The Best of World War II

"My Dear Little Boys..." A Christmas Letter

2011-12-21T08:11:00.000-08:00

Marine 1st Lt. Leonard Isaacks was serving in the Pacific during World War II when he wrote this Christmas letter to his two young sons. He not only captures the spirit of the season, but beautifully communicates why he was fighting.

Title: HEADQUARTERS 5TH MARINE DIVISION

December 17th, 1944

My dear little boys:

I am writing to you today, just a week before Christmas eve, in the hope that you will get this little note at Christmas time. All of this coming week will be holidays, and I can just imagine the fun you will be having, especially when you know that it is just a few days before Santa Claus will be coming. If it were possible, I would like to come down the chimney myself and crawl right in to your stocking, wouldn't that be a surprise? I would enjoy it even more than you, but since your Dad is far away and Santa Claus has the only reindeers that will fly through the air, I'm afraid we will have to let Santa Claus use them. After all he has so many places to go in such a short time.

I won't be able to give you a Christmas present personally this year, but I do want you to know that I think of you all the time and feel very proud of the way you have been helping your Mother while I am gone. I know that it is only natural for young, healthy and strong boys like you are to want to play and have fun all of the time; but I do want you to think about helping Mummie, because it is hard for her to do everything while I am gone. I know that you would like to give me a Xmas present too, so I will tell you what you can do, and this will be your Xmas present to me. Everyday ask Mummie if there are any errands that you can do for her, and when there are errands to run, say, "sure Mummie" and give her a big smile; then during the day go up to your room and look around, if there are toys scattered all around, or you left some of your clothes on the floor, pick them up; also, when Mummie is busy trying to clean up the house, don't leave her by herself, but ask Mummie if you can help take care of baby sister. If you do those things for me, that will be the finest Xmas present that you could give me. Oh yes, and CC, are you eating your meals like a real man now?

Well my boys, I guess you often wonder why people fight and have wars, and why lots of daddies have to be away at Xmas time fighting, when it would be so much nicer to be at home. That's a hard question to answer. But, you see, some countries like Japan and Germany, have people living in them, just like some people you and I know. Those people want to tell everybody what they can do and what they can't do. No one likes to be told how to live their life. I know that you wouldn't like it if one of the boys in the neighborhood tried to tell you what church you should go to, what school you should go to and particularly if that boy would always be trying to "beat up" some smaller or weaker boy. You wouldn't like it, would you? And, unfortunately the only way to make a person like that stop these sort of things, or a country like Japan or Germany, is to fight them and beat them... and teach them that being a bully (because after all, that's what they are) is not the way to live and that we won't put up with it. What does all of this mean to you? Just simply this, my boys, Dad doesn't want you to ever be a bully, I want you to always fight against anyone who tries to be one; I want you to always help the smaller fellow, or the little boy who may not be as strong as you; I want you to always share what you have with the other fellow; and above all, my boys have courage, have courage to do the things that you think are right. Never be afraid to fight for what you think is right. To do those things, you need a strong body and a brave heart; never run away from someone you may be afraid of; if you do, you will always feel ashamed of yourself and before long you will find it so easy to run away from the things that you should stand up and fight against. If you and lots of other boys try to do the things that Dad has been talking about in this letter, it may be that people will not have to fight wars in the years to come and then all of the Daddies in this world will be home for Christmas and that is where they belong. Perhaps, some of the things that I have been talking about,... you don't quite understand, if you don't, Mummie will explain them to you, as she knows......

A Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year... God Bless you,

Daddy

Lt. Isaacks was killed two months later on Iwo Jima. But his spirit lives on.

Thanks to the National World War II Museum for posting this letter and accompanying picture.

Review: The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy

2011-12-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, a book is so beautifully written that you love the writing just as much as you love the story. That was the case with Margaret Leroy's unforgettable novel, The Soldier's Wife.

Set in the small island of Guernsey just after the German occupation, this novel shares the journey of Vivienne de la Mare, mother of two girls, and wife to a husband fighting in the British army. Life changes for everyone on the island with the arrival of the Germans, but Vivienne has to put up with a group of German officers living right next door. It's not a situation she ever would have wanted, but it's made worse when she finds herself inexplicably attracted to one of the officers named Gunther.

In the midst of shortages and restrictions, Vivienne tries to keep her household going. Her fourteen-year-old daughter, Blanche, is blossoming into a woman and her five-year-old daughter, Millie, is precocious and adventurous. Also in Vivienne's care is her mother-in-law who, unfortunately, is in the beginning stages of Alzheimers.

Against her better judgment, Vivenne starts an affair with Gunther. The two have their own island within the confines of Vivienne's bedroom. Here, the war does not touch them. This is their sanctuary. And finally, Vivienne finds the love she never had.

But Gunther is the enemy, and fraternizing with said enemy is not to be tolerated. Vivenne lives in fear that her secret will be unearthed, but it's made all the more so when she begins to clandestinely help one of the slave laborers on the island. His fate will be inextricably tied with the fate of Vivenne and Gunther's relationship.

Most intriguing about this novel is how we view our enemy. During World War II, propaganda made sure that our enemies were demonized, and made to look less than human. And in some cases, they were less than human - the Holocaust and the atrocities committed by the Japanese are testament to this. But there were good people on both sides trying their best to survive.

Is there ever a point when a relationship with the enemy is permissible? That is the question that The Soldier's Wife seeks to answer.

Leroy's beautiful descriptions of Guernsey and her lilting, poetic language make this a pleasure to read. But it is Leroy's portrayal of the human struggle to shift and bend with the changing times of war that make it a must-read.

70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

2011-12-07T06:59:00.000-08:00

To all the men who lost their lives that day...we remember you.

Veterans Day 2011

2011-11-11T06:15:00.000-08:00

Thank you, to all veterans, past, present and future. You gave us hope. You gave us honor. You gave us freedom.

