2005 Press Releases
U.S.-Soviet Cooperation During WW2 – A Soliders Story
April 8, 2005
On April 6th, the U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg hosted a unique digital videoconference for students and journalists with DCM John Beyrle. Instead of discussing policy issues, Mr. Beyrle shared the personal story of his father, Joseph Beyrle, a veteran of WW II that fought for both the American and Soviet armies. DCM Beyrle discussed how his father parachuted into Normandy in support of the D-Day invasion and was captured by Nazi troops. Joseph Beyrle made several escape attempts before finally succeeding. Once he escaped, he joined up with Soviet troops headed towards Berlin, was handed a gun and manned a position on a Soviet tank. However, Mr. Beyrle’s attempt to make it home through Berlin was stopped when he was injured during an air raid. Instead, he met General Zhukov in an army hospital and was given a pass that helped him reach Moscow.
In America, Joseph Beyrle spoke widely about his experiences and the horror of war. For many Americans, who only knew from books the sacrifice made by Russian citizens, Mr. Beyrle was able to touch a nerve through his personal recollections. After the war, Mr. Beyrle returned to Russia five times before passing away last year. For those wishing to know more about this remarkable story, it is recounted in the book “The Simple Sounds of Freedom”, which will shortly be available at American Corners throughout the Ural region.
