On the Road to Berlin - Photo Essay

Below is a photo essay created to display the destruction that war causes to both people and the environment.

The Theme of On the Road to Berlin in my own words.

When one thinks about a battle as significant as D-Day on June 6, 1944, the first thing that comes to mind is the amount of casualties that occurred. Although war is a massive waste of life, it also has a tremendous negative impact on the environment and causes a lot of mass destruction. In the short story On the Road to Berlin written by Ernie Pyle, the author discusses the aftermath of D-Day and its cost to all involved. While walking along the beach of Normandy, we read as the author describes all the damages left along the shore. Pyle uses a very descriptive style of writing which allows the reader to accurately picture the amount of damage caused to the soldiers, equipment, and environment. With the image portrayed in our heads by the author, it is clear how the soldiers who fought during this war are seen as heroes. The soldiers who fought in Normandy are viewed as heroes by many across the world, and the story On the Road to Berlin proves that heroism often comes at a cost. As Pyle describes the endless count of dead bodies and damage on the beach, the reader can clearly see how this war came at a huge cost for all the soldiers who fought for their country. Although most will never be able to truly understand just how stressful and dangerous war is, Ernie Pyle’s descriptive writing gives us a glimpse at just how destructive and costly war can be to all involved.