Frederick Lennart Bentley (UK, 80) was blinded by a German grenade while on a night patrol in Normandy and had to feel his way back behind Allied lines. Across Europe, veterans joined ceremonies to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Gerhard Hiller (83) joined the German army when he was 19 and was taken prisoner by the Allies during the invasion of Normandy. Across Europe, veterans joined ceremonies to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Edmund Wagner (Poland, 79) fought with the British to liberate his country from the Germans. After the war he was unable return home because of the Russian occupation. Across Europe, veterans joined ceremonies to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Henk Paulus (The Netherlands, 87) was born in Indonesia, and as a prisoner-of-war endured forced labor on the Burma railroad. Across Europe, veterans joined ceremonies to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Polina Svjatogorskaja (Russia, 80) served as a nurse in the Red Army. Across Europe, veterans joined ceremonies to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Edward Hamilton (87) was commander of a battalion in the US Army and despised cowardice. If he suspected one of his men had inflicted self-injury in order to be sent home, he made sure the soldier was sentenced to hard labor. Across Europe, veterans joined ceremonies to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Leen Jonker (88) was a gunner with a Dutch squadron of the Royal Air Force. When he was injured by German anti-aircraft fire his friends were not allowed to visit him in hospital. The authorities were concerned that if they saw him, they would not want to fly again. Across Europe, veterans joined ceremonies to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Edward Szczerbinski (Poland, 79) will not talk about the war, but writes about this part of his past in his poetry. Across Europe, veterans joined ceremonies to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Cleem Konig (Netherlands, 82) was taken as a prisoner of war along with his brother Klaas, and forced to labor in the coal mine near Nagasaki when the atomic bomb fell. Since then, he has had 20 malignant tumors and his brother died of cancer. Across Europe, veterans joined ceremonies to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Nature - 1st prize