God bless you.

The International Conference on WWII

2011-10-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

If you're lucky enough to be near New Orleans, you might want to check out the National World War II Museum's International Conference on WWII December 7-9, 2011.

This year's theme is From Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal.

Here's the description from their website:

This December 7, the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, join us in New Orleans for the International Conference on WWII. This definitive three-day event will explore America's daunting entry into the war after that fateful December day, the harrowing battles in the Pacific, and the victory at Guadalcanal. Leading WWII scholars, authors, experts, and veterans will address the war's biggest questions such as why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today. The International Conference on WWII provides the rare opportunity to hear from the brave men who risked everything to defend our nation. It's the first in a series of five annual conferences on WWII that will bring a new level of insight and understanding about the war that changed the world.

If you can't make it (like me), don't worry. You can still watch live streaming video from the conference!

For more information, including ticket prices, hotel costs, and a schedule of events, visit the website.

Soldier From the War Returning

2011-08-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

It's rare for me to pick up a book and read it in one day. Rarer still that it is a nonfiction book. Yet University of Pennsylvania history professor Thomas Childers' Soldier from the War Returning: The Greatest Generation's Troubled Homecoming from World War II is one of those priceless gems.

It is, in a word, brilliant. Not only does it delve into a topic largely neglected not only by historians, but also by the general public, but it also exposes the dark underbelly of war's emotional impact.

Childers profiles three different World War II veterans: Michael Gold, Willis Allen, and Tom Childers (his father). All three had radically different experiences during the war. Gold was shot down in a B-17 and captured, held as a German prisoner of war until Germany collapsed. Allen was part of the landings at Sicily and lost both his legs to a German shell. Childers was stationed in England as support personnel for an air base. Yet all three came back with emotional wounds deeper than any trench.

Based on interviews, oral histories, government documents, and diaries, Childers weaves a complex, heartbreaking tale of these three men and their families, and how the war infiltrated every part of their lives despite their attempts to hold it at bay. They were not the only ones. Thousands of returning vets faced the same problems - unemployment, divorce, emotional instability, nightmares, physical handicaps. The wounds ran deep into their psyche, leaping out like a demon when least expected, causing havoc and pain to themselves and those around them. Familiar phrases like, "He's changed since he got back from the war" or "He never was the same since the war" became common.

But it wasn't just the soldiers who suffered. Families, friends, spouses, and children endured the war's heavy toll. Broken homes and broken families were not uncommon. Even though society had tried to ease the blow of returning vets by creating articles and pamphlets about how "your husband will need time to adjust" and "it may take years for him to truly recover", they couldn't possibly know how their advice merely skimmed the surface.

Yet this is an aspect of World War II that we don't often think about. We tend to look at the Greatest Generation through a lens of nostalgia, one that shows us how rosy everything was when they came back home, picked up where they left off, and went on to live their lives just fine, thank you very much.

And for some veterans, it was like that. Adjusting to civilian life wasn't terribly difficult. But they were the lucky ones.

Every serious student of World War II history needs to read Childers' book. It is a necessary study, one that reads more like a novel than a history book, and one that tells the emotional cost of war in all its chilling detail.

Letters from Home

2011-06-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to review my friend and fellow World War II fiction author, Kristina McMorris's debut novel, Letters from Home. Kristina is a delightful person and a wonderful writer.

McMorris brings a different twist to the World War II American home front with a well-crafted story of lies, love, and letters.

At a Chicago USO club dance, college student Liz Stephens meets handsome farmer-turned-private first class Morgan McClain. She tries to ignore their instant attraction since she’s already got her life mapped out: a career as a literature professor and marriage to her longtime boyfriend.

When Liz sees Morgan dancing with her roommate, pin-up worthy Betty Cordell, she tries to forget the whole thing. But Betty asks poetic Liz to ghostwrite Morgan a letter, and Liz reluctantly agrees. Unfortunately, flighty Betty heads off to New Guinea to work as a WAC nurse and tosses Morgan’s memory aside. When a return letter from Morgan arrives at the girls’ Chicago home addressed to Betty, Liz can’t stand the thought of not answering it and resumes the correspondence.

Pretty soon, Morgan and Liz become regular pen pals…except Morgan thinks he’s writing to Betty and not the gorgeous brunette he met—and fell for—at the USO dance. Meanwhile, Julia must choose between her sailor fiancé and a career in fashion while coping with the battle scars of her future brother-in-law. Betty discovers nursing in a tropical location isn’t as glamorous as she hoped with all the bugs, blood, and death, but an Australian airman provides a welcome distraction.

McMorris does a swell job of incorporating vibrant details of the home front into her characters’ everyday lives and manages to convey the gritty realism of war in the European Theater without lapsing into hyperbole. Not all story threads are neatly tied at the novel’s end, which may disappoint some readers, though others may find it symbolic of how war never leaves lives in neatly wrapped packages

Last Best Hope

2011-06-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

Heroes are often portrayed by Hollywood as larger than life. In reality, they are ordinary people doing extraordinary feats.

That message is made very clear in the exceptional documentary, Last Best Hope.

Bill Grosvenor was a World War II pilot fighting over the skies of Belgium. In 1943, he crash-landed in the Belgian countryside, and entrusted his fate to the Belgian people. Through great peril to themselves and their families, the Belgians sheltered him in several safe houses, trying to get him out of occupied Europe via the Belgian Resistance line called the Comète. This line would take him through France and to the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains, which, once crossed, would lead him into Spain.

Unfortunately, Bill never made it that far. In 1944, he and another pilot were found by the Gestapo and taken to the brutal Saint Gilles prison in Brussels. He was interrogated, and put in a tiny cell with no lights and just enough room to lay down. But it wasn't long before the British Army stood on the outskirts of Brussels. The Germans took all prisoners put them on a train, the infamous Ghost Train for transport to Germany.

