In Memories of WWII the author re-lives what it is like to be converted from a peace-loving civilian into a soldier during wartime. After making the transition, and adapting to life in the field artillery, he is selected for specialized training in psychology. With the invasion of Europe approaching, he is assigned to team up with the psychiatrist of an Infantry Division that is preparing for combat in the European Theater. Overseas, their unit is placed just behind the front lines of the Division so that they can deal with the influx of soldiers suffering from the acute stress of combat. He describes "Combat Exhaustion" or "Battle Fatigue" in the immediacy of its onset, the methods employed to treat it, and the central issues for fear and courage in battle. In addition, he shares his memories of some of the shocking, repugnant, and ugly realities that follow in the wake of combat. He tells vivid and unforgettable stories of dead bodies and body parts, of ignoble acts, of Buchenwald, of displaced persons, of human waste, of looting, of sex, rape, and venereal disease, of homosexuality in the army, and of racial interaction in a segregated military. He takes us with his Infantry Division through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany until finally linking up with Soviet forces at the Elbe River. He re-creates the hilarity, and also the tension and its resolution, when celebrating victory with the Russians. Lastly, he provides insight about the military occupation of Germany after the cessation of hostilities. His final days awaiting transport to an emotional homecoming are spent in a former Hitler Youth Camp in Bavaria.
About the Author: When he returned to civilian life after WWII, Julian Meltzoff entered graduate school and earned his Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1950. He subsequently served as Chief Psychologist in several Veterans Administration facilities in Philadelphia and New York. The V.A. was the largest employer and training site for psychologists in the country. Over a period of about 30 years he heard innumerable veterans describe their experiences in five different wars: Spanish-American, WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam wars. He and psychologists he supervised helped countless veterans come to grips with their memories and to cope with their contemporary life problems. After leaving Federal service he moved to California and served as Director of Research and Professor of Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego for nearly another two decades. He retired at the age of 76 and was appointed Professor Emeritus. During his professional career Dr. Meltzoff authored three widely read texts: "The Day Treatment Center: Principles, Application and Evaluation", with R. Blumenthal. "Research in Psychotherapy", with M. Kornreich, and "Critical Thinking About Research: Psychology and Related Fields." He has also written a number of book chapters and numerous articles in scientific journals. Once he had finally retired, Dr. Meltzoff discovered a latent talent as a sculptor and has produced more than 200 pieces. One of them, the portrayal of a wounded German soldier, is illustrated in Memories of WWII. When he attained the age of 90, he felt that it was time to share his memories of the war with succeeding generations. He fervently hopes that they will be spared from having to experience war first-hand for themselves.