White sign of peace: A son calls for the peace flag!

White sign of peace: A son calls for the peace flag!

On April 18, 2025, a special message of peace will be discussed in Germany. Johannes Heibel, the son of a deserted German soldier from World War II, shared his thoughts in Easter 2025. His father, Erwin Heibel, was deserted in 1944 at the front in Russia because he no longer wanted to endure the horrors of the war. Over the years, Erwin told about his experiences, shaped by fear, grief and the constant threat of the death of his comrades.

"War always brings mezel", was the guiding principle of Erwin Heibel, with whom he lived until the end of his life. After his deserting, he had to wander between frontal battles and was dependent on the help of Russian farmers. This escape lasted about six months before he could finally reach Lübeck, where he climbed one of the last ships. After a short stay in a military hospital, he continued the journey to return to his homeland on August 14th and get his wife.

a sign of peace

To honor his father's memory and to set a sign of peace, Johannes Heibel plans a nationwide call. On the coming Easter Monday, he will call to raise a white peace flag. This flag should not only blow on his own house at the grave of his father, but also permanently to make the horror of the war visible. "I will no longer experience peace on earth, but I hope that others can enjoy him," explains Johannes Heibel his commitment.

The courage of the father who decided against the war refers to a deeper social problem. Deserters were and are often confronted with mistrust and conviction. In the history of mankind, desertion was often considered a betrayal, and often brutal punishments waited for those who followed their conscience and refused to fight to save their lives. Deserters were brutally persecuted in the Second World War and many had to expect serious consequences.

historical perspectives and today's challenges

The stories of deserters are an urgent example of the inner struggle between duty and ethics. Organizations are still committed to protecting the rights of deserters today, and there is a growing discourse on the need to support these courageous decisions. "The perception of deserters has changed," says experts, and reflection on their inheritance remains important to promote a more peaceful world.

Johannes Heibel's call to the whisper of the White Flag is an urgent appeal to think about the past and the present. Everyone should take responsibility to face violence and wrong, inspired by the courage of their father and many other deserters who wanted to stand up for their faith and life. He invites everyone to stand together for peace.

In dealing with the history and the fates of deserters, it becomes clear how important it is to reflect on the legacy of current and earlier conflicts and to fight for a fairer and peaceful future. The call from Johannes Heibel is a step in this direction.

Nordkurier reports that , while Geschichtelerneneinfach.de The history of the deserters .