My father-in-law, Oskar Py (I know, not a German surname), was a German soldier in WWII. He was a small cog in the vast machinery of the Eastern Front. Oskar was lucky, he was taken prisoner by the Russians, and spent over three years as their "guest." Oskar was a good man. He later raised two good daughters. It was my privilege marry one of them, and to share 43 years of life with her. I lost her in August of 2011.
Germany produced honorable men who were then our enemies. Among the best known, or perhaps just the highest ranking, was Erwin Rommel, but, there were many others. (Rommel was forced to commit suicide as a result of his participation in the attempt to assassinate Hitler.)
Interesting post, and I’m sorry for your loss.
My post addressed this odd remembrance of those who rained death down on our troops on a day when we honor and remember our dead. It is like memorializing those who brought down the twin towers (tho that was tried, too).