The train never arrived. Due to the incredible sabotage efforts of the Belgian Resistance and even the train engineers themselves, the train only managed to move around ten miles. Wanting to save their own skin, the Germans finally negotiated with the Resistance, and all the political prisoners - including many of those who had helped Bill Grosvenor - were released.

But the airmen were not.

The train left for Germany, but in a strange twist, the Germans detached the box car Bill and his fellow airmen were in from the rest of the train. Left to starve and die, they were able to break out of the boxcar and make their way to Brussels. Once they got there, they were free - Brussels had been liberated.

Bill's son, David Grosvenor, did exhaustive research to retrace his father's steps. And sixty years later, Bill returned to Belgium and reunited with those who had put themselves in peril to help him. From the first farmer who saw him crash land in his field to the women who sheltered him, Bill takes a walk back in the past through nearly every stage of his adventure with his wife and son by his side.

Emotions simmer just below the surface. And it is here that you see just how important freedom was to these people. They literally risked their lives to help this man, and other downed airmen, to return to England because he was fighting for them.

But it makes you also stop and wonder: could I do the same? Could I risk my life for a man I didn't know? For an ideal? For freedom?

Those are questions we all need to think about. Hard.

It's an incredible film, and it shows the true face of a hero. It is not Hollywood's stereotypical character, but ordinary, everyday people, men, women, and yes, even children, who risked all for liberty.

67th Anniversary of D-Day

2011-06-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

It's the 67th anniversary of D-Day.

On June 6, 1944, the Allies invaded Normandy, France, in their drive to oust Hitler from Europe.

It was a bloody, horrific, and terrifying day.

But it was also a day of hope, especially for the occupied countries.

There's been plenty written about this day, plenty of movies made (my personal favorite is The Longest Day), and lots of commentary. But sometimes, we need to take a step back and look at the individuals who made this invasion possible - the infantryman, the paratrooper, the tank drivers, the landing boat drivers, and on and on.

It wasn't just about military strategies and generals and officers...it was also about the common soldier.

It's easy to group these individuals into one entity: the military. But looking at those men's faces reminds us that each one represents a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a sweetheart. Each one had a family, a friend, a wife, a sister, a brother, a daughter, a son, a lover. Each one sucked up his fear and did what he had to do.

They put aside their individuality for a common cause - and they got the job done.

Remember their sacrifices today.

For more photos of D-Day and a plethora of other information about World War II, visit The World War II Database.

(Photo credits: The World War II Database)

Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

"Compassion" by Howard Brodie

"I remember the young soldier well, he screamed, he was just out of control, and he screamed, and there was another soldier next to him who consoled him, and embraced him. That was a moving moment for me, to see that compassion in combat. And these are the things a person feels when he's in proximity to death-- his buddy, that next human being, that person in the foxhole is the most important person in your life. "

Howard Brodie sketched this picture in the midst of combat during World War II. He was a combat artist, trying to portray war as it really was - not the sanitized version, not the version Hollywood most often wanted you to see. He, and other combat artists, showed war in all its gruesome reality. We need to see the true face of war. It is not glamorous. It is a sacrifice of the body, mind, and soul.

Today, remember those who served and died for their country. Remember those we have lost.

Remember them. Always.

The Perfect Nazi

2011-05-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

Throughout his childhood, Martin Davidson always wondered just who his German grandfather, Bruno Langbehn, really was. His cryptic, sometimes boastful conversations hinted at something darker underneath the relatively calm exterior he portrayed to the world. While Martin knew his grandfather had been in World War II on Germany's side, he never knew exactly what Bruno's role was.

As an adult and successful BBC producer, Martin decided to find out. But what he discovered shattered any type of illusion that his grandfather was just a German pulled by fate into the war.

Bruno Langbehn was a product of the tumultuous years following Germany's defeat in the Great War that produced a generation of hyper-ideological young men and women who vowed to never again be subjected to the humiliation caused by the Versailles Treaty. To them, the great German nation - the Volk - had suffered their fate because of a worldwide Jewish conspiracy, and had been forced to a subservient level that denigrated their country.

Langbehn's father had fought in the Great War, and as a teenager and young adult, Bruno began to identify with National Socialism, joining the very first groups in Germany. He adhered strictly to the party line, believed every contemptible syllable uttered from Hitler's mouth, and participated in the rousing street fights popular in Germany during the political upheaval of the 1920s. His dedication and devotion to National Socialism didn't go unnoticed, and he kept advancing in the chain of command.

In short, Langbehn wasn't forced into this role and didn't enter it reluctantly - he craved it.

Davidson's meticulous research reveals his grandfather's life in Germany, from those first days where idealism was all the Nazi party had, to Bruno's application to join the SS once Hitler took power, to Bruno's role in the war, and his escape from justice after Germany's defeat.

It is a dark, harrowing story, made all the more chilling for Davidson - and indeed, for us all - because his grandfather, the man who'd taken him fishing and snuck him booze at a young age, was one of those Germans. What's worse, Bruno had no remorse for his role in the Nazi regime, but stubborn, irretractable pride. It was a pride that destroyed his first marriage and destroyed his relationship with his daughters.

Davidson's prose is unsparing and unapologetic as he tries to come to grips with the truth. It's sometimes painful to read Davidson's struggle to understand how his grandfather became such a chilling monster. This is especially true when so many Germans from this period did not wear their Nazi sympathies like a badge of honor as did Bruno during the months and year following the war.

In short, Bruno Langbehn was the perfect German and even more, The Perfect Nazi.

If this book hammers home one point, it is this: that even an ordinary individual, a man who chose the career of dentistry in the midst of all his ideological upheaval (and then spent his time off literally terrorizing people), can change the fate of nations. It was thousands of ordinary men and women, like Bruno, who made Nazi Germany possible.

