PHOTO PROMPT © Madison Woods
After four years the soldiers arrived fighting ferociously through the bullets, mine fields, and smoke to tear down the wire.
Good men conscripted; lawyers, teachers, builders, grocers, accountants, the local magistrate, all charged the enemy heroically.
Pressing onwards oblivious to the bodies of fallen comrades they slaughtered our guards and persecutors; invaded and laid waste the Stalag huts, to liberate us wretched and broken from our suffering and squalor.
But at the women’s huts they paused…then took us as spoils of war.
Husbands and fathers, brothers and uncles, but in their army uniforms, they took us as spoils of war.
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
Michael Wynn 
So many women were hidden from the allied forces, as they moved forward. Sad but true. But if trapped and unable to hide, it does not bare thinking about.
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I know, we often forget that there were crimes committed on both sides.
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What a cruel image of war… and sadly can be evidenced so many times over. Poignant, and well written.
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Thank-you. I’ve always wondered why often normal people in civilian life, seem to be capable of atrocities like rape in times of war.
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It simply amazes me that anyone can be so inhumane to their fellow man, war or peace.
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The human race can be such a contradiction. How can a person be so decent, yet so selfish?
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That’s the question I always ask and never find the answer.
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This is so chilling and seems to be in the aftermath of war.. I have read how it’s been silenced did to German women after the war… All soldiers, not just those from Soviet.
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It seems to happen in every war. Men who are model citizens at home turning into depraved monsters in uniform
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That’s what the passage of time allows – the courage to tell of the atrocities all sides commit
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It does but the atrocities continue to happen in modern wars
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This was very powerful and every bit as forceful as mine..I could feel the plundering going on. Good job..
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Thanks
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An upsetting insight into war and the aftermath…those poor women. Fantastic take on the prompt Michael. Heidi 🙂
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Thanks Heidi
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Powerful piece, highlighting the atrocities during liberation (and at other times of war), and also how the soldier’s uniform can change people.
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That’s what I was hoping to convey, thanks
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A very powerful take on the prompt. And a disturbing reminder of man’s inhumanity to man, and unspeakable attitudes towards women in times of war.
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Thank-you Sandra. I’m always nervous of posting a piece like that in case it doesn’t respect or do justice to the subject. Your comments are very much appreciated.
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Dear Michael,
I’d like to just copy and paste Sandra’s comment here. Very well done take on the prompt. It’s difficult to distill the horror and outrage into 100 words but you’ve done a good job of it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you. I always value yours and Sandra’s opinions, especially on something like this.
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It is a disturbing fact that war brings out the worst in people. I am completely blown away that normal men are capable of such atrocities and return to their lives when it’s all over.
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I don’t understand how they and so many of them can do it when they wouldn’t in normal circumstances
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There’s so much depth and agony in your story, I don’t even know where to start. War brings out the worst, hardening towards the violence and suffering, taking the spoils of war, treasure, women: making the enemies’ possessions, including women, their own. Not much has changed over the millennia. And as more recent wars have shown us, women soldiers commit cruel atrocities too.
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Thank-you so much for your comments. I’m pleased you liked it so much and sent such a comprehensive reply. Obviously I agree with your sentiments which was the point of the story, the evil ordinary people are capable of in barbaric situations is hard to comprehend from my safe little life in middle England.Thanks again, much appreciated.
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We cannot say in absolute certainty what we will or won’t do under circumstances – the mystery of our human nature.
Lily
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It is a mystery and what I’m trying to get to here,thanks for picking up on that and for commenting on it
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No one is immune from the horrors of war.
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Too right but what makes an ordinary civilian turn bad in uniform? Is it something lurking in all of us waiting to emerge when the conditions are right?
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Mick,
Good work. Sad topic. Thank you for shining the light on the darkness. I’ve often said to my wife that we need to remember that the only reason we were the “good guys” in WWII is because the “bad guys” were so very, very bad.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Thank-you for your comment. Glad you liked it.
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