Buzz
In history, villains are often easily identified, especially when it comes to World War II. Yet, while the Axis leaders were undeniably monstrous, the ordinary soldiers on both sides were simply human beings—afraid, thrust into the chaos of war, and striving to survive. Amidst all the carnage, a few brave individuals crossed enemy lines to rescue soldiers in need, showcasing acts of compassion in the darkest hours.
10. A Nazi Squadron Defended China From the Japanese Invasion
Before World War II erupted, China enlisted German soldiers to train their troops. When Japan launched its invasion in 1937, some of these German instructors found themselves trapped within China.
Even without orders from Hitler, these men resolved that 'there could be no question of abandoning our Chinese allies to their fate.' The German-trained 88th Division mobilized to safeguard China. They actively engaged on the front lines and fought bravely against the advancing Japanese forces.
As the Japanese forces reached Nanjing, the Chinese government instructed the Germans to return home, convinced they could not defend the city. Yet, some members of the 88th Division chose to remain, continuing their efforts to protect their Chinese comrades.
Many of the Germans who fought in the battle for Nanjing perished. However, there are tales of some who survived, escaping into the wilderness, and continuing to fight alongside Chinese guerilla forces for the remainder of the war.
9. A German Officer Sacrificed His Life While Attempting to Save a Wounded American
Lieutenant Friedrich Lengfeld, a German officer, was leading a group of riflemen against advancing US forces. He held his ground on the edge of a minefield, challenging the Americans to engage, when he suddenly heard someone calling out for help.
A US soldier, injured and lying in the minefield, was crying out repeatedly, 'Help me!' Moved by the soldier’s plea, Lengfeld ordered his men to hold their fire when the Americans attempted to rescue him.
Time passed, yet no US soldier dared to rush into the minefield to save their comrade. Eventually, Lengfeld took matters into his own hands, organizing a rescue team and entered the minefield to retrieve the injured soldier.
Sadly, Lengfeld stepped on a concealed land mine and lost his life. There is no evidence to suggest that the American soldier survived either. However, Lengfeld's courageous act, one that few would have dared, earned him a plaque of honor from the US Army.
8. A Romanian Princess Rescued 1,000 Allied Soldiers Who Were Bombing Her Own Country
During WWII, Romania aligned with the Nazis, but Princess Catherine Caradja was not in favor of this partnership. Having grown up in England, she harbored deep mistrust toward Hitler and his ideologies.
When planes began bombing the oilfields in her homeland, Caradja took it upon herself to care for every surviving Allied airman who was shot down over Romania. She had them sent to her personal hospitals, where they were treated as honored guests and provided with the finest medical care.
Once the men had recovered, Caradja assisted them in fleeing to Italy, which had already been freed from occupation. By the end of the war, she had saved over 1,000 lives.
7. A Japanese Officer Returned a Football Star's Ring
Before enlisting in the army, Mario 'Motts' Tonelli had a career in the NFL and played fullback for Notre Dame. After joining the military, he was captured by Japanese soldiers and forced to march 100 kilometers (60 miles) with 70,000 other prisoners toward a prison camp.
The Japanese guards took everything the prisoners had, but Motts refused to part with his cherished golden graduation ring. A guard threatened him with a bayonet before Motts reluctantly handed it over.
Then, something unexpected occurred. A Japanese officer returned with Motts's ring in hand. The officer, having studied in America and seen Motts play, said, 'You were a hell of a player,' before returning the ring. 'Good luck.'
Despite the gesture, Motts was still sent to a prison camp, where he endured severe suffering from malaria, dysentery, and scurvy.
But he still had his ring.
6. A German Pilot Guided an American Bomber to Safety
Lieutenant Franz Stigler, one of Germany's most skilled pilots, was given orders to shoot down a B-17 bomber—the final kill needed to secure Germany’s highest honor for bravery. However, he chose not to follow through with the mission.
As Stigler approached the plane, he saw that it was flying dangerously low, with its rear end riddled with bullet holes. The crew inside was visibly injured and in a state of panic. Stigler realized that shooting them down wouldn't be an act of warfare; it would be cold-blooded murder.