And that is a sobering thought, indeed.

G.I. Pamphlet Series

2011-05-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

The U.S. government knew there would be lots of challenges to face for our military boys during and after the war. That's why, as early as 1943, the Army’s Division of Information and Education produced a series of pamphlets to help guide them.

The American Historical Association (of which I am a proud member!) has quite a few of these pamphlets in their online exhibit, Constructing a Post-War World: The G.I. Roundtable Series in Context. Since the Association itself was involved in the G.I. Roundtable Series, it offers a fascinating look at not only the preparation for a post-war world, but how the historical narrative was shaped by a leading historical organization.

For example, there are no pamphlets that discuss the new women's role in the work place. Instead, it was just assumed that they would return to their homes with nary a protest. African-Americans emerging role also wasn't discussed.

From the site:

However, as the background documents will attest, an important part of the way the topics were selected and the pamphlets were ultimately written was through the manipulation of historians’ ideals of objectivity. Not surprisingly, the “objective” norms the military advisors pressed on the authors of the series reflected their white upper-middle-class frame of reference. As we note in the larger analysis, the AHA tailored its pamphlets to paint an idealized image of a postwar world that was essentially free of minorities, where women happily moved out of the factories and back into the kitchen, and where America would largely dominate the world stage

Check out the pamphlets themselves as well as a detailed analysis of the program. Well worth a look!

The Great Plains During World War II

2011-04-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

I love it when I accidentally stumble upon a terrific resource.

The Great Plains During World War II website is a digital archive of some terrific primary and secondary resources pertaining to the specific events that occurred in the Great Plains region during the war.

As a lifelong resident of Nebraska, this is a treasure trove for me. But it's also a fascinating glimpse into the specific challenges the Heartland of America faced. Farming is a big topic for this region, and this site has excellent resources for learning about labor shortage, the training of women farmers, and the government's need for production increase, plus much more.

What makes this a wonderful site is the inclusion of the actual period sources. For a historian like myself who doesn't have a lot of time to travel to archives, it's a God-send.

From the site:
The Great Plains during World War II explores civilian and military life in the region from Germany’s invasion of Poland in September 1939 to the surrender of Japan in August 1945. This project emphasizes life on the home front, agriculture, and military affairs. It provides access to congressional debates about isolationism, newspaper articles concerning the major issues of the day, and government documents that inform us about important public policies that affected the men, women, and children who lived in the Great Plains during the war years. The photographs, posters, and illustrations provide visual access to the past through the eyes of contemporaries while the textual information helps the reader learn more about life in the region during World War II.

Spotlight On "Our World War II History" Website

2011-04-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

If you want to join a community of people who share a passion for World War II, then there's no better place on the web than Our World War II History. Site owner and administrator Scott Lyons created this website as a tribute to his father, a World War II veteran, and it has truly blossomed in the last year.

Book reviews, discussions on battles, interaction with other members, and tons more features are available here.

Membership is free, and anyone can join. All that's required is an interest in World War II and a desire to honor the Greatest Generation.

Make new friends, increase your knowledge of this global conflict, and pay tribute to the World War II generation. Join today!

Hang Tough: 6-6-44

2011-04-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

There are moments in life when someone so inspires you that you cannot help but share it with the world.

This is one of those times.

Jordan Brown is eleven years old and a World War II buff. He's raising money to help fund a memorial commemorating his hero, Major Dick Winters, and the other brave World War II soldiers of D-Day by selling wristbands that say, "Hang tough."

From his website:

Central Pennsylvania student Jordan Brown is a WWII buff and has embarked upon a campaign to ensure that the WWII vets who served on D-Day are memorialized. In May 2010, he learned of an effort to honor Jordan’s hero, Major Dick Winters, and all the men that served on D-Day by having a statue built in St. Marie Du-Mont, Normandy, France. (This larger effort is being undertaken by Emmy award winning filmmaker, Tim Gray, see www.TimGrayMedia.com )

When Jordan read about this effort, he decided to embark on his own campaign to make sure that the necessary monies were raised for this and an associated documentary that will be produced on Major Winters leadership abilities.

Major Dick Winters (whose heroism & leadership were captured in the Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks mini-series Band of Brothers) is known for using the expression “Hang Tough” when leading his troops in battle and also after the war. Jordan created olive green wristbands (to match the WWII army uniforms) that are inscribed with the words “Hang Tough”. (These wristbands are similar to the Lance Armstrong “live strong” ones.)

Jordan has been distributing these wristbands for minimum donations of $1. (Jordan wanted to ensure that children could afford them too.) To date, Jordan has collected over $32,000 towards the creation of the monument. He plans to continue to “hang tough” until all the necessary monies are raised to ensure that these WWII vets are honored appropriately.

What a kid! We need more like him!

To help Jordan, visit his website at http://www.hangtough6644.org/

Von Ryan's Express

2011-02-09T13:53:00.000-08:00

This 1965 film isn't as well-known in World War II movie lore as the more popular films are, but it still offers an exciting, action-packed adventure.

Ol' Blue Eyes, a.k.a. Frank Sinatra, is tough, a bit grouchy, and all business in the lead role of Col. Joseph L. Ryan, a fighter pilot who gets shot down behind the German lines in Italy. After he's taken to the Allied POW camp run by the Italians, he clashes with the head of the British Army, Major Eric Fincham, played brilliantly by Trevor Howard. Col. Ryan makes a few deals with their Italian keepers - specifically the Italian camp commander, Major Battaglia - in order to get better treatment for his men, and it earns him the dubious nickname of Von Ryan from Major Fincham. The two are caught in a power struggle of principle vs. need.

