75 Years Later: A Belgian Survivor Recalls Liberation

Dr. Annette Baumgartner · 2026-05-23

It is hard to imagine now, but 75 years ago, the world was a very different place. For a young girl named Angele Depauw, then just 8 years old, the arrival of Allied troops in her Belgian village meant the end of a nightmare she still remembers vividly. Her story is a powerful reminder of what liberation truly meant for an entire generation. ### A Child's View of War Angele Depauw, now 83, lived through the final years of World War II in Belgium. She remembers the fear, the scarcity of food, and the constant rumble of distant bombs. "War... people today cannot imagine it anymore," she said in a recent interview with HLN. Her words carry the weight of lived experience, a perspective that is increasingly rare as the years pass. For Angele, the war was not a history lesson. It was her daily reality. She recalls how her family had to hide, how they never knew what the next day would bring. The liberation, when it finally came, was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy. She remembers the soldiers, the flags, and the sense that the world had suddenly become safe again.  ### The 75th Anniversary: A Time to Reflect The 75th anniversary of the liberation is a milestone. It is a chance for people in the United States and around the world to connect with stories like Angele's. These are not just old tales; they are living history. They remind us of the cost of freedom and the resilience of the human spirit. - **Remember the individuals:** Behind every statistic is a person like Angele. - **Honor the sacrifice:** The soldiers who fought for liberation gave everything. - **Teach the next generation:** Stories like these must be passed down. ### Why Personal Stories Matter In an age of digital noise, a first-person account cuts through. Angele's simple, powerful statement about people not being able to imagine war today is a call to empathy. It encourages us to pause and consider the blessings of peace. Her story is not just about Belgium; it is about the universal human experience of conflict and the universal hope for freedom. ### Bringing the Past into the Present As we look back at 1944 and 1945, we do so from a world that has changed dramatically. Yet the lessons of that time remain urgent. Angele Depauw's voice helps ensure we do not forget. Her memories are a bridge to a past that shaped the present, and a reminder that peace is something we must always protect.