When we think of WWII, the images are often stark, chilling, and well-documented: battles fought on bloodied soil, cities reduced to rubble, and the unyielding resilience of a world enduring turmoil. Yet, as historian Miriam Gebhardt’s Als die Soldaten kamen (When the Soldiers Came) shows us, an even darker narrative lurks behind these well-documented horrors—one that mainstream history has largely ignored. This harrowing account dives deep into the experiences of hundreds of thousands of German women (and some men) subjected to mass sexual violence by Allied forces in the chaotic aftermath of the war.
A Distorted Narrative: The Realities Behind the “Liberation”
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Violence Beyond the Red Army
Mainstream history often attributes the wave of sexual violence that swept across post-war Germany solely to Soviet soldiers, but Gebhardt reveals the shocking truth: this violence was not limited to one army. While the Red Army was responsible for an estimated one to two million assaults on German civilians, American, British, and French troops were involved too. The American army, for instance, left at least 190,000 German women victimized in its wake, largely unspoken in post-war narratives. French forces, too, took part, particularly in southern regions like Stuttgart and Baden-Württemberg, marking an overlooked chapter in Allied occupation. - The Untold Stories of Male Victims
History books seldom mention it, but men also fell victim to the widespread violence of the time. Gebhardt documents the harrowing stories of boys and young men who were likewise subjected to abuse. The trauma of male victims was overshadowed and suppressed even further, seen as incompatible with the prevailing narrative of male heroism and female victimhood in wartime societies. - No Safe Refuge: Sexual Assault as Retribution in “Allied” Countries
The American troops were no strangers to brutality, even outside enemy territories. Gebhardt uncovers accounts of U.S. soldiers committing sexual violence not only against German civilians but also against women from allied nations such as Britain and France. This shocking fact further dismantles the myth of moral superiority often assigned to the Western Allies over their Soviet counterparts. - Institutional Betrayal and “Secondary Victimization”
Gebhardt’s work sheds light on a heartbreaking reality: post-war German society offered little compassion for these victims. Many women who suffered assault faced immense stigma and public scorn, branded as traitors who had fraternized with the enemy. This “secondary victimization” added yet another layer of suffering. Institutions, too, failed these women—denying them justice, care, and recognition. Medical and legal systems rarely supported the victims, leaving them to navigate shame and trauma alone.
Red Army vs. Western Allies: Was There a Difference?
The actions of the Soviet forces were undeniably horrific, but Gebhardt challenges the notion that they were uniquely brutal. Both Western and Eastern Allied forces committed atrocities, albeit with some differences in scale and context. Soviet assaults were often described as retribution, and while the Western Allies’ motivations were less straightforward, the abuse was pervasive across occupied territories. Gebhardt’s accounts reveal that Allied atrocities were far from exceptional to one army, instead representing a horrifyingly common war crime.
Gebhardt’s Als die Soldaten kamen offers a long-overdue confrontation with a painful aspect of WWII history that must not be ignored. It is a call to recognize the silent suffering that persisted long after the bombs stopped falling. By sharing these stories, we can begin to honor the forgotten victims of WWII.
In writing Als die Soldaten kamen, Gebhardt’s mission extends beyond mere historical investigation. She calls for Diskursgerechtigkeit—justice in discourse—believing that a full acknowledgment of these crimes against German women is essential to understanding the trauma and societal impact left in WWII’s wake. Her commitment to shedding light on these untold stories speaks to her conviction that historical truth-telling has the power to dismantle entrenched stereotypes, grant dignity to overlooked victims, and foster empathy across generations. For Gebhardt, it is not just about documenting facts but advocating for a justice of memory—one that allows these silenced experiences to be recognized openly and compassionately.
For readers of German, the book is available on Amazon, providing a chance to delve into Gebhardt’s chilling, revelatory work.