When Italy surrenders, the POWs take over the camp, leave Battaglia in a sweat box (much to the chagrin of those who wanted him dead) and take off toward Switzerland with the help of an Italian captain, Capt. Orioni, who is now on the prisoners' side.

The trek doesn't last long. They're captured by the Germans and put on a troop train, en route to another POW camp. But Ryan and his men aren't about to take this sitting down. They devise a daring plan to overtake the train and beat the Germans at their own game. The question is, will they all make it out alive?

Von Ryan's Express offers an intriguing, often-overlooked view of the Italian-German relationship, as well as the America-British relationship. It's a fascinating glimpse into the concept of loyalty, and how basic humanity can be destroyed in the midst of war. Sinatra deftly plays the role of Ryan and is a treat to watch. Trevor Howard is his perfect foil, and you simply don't know which one to root for since both have valid arguments. The Italian viewpoint, as portrayed by Oriani (Sergio Fantoni) adds depth to the plot, and it's interesting to see how former enemies become allies.

Additional performances by Wolfgang Preiss, who plays a German major, and Raffaella Carrà, as Preiss's Italian mistress, create a well-rounded cast.

Sadly (?), Frank doesn't do any singing in this film, and that's as it should be. His performance is gritty and very real - one of his best.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

2011-01-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

If you don't know who Louie Zamperini is, you need to.

He's the subject of Seabiscuit author Laura Hillenbrand's latest book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. It's currently on the New York Times Bestseller list and deservedly so. Hillenbrand's writing is brilliant - all the more so because she suffers intensely from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - and once she sucks you into Zamperini's world, it's very difficult to let go.

Zamperini was a tough kid growing up. He liked to steal and get into mischief. But when his parents were at their wit's end with him, he decided to tunnel his energy into something more productive: running. He became a national sensation and earned himself a trip to the 1936 Olympics where none other than Adolf Hitler congratulated him on his race.

When war came, Louie joined the air corps and became a bombadier on a B-24 stationed at Oahu. While out on a search mission to find other downed airmen one day, the plane engines failed and the B-24 plummeted into the Pacific Ocean. Only three men survived. The three were lost at sea for 47 days. One of the men died. But Louie and his other companion, Allen Phillips, kept on drifting until they finally reached land - only to be captured by the Japanese.

Interred at several POW camps over the next two years, Louie barely survived - especially when a particularly brutal and sadistic Japanese sergeant nicknamed "The Bird" targeted him for daily beatings and humiliations. Starving, sick, and a mere shell of the man he used to be, Louie refused to give up. When the war ended, he was still standing - and he's still standing today at the age of 93.

But he had his demons. When he returned from war, he sank into alcoholism and started suffering terrible flashbacks. His nightmares consisted of The Bird beating him. He only wanted one thing: to travel to Japan and kill his previous tormentor. But then God stepped in - and Louie's demons stepped out. At a Billy Graham revival in California, Louie gave his life to God and started a new life - one that would include forgiveness of his enemies...including The Bird.

Unbroken is an extraordinary book about an extraordinary man...a survivor, a soldier, an athlete, a husband, a father, a friend.

What is remarkable about Hillenbrand's story is the extraordinary detail of Louie's life while at sea and in the POW camps. It's a story that literally reads like a novel, and is definitely not a "scholarly" history. No...this is a human story, and the very best kind. Louie's incredible resilience, courage, and strength is the stuff of legend.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-16T11:13:00.001-08:00

Remember Pearl Harbor

2010-12-07T06:54:00.000-08:00

History in every century,

records an act that lives forevermore.

We'll recall as in to line we fall,

the thing that happened on Hawaii's shore.

Let's REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR

As we go to meet the foe

Let's REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR

As we did the Alamo.

We will always remember

how they died for liberty,

Let's REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR

and go on to victory.

Words by Don Reid. Music by Don Reid and Sammy Kaye. Republic Music Corp., NYC, 1941.

The Deceivers: Allied Military Deception in the Second World War

2010-12-06T12:54:00.000-08:00

The Wall Street Journal says it best: "This scholarly yet entertaining magnum opus is the definitive account of all the stratagems used by the Allies against the Axis in World War II."

The Deceivers: Allied Military Deception in the Second World War is a monumental work by Thaddeus Holt. It is, indeed, a magnum opus, clocking in at 1,148 pages (which includes a highly detailed bibliography, maps, appendixes, and index) full of intrigue, danger, and, of course, deception.

Holt was the first to have access to the recently declassified and surviving records of numerous important documents pertaining to war-time Allied deception. His highly detailed prose delivers a compelling portrait of the extreme lengths taken by the Allies to win World War II.

The sheer magnitude of research that went into this book is hard to fathom, but it also makes it a must-have source for those interested in this particular aspect of World War II for scholarly purposes or for sheer entertainment. It ably meets both purposes.

Visit Skyhorse Publishing to learn more about The Deceivers and other great history titles!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review purposes only. I was not compensated monetarily.

Enjoy a World War II Christmas

2010-11-18T14:36:00.000-08:00

I've just found the perfect Christmas gift for all World War II enthusiasts: a compilation of 49 radio shows, songs, and live broadcasts during the Christmas holiday from the World War II era.

And all for $5.

No, I'm not being paid to share this information with you. I just happen to think it's an incredibly good deal and one that you shouldn't pass up!

Visit Old Time Radio Catalog to order the Christmas CD and don't forget to browse through the hundreds of other CDs available!

Veterans Day 2010

2010-11-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

God bless all the veterans, past and present, of the U.S. Military Forces. Thank you for keeping the United States a FREE nation!

