Kurt Keller

Like many young men of his generation - whichever uniform they wore - in June 1944 Kurt Keller was a 19-year old German soldier proudly serving his country. Kurt's destiny was defined by where he found himself at dawn on D-Day, a teenager in Grenadier-Regiment 915, 352. Infanterie-Division defending a fortified beach exit at St. Laurent-sur-Mer in Normandy in the middle of what would afterwards be forever known as Omaha Beach – 'Bloody Omaha.'

Every man that day on both sides fought for one thing – to live to see the next. Kurt held his position overlooking the beach for as long as he could, only after all his comrades were killed & any ammunition he had was expended he abandoned his post to save his life from the advancing Americans.

Exhausted & completely disillusioned – his previously unshakable belief in his “Führer” shattered - Kurt decided to desert with a comrade. Both were captured & court-martialled for desertion. Instead of execution, they were given a 'Himmelsfahrtkommando' (suicide mission) to the crumbling Eastern Front.

Kurt was captured by the Red Army in the final days of the war near Berlin. His odyssey from Omaha Beach to Siberia was about to begin...

Kurt endured 1,556 days of captivity before release. He was fortunate to survive, many thousands of other German prisoners died from starvation & brutal treatment, retribution by their Russian captors.

He returned home. At the doorstep, his Mother at first failed to recognise her own son, his appearance had changed so much – a combination of ill-treatment, malnutrition & the bitter legacy of his experiences, particularly on D-Day.

Almost seven decades later, in May 2014 Céline & David were contacted by Swiss film company Tele 1 Media requesting invitations to their 70th D-Day Anniversary Memorial ceremony for Kurt Keller, wife Gertrud, daughter Andrea & a film crew – 17 guests! Until that moment we knew nothing of Kurt Keller or his life-long desire to return to Normandy to seek Reconciliation by offering his hand to any American veteran. And so began Kurt's extraordinary Journey of Reconciliation – from Omaha Beach to Siberia to Ravenoville...

Two German D-Day veterans – Johannes Börner & Kurt Keller – at our June 5 ceremony was beyond imagination! So it proved, despite our best efforts Johannes was committed to attend the international ceremony at Ouistreham. An opportunity sadly missed. A second veteran from “the other side” would however continue what we began with Johannes in 2012.

Our introduction to Kurt couldn't have been pre-planned, he & his group arrived late! David paused the event to escort Kurt & his family to their seats before introducing them to the American veterans & guests. The reaction was spontaneous – everyone applauded the German returning to Normandy for the first time since 1944.

As a “rookie” veteran, Kurt's induction to the 'Raveno Show' was complete with the presentation of a bronze statuette, 'First Wave' – a GI moments before landing on Omaha or Utah Beach. Produced by specialist company Khaki Army, the awards to each veteran ('First Wave' for non- airborne veterans, 'The Last Full Measure' for paratrooper veterans) were made by ceremony Presiding Officer & Guest Speaker, Major-General Richard W. Thomas, former Consultant to The Army Surgeon General. General Thomas - “Doc” - served with both the 101st & 82nd Airborne Divisions.

Kurt was also warmly greeted during the presentations by John Beyrle, former US Ambassador to Russia. John's late Father was 101st Airborne D-Day legend “Jumpin' Joe” Beyrle.

Did Kurt Keller achieve his desire to meet an American veteran & shake hands? The photos from the ceremony & this email from Rolf Weilege, part of the film crew, written two weeks later hold the answer:

Yes, it was a great time, we could offer Mr. Keller and his family. Because of people like your wife and you.

From our side a great 'Thank you very much' for all your efforts and energy, you spent on the organization of the 5th of June 2014. It was more than impressfull, what we saw in Ravenoville - especially for Mr. Keller.

General Thomas and a lot of other former allied soldiers welcomed Mr. Keller in such a warm way, that he nearly could not believe it...

For us there was 1 absolute highlight (and this was the dream of Mr. Keller since 70 years) - conciliation:

He nearly could not believe it, that General Thomas gave him also a little brass-statue like the other US-veterans and he pressed this statue at his chest, when he stood in one lane for photos with the other US-veterans.

