The real-life Rambo, 1945

The real-life Rambo, 1945

Leó Major was a soldier in the Canadian Army in WW2. Throughout the war, Major showed many instances of courage. This included the separate events when he captured a German Armoured Vehicle containing secret codes. He also captured 93 German soldiers single-handedly in the Netherlands. He also fought an SS German patrol in which he lost an eye to a phosphorus grenade. This did not stop Major, who recovered and returned to the front lines. He was also injured by a landmine but also recovered and went back to duty. While these events are impressive, one event took place in the Dutch Town of Zwolle that caused Major to go on a one-person rampage, where he liberated the town from German troops. Major and his friend Willy Arsenault were sent to Zwolle on a scouting mission to try to see how strongly defended the town was. In the night, they crept around Zwolle. Arsenault accidentally gave away their position and was shot dead by German troops. Major returned fire and killed two enemy troops while the others fled. Major took his dead friend's STEN machine gun and grenades. He left his body on the side of the road. Major was so enraged at his friend's death that he decided to enter the town alone and fight the enemy with the force of an army of one. Major hijacked a German vehicle and drove into town. He then went into the streets and began to fire on any Germans he saw and threw grenades in different directions, which made the Germans believe a more significant force was attacking them. Major also captured around 100 enemy troops as well. He also set fire to the Gestapo HQ. This caused the Germans to flee. Members of the Dutch resistance then took control of the town hall and restored order. The next day, the allies went into Zwolle without any fighting. No civilians were killed due to Majors' bravery. Major would go on to serve in the Korean war and lived a quiet life in Canada afterwards. He died in 2008. Photographers: unknown Source: https://tulipfestival.net/leo-major/

Now and then, American forces make their way across the Mühl river as part of the Allied fight in Europe during World War II, 1945

Now and then, American forces make their way across the Mühl river as part of the Allied fight in Europe during World War II, 1945

World War II is notable for heroic themes, haunting events, and the actions of both good and evil people. In many ways, the war questions the human condition as a whole. Are we born to follow? To lead? To fight? To defy? To exterminate? To kill? To preserve and save? Are we born to do all of these things if the environment and time accommodate these actions? What and who are we? The war saw many different events that made people question if there truly were a God(s). From the extermination of different groups of people to the dropping of the atomic bombs and to the darkness that was taking over Europe, many began to question if the creator of this planet was an insane, twisted, and faceless being who was beginning to cause the end of humanity. Some could argue, this was mankind's darkest hour. However, if the war did prove anything, it was that there were men and women, all over the world who dared to look death in the eyes and smile. Some of these people cried while doing it, some laughed, and some closed their eyes. But they charged at it, unknowing if they would live. Some did survive and others didn't. But all of them were willing to put their lives on the line to defend the world of tomorrow from the evils that were spreading throughout the world. If it meant that the children of tomorrow could hear the birds sing peacefully, without having to ever worry about being discriminated against, oppressed, or hated, then it was worth the sacrifice. Men and women, who did not know me or you, sacrificed themselves for the world we live in now. And while it may not be perfect, and while it may be forever changing, all we can do is defend what we have, fight for what we want, and share our victories. The picture is just one example of the efforts that the Allies displayed during the war as a whole.