Do We Need an Enemy? Guest Post by Lisbeth Eng

2010-10-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

Since the end of World War II, all of our former foes are now staunch allies: Germany, Japan and Italy. Even Russia, our WWII ally, turned enemy during the Cold War, is back to being a friend (or at least a cordial acquaintance). Germany, often seen as the most evil entity of World War II, is now our partner in Afghanistan and one of the leading democracies of the world. This is not an accident. I believe it proves that people are people, though politics, circumstances and occasionally an insane leader (i.e. Hitler) can turn an entire nation into an enemy.

My recently released World War II romance novel, In the Arms of the Enemy, takes place in 1944 Italy and the characters are Italian partisans, Italian Fascists and German soldiers. At this point in the war, Italy has surrendered to the Allies and Mussolini has been deposed. Mussolini is imprisoned, then “rescued” by German commandos and brought to Germany for an audience with Hitler. The Führer convinces Il Duce to return to Italy as a puppet dictator, while the German army takes control of the north, and tries to hold back the Allied forces advancing from the south. The Italian Resistance fights the Germans and their Fascist allies by any means possible. Though not recognized as regular combatants under international treaties in effect at the time, they participate in combat against the German forces, as well as in sabotage and espionage missions.

Isabella Ricci, the heroine of In the Arms of the Enemy, serves her country as a member of the Italian Resistance. She has been an anti-Fascist for years, but her zeal is inflamed after she witnesses the unjust execution of her own brother by the Germans. She does not engage in combat; she is a spy. Her mission is to seduce a German officer into revealing military secrets, which she then passes on to her comrades in the Resistance. Further complicating matters for her is the fact that her boyfriend and commander, Massimo Baricelli, sends her on this espionage/seduction mission.

There is no individual villain in my book. The principal characters, whether German or Italian, are portrayed as human beings with their own personalities, strengths and flaws. I do not gloss over the atrocities committed by the German army in Italy between 1943 and 1945. I allude to them, but that is not the main focus of my book. I have done extensive research on the war and the Holocaust and have read perhaps a little too much about all the horrible things Germans did. But I have also researched ordinary German soldiers and have read their memoirs. There was a German Resistance, unfortunately rather unsuccessful in defying National Socialism in their country. An excellent introduction to the subject is Conscience in Revolt – Sixty-Four Stories of Resistance in Germany, 1933-45 by Annedore Leber, available in English translation from Westview Press.

But the German Resistance is not the focus of my book either. In the Arms of the Enemy is the story of ordinary people who, either by choice or circumstance, are caught up in the horror that was World War II, and how these human beings react to the situation in which they find themselves.

As a people, do we need an enemy? During wartime, the enemy is clearly defined. Looking back on World War II, we Americans can pride ourselves in having helped defeat one of the most evil men of the 20th century, Adolf Hitler, and halting his aggression. We have since become close allies of Germany, our former enemy, and were instrumental both in helping the decimated people of that country rebuild after the war, and in German Reunification, celebrated almost exactly twenty years ago. Old enemies have become friends and partners.

Today, the US is again at war, and we currently have new enemies. I can only hope that someday, as we did with the Germans, Japanese and Italians, we can put that enmity aside, form fruitful partnerships and forge peace. Millions of people – Americans, Britons, French, Poles, Soviets, Jews, Germans, Japanese, Italians and countless others – perished in the Second World War. Perhaps war is an unavoidable consequence of human existence. Perhaps war itself is the enemy. But I continue to hope for peace and reconciliation.

BIO: An English major in college, Lisbeth Eng has also studied Italian, German and French. Lisbeth is a native New Yorker and has worked as a registered representative in the finance industry for the past 25 years. Her first novel, In the Arms of the Enemy, is available in e-book and paperback at The Wild Rose Press. Lisbeth invites you to visit her at http://www.lisbetheng.com/.

Coming Soon: Guest Post from New Author of World War II Novel

2010-10-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to announce that Lisbeth Eng will be blogging here at the Best of World War 2 about her new novel, In the Arms of the Enemy, a World War 2 romance with a very unique setting: 1944 Italy.

Lisbeth will be blogging on a very interesting topic: "Do We Need an Enemy?" on October 25.

You won't want to miss this!

The Unlikely Spy

2010-08-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

Daniel Silva is an immensely talented writer. Since he wrote his debut thriller, The Unlikely Spy, he's gone on to write several other thrillers, most notably those featuring the Israeli special agent, Gabriel Allon.

But The Unlikely Spy is a first-rate World War II thriller. Hard to put down, with numerous twists and turns, and incredibly fast paced, it's one of those rare treats you can't wait to finish to see what happens, but hate for it to end because it's that good.

The "unlikely" hero of this novel is Alfred Vicary, a history professor recruited by old friend Winston Churchill to work on the Double Cross System and "control" all the German agents who've been turned against the Fatherland.

Unfortunately, Germany has a sleeper agent in London, Catherine Blake, a ruthless spy just waiting for the opportune moment to strike. She soon gets her chance when her handlers, the Abwehr, want information on the specific location of the Allies' attack on France.

In the classic race against time, Vicary has to uncover who this woman is, how she operates, who her contact is in England, and how he can stop her.

Even though we all know the outcome of the Normandy Invasion and that the secrets surrounding it were a success, you can't help but feel panicky that Catherine Blake will somehow get that information to Hitler and his cronies and thus alter the outcome of the war. Yes, Silva is that good at tension, pacing, and characterization.

Vicary's character is unusual for heroes. He's not the suave, debonair, young man who gets the ladies and the bad guys at the end. Instead, he's a deeply reflective, middle-aged gentleman more used to the hallowed halls of the university than the spy chasing game. But the ravages of war, the late nights, the lack of sleep, the stress, the tough decisions, and the moral conundrums all create a man at odds with his present world, yet so deeply entrenched in this world that he has nearly lost site of the man he once was.

An excellent, well-written, and thoroughly enjoyable thriller.

Happy Birthday, America!

2010-07-02T11:39:00.001-07:00

Because so many gave their lives for us...