Flying beside the bomber, Stigler signaled to the pilot and escorted them all the way across the North Sea, ensuring they could reach safety. By preventing German gunners from shooting at the American plane, Stigler saved the lives of the crew members.
5. German Soldiers Teamed Up with Allies to Defend a Castle in Austria
Castle Itter, a medieval fortress in Austria, had been used to imprison French VIPs. As the war neared its end, the German officers guarding it fled, realizing they could no longer hold the castle. Upon learning of this, the Germans attempted to retake the castle, but the French prisoners refused to surrender.
They formed an alliance with Kurt-Siegfried Schrader, an SS officer at the camp. With his assistance, they gathered the abandoned weapons, sent out a scout to call for reinforcements, and prepared for a fight. Soon, a small group of 15 American soldiers and three members of the Austrian Resistance arrived to help them.
Eventually, news of their stand reached a nearby US battalion, who rushed in to rescue them and turn the tide.
4. British Pilots Rescued the German Men They Had Previously Shot Down
A trio of British planes launched an assault on a German aircraft, sending it crashing into the Norwegian mountains, far from any signs of civilization. On their way back, one of the British planes experienced an engine failure, forcing Captain Partridge and his radio operator, Lieutenant Bostock, to make an emergency landing.
Partridge and Bostock trudged through deep snow, finding shelter in a hunter's cabin, only to discover the survivors of the downed German plane in the snow. Using broken German, they pretended to be unconnected to the downing of the plane and invited the German men into the hut for refuge.
After sharing breakfast, Partridge and a German soldier named Strunk ventured out to seek help. Unfortunately, a Norwegian man in town shot Strunk dead on sight. However, the rest of the German crew survived.
3. A Japanese Boy Rescued a Prisoner of War
Captured by Japanese forces, Carl Ruse was subjected to forced labor at the Yokkaichi-Ishihara Sangyo prison camp. Enduring severe suffering and starvation, he soon became emaciated, weighing just 36 kilograms (80 lbs).
Fumio Nishiwaki, a 14-year-old factory worker, witnessed Ruse's plight and felt a deep sympathy. Whenever he could, Nishiwaki would gather leftover scraps of food and secretly deliver them to Carl, keeping him alive through the darkest days until the war ended.
After Carl left the prison camp, he kept a picture of the young boy for the rest of his life. According to his family, the boy and his kind act symbolized the last glimmer of hope in a world so ravaged by war. Nishiwaki’s selfless gesture was what kept Carl's spirit intact amidst the horrors he endured.
2. A Nazi Officer Assisted A Jewish Musician In Surviving The War
Wilhelm Hosenfeld, a Nazi officer stationed in Warsaw, witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust firsthand. This tragic reality left him deeply shaken, and he began documenting the atrocities in his diaries as he watched the suffering of Jews and Poles unfold.
As the war neared its end, Hosenfeld decided to take action. He first assisted a Jewish man, Leon Warm, by providing him with a false identity and a job. He also aided a musician, Wladyslaw Szpilman, by supplying him with food and essentials to survive.
After the war, Hosenfeld was captured by the Soviets and imprisoned for war crimes. Despite the efforts of the men he had saved to secure his release, their pleas were ignored. Hosenfeld died in a Soviet prison camp, enduring a series of strokes before his passing.
1. A German General Refused To Kill Jewish Prisoners Of War
Erwin Rommel, a renowned general in Hitler’s army, spent much of the war commanding troops in Africa. Leading from the front, he took considerable personal risks, which was rare for leaders at the time. Despite his fierce reputation, when he captured Jewish soldiers, he defied orders from higher command to execute them.
Upon returning to Europe, Rommel became increasingly uneasy with Hitler's actions and secretly engaged with conspirators aiming to overthrow him. However, the plot failed. The Nazis apprehended Rommel, bringing him to his home and offering him a cyanide capsule with a grim ultimatum: take his own life with dignity or face execution by hanging for treason.
Rommel embraced his family for the final time, said his goodbyes, and took the cyanide pill. Afterward, he climbed into an army vehicle, allowing them to drive him away as he waited for the poison to take its toll.
