(4 Jun 2004)
1. Various of La Cambe cemetery
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Kenneth Lans, British Veteran:
"As far as the Germans are concerned, and as far as the Italians are concerned, I can live with those because Hitler paid with his life and up to a point so did the German people. Mussolini was hung up upside down on a lamp post after he was killed or whatever it was. But I have no sympathy with the Japanese because Hirohito never apologised for the troubles and experiments in Manchuria. Never bothered to explain it." (audio inaudible at the end)
3. Various of cemetery
4. Set-up Frank Ghede, German reservist
5. SOUNDBITE (German) Frank Ghede, German Reservist:
"We are part of the German association of reservists, we came because of D-Day ceremonies which this year are not victory ceremonies but liberation ceremonies. Yesterday we went to the British ceremony and tomorrow we will go to Omaha beach."
6. Various of memorial ceremony
7. SOUNDBITE (German) Alfred Loschert, German Veteran:
"We were stationed close to Saint Mere l'Eglise, near Picauville, and we were looking for the parachuters and one of the Americans and one of ours parachuters were killed and then we started to withdraw and to fight."
8. Various of ceremony
9. SOUNDBITE (German) Erich Hasenstab, German Veteran:
"I came here to remember the many young people who lost their lives here. I was also here and was lucky. A school friend of mine is also buried here. Just like me he was eighteen at the time. One is close to tears but how does that help? All these beautiful flowers but that can't really help."
10. Various of cemetery
STORYLINE:
A commemorative ceremony took place on Friday at the German war cemetery of La Cambe in Normandy, where more than 21-thousand German soldiers have been buried.
The soldiers were the casualties of what is described as the largest military operation ever and known as "Operation overlord".
About two hundred people from France, Britain and Germany took part in the memorial at La Cambe on Friday.
With music and poetry they remembered the victims of the battle sixty years ago, but also underlined the value of peace in Europe since the end of WWII.
German veteran Alfred Loschert told APTN: "One of ours (parachuters) were killed and then we started to withdraw and to fight."
A group of German Army reservists were also present and told APTN they had come to Normandy this year because this time it was a liberation ceremony, not a victory ceremony.
About 20,000 people, including 8,000 veterans, will attend many of the 16 official ceremonies in Normandy this year and as many as one (m) million people are expected for a series of other commemorations around the region.
German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has been invited to take part in the ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the D-day landings on Sunday.
It will be the the first time a German leader will be involved in D-Day celebrations.
La Cambe is the largest German war cemetery in Lower Normandy.
In a clearing dotted with trees and Maltese crosses in groups of five, more than 21,200 soldiers are buried - generally in twos - beneath small slabs almost flush with the short grass.
In the centre, an impressive tumulus, surmounted by a large cross flanked by statues, marks the place where the remains of 296 unidentified soldiers were buried.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...