Interviews with Eyewitnesses
Jack and Geneal Kanalz were in the eighth grade during the end of World War II. They recount the joy felt by the American people at the end of the war.
"...we were very happy. My father served in World War II. He was in the Signal Corps. We were happy when the war ended. I still remember his serial number because I used to write to him all the time. I have a twin sister and we were very happy when my dad came home. " ~ Geneal Kanalz " My father was not in the war. We lived on a farm. In fact, we had three farms. He had three children. He had a deferment, because of his family size and because of the fact that he was producing food for the war effort. So as far as how we felt when the war ended, we were very happy. There were a lot of horns being blown on the cars. People were happy, just very happy." ~ Jack Kanalz |
David and Kathleen Townley lived in Germany from 1967-1970. They recount the difference between West Germany and Communist-controlled East Germany.
"The difference between West and East Germany was like night and day. On one side there were shops bustling with people and on the other it was just completely and utterly devastated." ~ David and Kathleen Townley |
Fr. Edward Bliven, along with a group of his friends, visited the USSR while it was controlled under Stalin. He recounts the troubling atmosphere of Stalin's Communist regime.
" In 1954, I along with some of my friends went to the Soviet Union. It was a very depressing, dark place. The people, once they knew I was an American, would just not speak to me. If I approached them, they would immediately turn and walk the other way. I could see great fear in their eyes." ~ Fr. Edward Bliven |