Because so many continue to put their lives at risk...

We are a nation of freedom.

God bless America!

Project: Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive!

2010-05-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II is coming up in August. To commemorate that day now and forever, a grassroots campaign has started to make August 14 a national day of remembrance for the legacy of the men and women of World War II.

Here's some more info from the website:

Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive! is a national grassroots campaign to mobilize communities across the country to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II on August 14 by establishing a permanent annual day of remembrance to honor the legacy of the men and women of America's "greatest generation.

The goal of this nonpartisan, nonprofit initiative to inspire a renewed sense of community and national unity in our country by establishing a day when America will stop to reflect on the achievements of the men and women who endured the Great Depression, preserved freedom and democracy in the most devastating war in history, and then went on to rebuild their shattered world. Their example of courage, self sacrifice, and commitment to community can inspire a renewed sense of national unity at a time when our country must once again come together to meet common challenges.

You can be part of this important national campaign by:

Urging your elected officials to issue proclamations and write letters of support for the creation of a National Day of Remembrance that will be observed on the second Sunday of every August (Click here to read the text of Concurrent Resolution 226 and learn more about how to contact your representatives).

Organizing activities and events in your community on Saturday, August 14, 2010 to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the day World War II ended.

Help collect the stories of people who remember the day they learned that World War II was over, and help them put them up on this web site so that they can be shared with future generations as a reminder of a time when America came together as a community.

Want to learn more? Check out their website!

Hitler's Rockets: The Story of the V-2s

2010-03-05T06:05:00.000-08:00

When I was asked to review this book, Hitler's Rockets: The Story of the V-2s by Norman Longmate, I admit,I didn't know much about the subject. But what an eye-opening subject it is.

Before the war even began, Hitler's top military scientists developed the V-2 rockets. They reached speeds of more than 5,000 feet per second and could strike a target 200 miles away with alarming accuracy. They were five stories tall. And from 1944 to 1945, they killed more than 3,000 innocent British civilians and injured twice that many.

It was a weapon that the world had imagined, but had hoped would never exist. Yet it terrorized the people of Great Britain and sent that country's intelligence officers scrambling for information on how to understand it - and stop it. Unfortunately, it also created panic within the government itself, resulting in massive government censorship of the V-2s attacks on British soil.

Through extensive research involving eye-witness accounts, testimonies of German engineers, and archived records, Longmate presents a chilling narrative of a little-known part of World War II history. Period photographs and an impressive bibliography make this a fascinating read, and a long-overdue account of this revolutionary - and deadly - weapon.

Full disclosure to satisfy Big Brother: This book was sent to me to review. I am not making any money off of this review, but did receive the book free of charge.

The Madonnas of Leningrad

2010-02-28T12:20:00.000-08:00

It's not often an author so powerfully brings together the beauty of art with the tragedy of war, but Debra Dean does just that in her national bestselling novel, The Madonnas of Leningrad.

Traveling back and forth between the present time and to the Siege of Leningrad during World War II, this novel focuses on Marina, a docent at the Hermitage museum in Leningrad during the war, and later, an elderly wife and mother living in America who suffers from Alzheimer's.

During the book's war years, we see Marina as a young woman whose fascination and deep love of the art on display at the Hermitage literally keeps her alive on the darkest days of the siege. When the book opens, Marina and other employees of the museum are packing up museum treasures to ship them out, thereby keeping them safe from the approaching Nazi war machine. They pack up the paintings themselves, but leave the frames hanging in their original spot. Marina determines to commit each painting to memory so that she has a "memory palace" of where each painting goes so that if they paintings themselves are lost, the memory of them will not be.

During the siege, Marina and others go through an incredibly harsh existence. Here Dean does not shirk from describing the reality of that tragic time. Food is scarce and the chilling, bitter temperatures of Russia's winter claim thousands upon thousands of lives. Marina struggles to survive along with the rest of her countrymen, and constantly improves on her "memory palace." Dean's poetic, almost lyrical language in describing each painting brings the artwork to life. You yourself will "see" it in your mind's eye just as surely as did Marina.

In the present time, Marina suffers from Alzheimer's and feels her recent memories begin to shatter. Yet the memories of Leningrad and of her time at the Hermitage are crystal clear.

This is a fascinating book not only for its vivid portrayal of Leningrad during the siege, but also for its brilliance in portraying memory as one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal. It's an imaginative work, and one that will stay with you long after the last page is turned.

Keep Calm and Carry On

2010-02-23T12:40:00.000-08:00

It's always fun to see something from World War II become popular again. In this case, it's the British propaganda poster, "Keep Calm and Carry On."
While wandering in my local Barnes and Noble, I found a bunch of merchandise with this slogan. They had journals, notepads, desk notes, gift bags, and more. I think it's a fitting slogan for these times of economic misery, one we need to keep in mind.

You can find merchandise via Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com. For those of you overseas, check out this site.

So...keep calm and carry on!

Washington Goes to War

2010-02-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

It's rare to find a book that is well-written, accurate, and as charming as David Brinkley's Washington Goes to War. The famous journalist's dry wit and incredible prose captures the very essence of D.C. during World War II.

From politicians and society lovers to military blunders and presidential snarkiness, Brinkley delivers a compelling look at the workings of our nation's capital and tells stories that are often overshadowed by the war itself.

The portrait that emerges from Brinkley's brush strokes is nothing short of amazing. D.C. was not prepared for the massive influx of workers into the city - particularly the "government girls" who worked for the new agencies that cropped up sometimes literally overnight - and the shortage of living space and working space proposed a problem for nearly the entire war. The ineptness of government agencies is evident even then and reading about the political and personality clashes makes one realize that not much changes.

Above all, this story shows how D.C. went from a sleepy Southern town to a busy, lively, humming city and how it has stayed that way ever since. It's a fascinating look at yet another aspect of World War II, and reveals how a war that reached across the world was organized from one of the most unorganized cities in the United States.