So I thought: Now or never - I asked him to give me his statue - then I asked his neighbour Bob Noody whether he can imagine to shake hands with the former enemy after 70 years. Bob gave also his statue away, then they shaked hands for minutes - then both layed their arms around the other one and held each other - then both gave the other one a little kiss on the cheek - this nobody can order.

It showed, that we are all human beings and nobody has anything against the other one...

With lot of greetings and big 'Thank you' from Germany.”

Kurt's Reconciliation with his troubled past was under way...a day short of 70 years later in a front garden in Ravenoville.

For Memorial co-founders & ceremony organisers Céline & David, Kurt was a veteran worthy of the same recognition & acceptance as the Americans.

Kurt's integration continued in June 2015. Accompanied by his son Frank he planted his living Memorial olive tree alongside other American veterans in the Garden. He placed a floral tribute in the Federal German colours, the ribbon dedication he requested read: “Peace, Reconciliation is our Highest Maxim.” A German survivor from Omaha Beach saluting the Memorial...

Kurt also received a LFM paratrooper statuette from ceremony Presiding Officer & Guest Speaker, Major-General Allan Smith, US Air National Guard (retired).

Our 'big' surprise for Kurt had to be postponed. The chair beside his reserved for US Coast Guard D-Day veteran Jack R. Hamlin remained empty. Illness prevented Jack's “rookie” debut, his tree was planted by close friends. Kurt had no idea what we schemed, that surprise would wait for another year...

After the ceremony, Kurt signed & dedicated the Veterans' Wall. He wrote: “I love Peace Reconciliation & Friendship.”

Kurt Keller & Jack Hamlin met on June 6, 2016. Precisely seventy-two years earlier at Omaha Beach both men did what was required of them – Kurt took American lives, Jack - a Boatswain's Mate, 1st Class, in Rescue Flotilla One - saved others floundering in the water unable to reach the shore. They shook hands at the Memorial & embraced one another as only men whose eyes have seen the horror of war can...no longer enemies, but survivors & now Friends.

The “rookie” folded flags/certificates were presented by Major-General Lester Martinez-Lopez (retired), former Head of the US Army Medical & Research Command. Kurt received a special presentation of a folded German flag in Federal colours with an award document.

He again placed a floral tribute, this time accompanied by wife Gertrud. Then, a further breakthrough moment for Kurt for the ceremony – with our approval he read his short poem 'To Honor the Veterans', written especially for the American veterans who now welcomed him as an equal. Martin Galle translated Kurt's words in English.

Kurt's unbroken attendance at the ceremonies continued in 2017 & 2018 when he decided to make 2018 the last time. His final floral tribute ribbon read: “Thanks to the Allied Soldiers for their Struggle for Freedom & Peace.”

As a gesture of our intimate bond of Friendship, we invited Kurt to say 'farewell' to everyone during the ceremony. He spoke most eloquently & movingly in German, translated into French then English by Céline & David. The applause was every bit as heartfelt as Kurt's debut in 2014.

We had one final surprise for Kurt: as he reached the end of the deck accompanied by Major Sandra Wilhelm & Hauptmann Stefan Schonauer from the Bundeswehr Command & Staff College in Hamburg, the young officers from the college in formation sang “Lili Marlene” to Honor their veteran as only Germans can...

Returning to his seat passing the row of American veterans, Jack Hamlin stood up to embrace his Friend. The pair hugged like the Brothers they had become. So too Major-General 'Doc' Thomas, who made the first presentation to Kurt in 2014.

Despite his 'retirement' from the 'Raveno Show', Kurt decided to come back in 2019 – the thought of not being where he belonged for the 75th D-Day Anniversary proved too distressing to contemplate.

Sadly, Gertrud fractured a hip at home early in the year so their planned return was postponed. The ceremony – our largest ever – was a huge success, tinged with sadness by Kurt & Gertrud's absence. Céline & David hope to welcome their dear German friends back to the shack soon...Kurt calls David “mein bruder.”

We believe – we know – Kurt Keller found the Peace he sought for 70 years at our ceremonies, welcomed & accepted by his former adversaries, especially Jack Hamlin. Two remarkable human beings – Omaha Beach survivors from opposite sides – brought together by the hand of Fate, their lives collided 72 years later in our front garden. A Haven of Peace. A Haven for Heroes.

They vindicate everything the Memorial represents, they are the living embodiment of Peace & Reconciliation. What an Honor. What a Privilege."