Author Miguel de Cervantes once said, “Love and war are the same thing, and stratagems and policy are as allowable in the one as in the other.” World War II, spanning from 1939 to 1945, saw unimaginable loss, with estimates of 40 to 50 million lives lost. Yet, amidst the gunfire and chaos, something beautiful often emerged: love.
It proves that there’s no perfect time or place for love to strike. It can happen anywhere, anytime. Finding connection during such desperate times adds a layer of poignancy and fascination. It’s almost poetic how couples found solace and fireworks in each other during World War II. Let’s explore some of these incredible WWII love stories that are sure to make you swoon.
10 Norwood Thomas and Joyce Durant Morris
Imagine being separated for 70 years! That’s the story of Norwood Thomas and Joyce Durant Morris, whose virtual reunion made headlines in 2015. They had both married other people, raised families, and lived full lives. But seeing each other again on Skype brought back a flood of memories.
Their romance began by the River Thames in 1944. After a few months of dating, Norwood, a paratrooper, was dropped into Normandy on D-Day, and their separation began. Seven decades passed until Joyce’s son found contact information for Norwood’s son, bridging the gap.
Their first virtual reunion via Skype happened in November 2016, connecting Norwood in Virginia Beach, USA, and Joyce in Australia. The world was touched by their story. A GoFundMe campaign and an offer from Air New Zealand made an in-person reunion possible.
In February 2016, Norwood and Joyce finally shared a hug in Australia. They spent precious weeks together, including Valentine’s Day. Sadly, Joyce passed away 10 months later, and Norwood followed in February 2021. Their story reminds us that love can endure incredible distances and time.
9 Bessie Moore and Chris Barker
Sometimes, you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone. Bessie Moore and Chris Barker were colleagues at the post office – just friends. But when Chris was shipped to Africa as a signalman during WWII, Bessie realized her feelings ran deeper.
Chris wrote letters home to family and friends, including Bessie and her then-boyfriend, Nick. In one of her replies, Bessie revealed she was no longer with Nick and confessed her feelings for Chris.
His response, found years later in a blue box given to his son Bernard, speaks volumes: “Dear, dear, dearest Elizabeth. What are you doing to me? What are we doing to each other? How did I not see you? Why was I blind? What can I do?” That letter, dated August 1944, was just one of hundreds exchanged between them. Despite the war, they found their way back to each other and married afterward, their love story preserved in those precious letters.
8 Walter Stewart and Laura Versfelt
Some bonds are truly unbreakable. Walter Stewart and Laura Versfelt’s love story began simply in 1940 when they shared a school table. They dated, married in 1941, and tragically lost their first baby shortly after.
While still grieving, Walter was sent to Hawaii to serve in the Navy in December 1943. Throughout the war, his main goal was clear: return home to Laura. When the war finally ended, they reunited, built a family with four children, and shared a happy life together until Walter’s passing in 2013.
In the book War Bonds: Love Stories from the Greatest Generation, Walter beautifully described Laura: “She’s what I needed to fill in the blanks.” Their story is a testament to love’s enduring strength through loss and separation.
7 Walt Powers and Myrt Mueller
Cindy Hval’s War Bonds also shares the story of Walt Powers, a Navy surgery technician, and Myrt Mueller, a Marine dietician, who found love amidst military life.
Walt enlisted in 1943. Myrt, an Oregon teacher, joined the Marines hoping to protect her students’ fathers from the draft. Thankfully, she wasn’t sent into combat, which set the stage for her meeting Walt at the base.
Walt was instantly charmed. When he suggested a bike ride and she agreed, but only after church, he knew he’d found someone special. Their budding relationship was tested when Walt was shipped to Japan and China near the war’s end. However, distance couldn’t stop them. They fell deeply in love through their letters and married soon after Walt returned home in 1946.
6 Lucy and George
Living oceans apart is challenging; add a world war, and survival becomes the priority. For Lucy and George, trivial worries like insecurity faded away, replaced by the raw need to know the other was safe.
They fell in love but were quickly separated by WWII. Despite the physical distance, their heartfelt letters forged an unbreakable bond. After the war, they reunited, married, and built a happy family life in Australia.
