The Civilians — Introduction

Abstract

The war first and foremost forced the American combat soldiers to pay attention to Europe’s natural surroundings and to focus on its fighting men. It was difficult for the GIs to discern the Old World’s civilians clearly through the fog of battle. Where resistance was weak, they merely rushed past the curious bystanders in hot pursuit of the enemy. In combat areas, either communities had been erased or the inhabitants had largely vanished. Only in the rear did normal European life restore itself more or less, but the opportunities for the Americans to get out of the line were scarce and brief.