story live on. I also recommend a great book on this subject, “Soldiers and Slaves: American POWs Trapped by the Nazis’ Final Gamble.”

Since I normally give ratings for movie reviews–and even though this is a solemn day (or is supposed to be and once was)–this is a FOUR REAGANS PLUS movie, and I urge every single American to see it and remember.

GET YOURS . . .

More (not nearly as good or as touching as the “Berga” documentary linked above, but gives you a good idea):