VE Day

It was on this date (May 7), seventy one years ago, that the armed forces of Germany, the Third Reich, surrendered to Allied forces.  The event, ending six years of war, was signed in Reims, France at the offices of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, otherwise known as SHAEF.  The conclusion of hostilities was scheduled to occur the next day, May 8.  Obviously war disrupts communication systems, and even with an early morning signing at 2:41, it was apparently understood that it would take a full day for news to reach all involved forces.  Unfortunately, the cessation of hostilities occurred too late for PFC Charley Havlet, who died on May 7 during a German ambush.  Charley has the distinction of being the last American casualty during the war in Europe.

German General Jodl signing the surrender document

Interestingly, Charley, whose parents had immigrated from Czechoslovakia, died about 8 miles into Czechoslovakia when his reconnaissance platoon was subjected to hidden machine gun fire from concealed German positions.  News did not reach the Germans or US Soldiers at that location soon enough.  He was the last among 183, 588 American combat dead in the European theater of operations. Yet, the end of the war in Europe was not the end of WWII.  Letters from Roy Hovel, a member of the US Counter Intelligence Corps attached the 83rd Infantry Division leaves us with an impression thoughts going through the minds of soldiers at the time of VE Day.

Charlie Havlet, the last American death in the European theater

After having written his sister on the last day of April and saying he believed the war in Europe would end the next month, and he hoped the psychological effect would lead to Japan's surrender, a few days later he admits to different thoughts.  As he is writing a letter to his parents dated May 4, he writes that "Well, I just got the first news of the surrender of  the German army in Northwest Germany, Holland and Denmark , at 8:40 p.m., now probably 1:40 at home.  Perhaps presaging the death of Charley Havlet, he notes that as "far as he can see that means there isn't any more resistance in the German nation itself, just Czechoslovakia and Norway left.  Charley Havlet, was the wrong man in the wrong place.  If his platoon had been further north he may have survived the war.  It is later in this letter that his thoughts on the future become known, when he writes:  "I would dread going to the Pacific, because of the boat ride if nothing else. Most of us will stay over here in the Army of occupation for a long while, but many will also stay with their division and the big question is who is going to go with it and also where is the division going."

English version of surrender

Where is the division going, and who will be with it?  That is the question the men in Europe were wondering.  The 83rd infantry entered the war in June 1944.  They fought in the hedgerows of Normandy, made their way through northern France to the Rhineland, and of course the infamous fighting in the Ardennes--the battle of the bulge.  They would be the first reach the Rhine, and to cross the Elbe.  After having crossed the Elbe they would told to move back to their positions on the west side of a river instead of moving on Berlin.  Who could blame the men for wondering if they would now be sent to the Pacific. The end of the war in Europe brought more unknowns for the soldiers who had endured the European campaign.

Baltimore Sun article

Fortunately, Roy Hovel did not let his worries of potential future deployment and a boat trip across the Pacific bother his celebration of VE day.  In a May 9 letter to his sister he writes that "We spent VE day here.  It wasn't anything special except that they had all the chicken we could eat and wine, Champagne and cognac in the evening."  Perhaps, his job was tiring and stressful, or his thoughts of the boat ride across the sea did get to him as he notes that "I wanted to relax a little and drank a little too much, the fourth time in my life."  He admits this probably was not the best thing to do when one has a cold.  But this letter of May 9 does more than admit to a little too much partying on VE day, although who can blame a soldier for living it up on such a momentous day. Needless to say he was not the only one who imbibed a little too much.

Front of post card R Hovel sent home
for writing on back, see below

What Roy Hovel did see a great deal of, he noted in a letter home were young women who had fled west to avoid the Soviet soldiers, and the acts they were perpetrating on the civilian population, especially women.  In a contrast to the Soviets, Roy Hovel notes in a May 14 letter home, that while the girls were good looking, they "can't fraternize with them." American rules were quite different than those for the Soviets, at least for a member of the CIC.  What the Americans had more than any other groups was cigarettes.  It was a different time than today, and cigarettes were used as barter.  Some American soldiers, it has been reported, would trade cigarettes and food for favors, begging the question of the fine line between rape and prostitution with a decimated civilian population.

Back of post card home, the Allies finally caught up with the man on the front

VE day did not mean the end.  Soldiers wondered if they would head to the Pacific, get a chance to go home, or be part of the European occupation force.  Near the conclusion of the May 14 letter ROy Hovel would once again state "I'm still wondering where I will be at for the next few months." He lists his desire that he would prefer to stay in Europe, now that he "is used to it." His wish would be granted.  He would become part of the occupation force in Europe.  The occupation would continue his service overseas, and Charley Havlet would be buried overseas in the Lorraine American Cemetery at Saint-Avold, France.  

Roy Hovel