Decades later, their granddaughter, Karen Lamb, discovered 24 of their wartime letters. These precious documents became the foundation for her book, Love Has No Boundaries: A True Love Story of WWII, sharing their enduring romance with the world.
5 Herman Allen and Hedvig Johnson
A spy love story sounds like movie material, but it was real life for Herman Allen and Hedvig Johnson. 1st Lt. Herman Allen, a WWII bomber pilot, was forced to land in neutral Sweden. There, he began working for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the U.S. intelligence agency.
It was at the OSS office in Stockholm that he met Hedvig Johnson, a beautiful secretary. Working closely together ignited a spark, transforming their professional relationship into a romance. Their unique story of love and espionage was later chronicled by their daughter, Pat DiGeorge, in her book.
4 Sal and Loretta
Teenage love during wartime has its own unique challenges. In 1943, 19-year-old Sal served as a radio operator on the U.S.S. Signet, while his sweetheart, 16-year-old stenographer Loretta, waited back home. They exchanged letters regularly, discussing everyday life, arguing about music, and making up, all through pen and paper.
Their correspondence painted a picture of young love navigating the anxieties of war. As the conflict drew to a close, their letters became less frequent, leaving the ultimate ending of their story unknown. Author Laura Lynn Ashworth stumbled upon 170 of their letters while assisting an elderly relative and shared their poignant story in her book, Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack: Love and Adventure on a WWII Minesweeper.
3 Harry Leslie Smith and Friede Edelmann
Harry Leslie Smith, known late in life as the “world’s oldest rebel,” was a fighter through and through. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1941 and remained a passionate political activist until his death in 2018. Yet, when it came to Friede Edelmann, he showed his softer side.
Stationed in Hamburg, Germany, after the war ended, Harry and his fellow soldiers were under strict orders: no fraternizing with German locals, especially women. But Harry, ever the rebel, ignored the rules. He met and fell deeply in love with Friede, calling her his “destiny.”
Many doubted that a romance between a British soldier and a German girl could last, but they proved everyone wrong. Harry and Friede remained devoted partners until her death in 1999, their love defying post-war tensions and expectations.
2 George Mendonsa and Greta Zimmer Friedman
One of the most iconic images signaling the end of World War II is the photograph of a sailor kissing a nurse in New York’s Times Square. It looks incredibly romantic, but the reality was quite different. George Mendonsa and Greta Zimmer Friedman were complete strangers.
On August 14, 1945, celebrating Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, an elated George spontaneously grabbed Greta, a dental assistant, dipped her back, and kissed her. The photo captured a moment of pure, unbridled joy and relief at the war’s end, rather than a pre-existing romance.
George actually married his girlfriend (who was present when the photo was taken!) in 1946, and they remained together until his death in 2019. Greta married another WWII veteran in 1956 and passed away in 2016. Though they met again years later, Greta always maintained, “It wasn’t much of a kiss. It was just somebody celebrating. It wasn’t a romantic event.” Still, the image endures as a symbol of hope and new beginnings.
1 Airman Robert Bozdech and German Shepherd Puppy “Antis”
Love comes in many forms, and the bond between a man and his dog can be as profound as any romance. Czech airman Robert Bozdech’s story with his German Shepherd, Antis, is a shining example.
During a mission, Robert crashed in the perilous no man’s land between French and German lines. Taking refuge in an abandoned farmhouse, he found a tiny German Shepherd puppy. He named him Antis. With enemies closing in, the safest option might have been to leave the potentially noisy puppy behind. But Robert couldn’t do it.
He tucked Antis inside his flight jacket and made his way to safety. From that moment on, they were inseparable, flying around 30 missions together. Antis became the beloved mascot of the Royal Air Force 311 Squadron. After the war, they settled in the UK. Robert passed away in 1951, and his loyal companion Antis followed him just two years later, a testament to their unbreakable bond forged in the fires of war.
These stories, from decades-long separations bridged by hope to unexpected connections forged in shared duty, showcase the incredible resilience of the human heart. Even in the darkest of times, love found a way to bloom, offering light, connection, and the promise of a future worth fighting for.
Which of these WWII love stories touched you the most? Share your thoughts or perhaps stories you know in the comments below!
