"They Told Us to Close Our Eyes" — German Women POWs Shocked by What Came Next
From the channel of WWII Hidden Courage.
"They were told the Americans would be monsters—cruel, merciless, and vengeful—but when 847 German women stepped onto U.S. soil as prisoners of war in September 1945, everything they believed shattered. Expecting starvation, humiliation, and punishment, they were instead met with hot showers, fresh uniforms, clean beds, and the smell of freshly baked bread. This powerful true story follows Greta Hartmann, a young radio operator from Berlin, as she and hundreds of other German women struggled to reconcile years of Nazi propaganda with the shocking kindness shown to them inside American POW camps. From the moment they arrived—terrified and broken—to their first hot meal, warm bed, and simple acts of humanity from their so-called enemies, their worldviews crumbled. This video reveals their emotional journey through guilt, survival, inner conflict, and transformation as they witnessed the compassion of the enemy while their own families starved back home in a ruined Germany. It is a story not of battles, but of dignity, mercy, and the painful realization that kindness can break a person more deeply than cruelty. If you’re passionate about untold World War II stories, human psychology, emotional historical narratives, and the hidden experiences of women in war, this video will stay with you long after it ends. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more forgotten stories of WWII and the human truths they reveal." Source: WWII Hidden Courage.
