h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

5 May 75 years ago my father Poul welcomed the British troops as they crossed the border from Northern Germany into Denmark following the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany late in the evening the day before.
Nazi Germany had occupied Denmark five years earlier.

It turned out Poul's older brother Carl was among these British soldiers!
Uncle Carl emigrated to England a few years before the war, but when it broke out he volunteered to join the British army and was assigned to The Buffs. He fought at the bridgehead of Anzio, Italy, and made the entire trip to Berlin before turning north to liberate his native land.
Dad, of course, had no idea what had become of his brother when he suddenly heard a familiar voice shouting "hello, brother," from a passing military vehicle.

The story doesn't end here:
Because it was no thanks to my father-in-law Wilhelm that Carl got this far and only died many years later. You see Wilhelm served on the German side of the front at Anzio ...
In other words, the two could have killed each other, but fortunately they did not, and we enjoyed their company for many years to follow.
Unfortunately, they never met, I am sure they would have become good friends.

Keep safe, my favourite

I wasn't sure where Anzio was, so I had to look it up. I imagined that it might be at the mouth of the Tiber, but hat's Ostia, which is to the north.

So, Anzio is to the south of Rome, down the coast. Did they choose it as a landing point because it didn't seem very significant, and might be overlooked by the opposing forces?

The Allied forces moved up from Sicily but ended in a protracted stalemate. It was therefore decided to create a new bridgehead north of the front to draw so many German and Italian defense forces away from the main front that the Allies could move further north and occupy Rome

No matter which war and in which year/century, I have 110% respect for all military personnel worldwide
Whether they volunteered or were conscripted or any other form "of enlisting/do it or else etc"
I don't distinguish between the "goods guys" or the "bad guys" - many never had the option

Every single one deserves respect!

Every single one? How about the married ones?