68th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

2009-12-07T06:05:00.000-08:00

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

Franklin D. Roosevelt - December 8, 1941

Father Goose

2009-11-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

Cary Grant is in fine form in this hilarious tale of a washed-up college professor turned alcoholic seaman and his troubles with the upstart, infuriatingly beautiful and annoying French teacher, Leslie Caron.

When Mr. Walter Eckland (Grant) "volunteers" to go to a Pacific Island and become a watcher for Japanese planes (Trevor Howard is the British commander who "convinces" Walter Eckland to take the job), he's only in it for the booze. Whenever he reports in a sighting of Japanese planes and the report is confirmed, he will then be able to find one of his beloved bottles of whiskey.

But things turn complicated fast when Walter is sent to rescue French teacher Catherine Freneau, charmingly played by Leslie Caron, and her group of charges - all girls - when their plane crash-lands on another island.

Eckland's world takes a teetering tumble as the girls invade his house and his life. Constantly bumping heads with Ms. Freneau, Walter has more estrogen surrounding him than he can handle and begs the British commander to get the females off his island. Unfortunately, there's no one available who can come make a rescue attempt, so the two wildly-mismatched adults have to learn to get along until help shows up.

Set during World War II in the Pacific, this isn't so much a war movie as a comedy of errors. But there are moments where the war intrudes - when a Japanese ship sends a patrol on the island to look for turtles so the Japanese captain can have "turtle soup" and Eckland and the girls are nearly discovered; when a Japanese plane spots them and tries to take them all out; and the spectacular ending, when Eckland is pursued by a Japanese gunboat.

Father Goose is a fun, rollicking ride with lots of one-liners and zinging dialogue between Grant and Caron, not to mention hilarious situations that show Caron and Grant at their comedic best.

Veterans Day 2009

2009-11-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

Remember those who have fallen. Remember those who have served. Remember those who continue to protect our nation and our freedoms.

Thank you, members of our great military. Your deeds and actions will never be forgotten.

2009-08-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

Intermarriage between Jews and non-Jews during the Third Reich represented a powerful protest. Those who chose to remain married, despite the overwhelming pressure to divorce, showed strength and courage. Nathan Stoltzfus's book, Resistance of the Heart: Intermarriage and the Rosenstrasse Protest in Nazi Germany reveals the stories of those who lived in such relationships during the Third Reich and survived the war due to their tenacity.

Scholarship on these "in between" German Jews is relatively scarce and thus, this book fills an important void. Stoltzfus devotes much of his text to the years preceding the Rosenstrasse protest, introducing three main couples. Through their interviews, Stoltzfus weaves a tale of courage and individual non-compliance toward the restrictive racial laws of the Third Reich. By focusing largely on the women's perspective, Stoltzfus enlightens us to the world in which they lived and to the sacrifices they made in order to stay married to their Jewish husbands. Indeed, Stolzfus's argument views the protest as a "climactic event in the lives of those who protested and also as part of the complex of events and circumstances that surrounded the climax of World War II" (p. xxv). Stoltzfus remains focused throughout the book, rarely deviating from his thesis.

Beginning with Hitler's rise to power, Resistance of the Heart chronologically traces the steps taken against the intermarried Jews of Germany. Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's minister of propaganda, played a leading role in the campaign toward the Final Solution. Goebbels frequently wrestled over the problem of intermarried Jews. Ultimately, however, the solution depended largely upon the popularity of the Regime and the public's cooperation.

As Stoltzfus argues, "The fundamental Nazi ideology and in turn the prized Nazi policies cut against the grain of social traditions the Germans could not part with" (p. 15). Marriage remained one of the binding ties of German society. Intermarried couples directly conflicted with Nazi ideology since racial purity was a main component of Nazism. However, Hitler's popularity curbed the majority of people's dissent until 1944-45. But intermarried couples protested by staying married.

The lives of the couples - Charlotte and Julius Israel, Elsa and Rudi Holzer, and Wally and Gunter Grodka, comprise much of the story. All three men were Jewish, except for Rudi Holzer, who was a Mischling. Stoltzfus tells the couples' courtship stories and immediately draws you into the everyday lives of ordinary Germans. From the Israel's living room where music and song kept Nazi terrors at bay for a short while to the intense pressure of the Grodka's denouncement-hungry neighbors, to Elsa Holzer's smuggling of a love note to her husband during the Rosenstrasse protest, Stoltzfus brilliantly reveals the daily problems they faced.

The "waffling" of the party leadership on the racial laws is explained through the turbulent life of Werner Goldberg, a Mischling who went thorugh several transitions during his life in the Reich. As the Nazis tried to "work out the conflicts between its racial ideology and practical policies", (p. 85), people lived in a constant state of transition. Rudi Holzer, for example, lived the life of an "Aryan" and remained relatively untouched as a Mischling until new laws came into effect.

Stoltzfus also delves into Goebbel's diary to reveal key points in the administration of actions against the Jews. As the war drug on, Goebbels continued to search for ways to expel the intermarried Jews from Germany. Yet popular opinion always held a significant role in the decision-making process. Women's opinions were especially crucial since their dissent during World War I helped cause the breakdown of morale.

Indeed, women held great importance in a variety of ways. They constituted an important labor force and their letters to husbands and sons at the front could affect morale. Goebbels even recorded in his diary that "women were 'largely responsible' for 'our [public] sentiments'" (p. 197). In early 1943, the labor conscription of women for the Total War decree failed completely as large numbers of women refused to work. As Stoltzfus points out, "...it was not only because of their gender that a mass of women might succeed in a limited public protest but because they were civilians who threatened home front morale" (p. 201). Thus, the stage was set for the Rosenstrasse Protest.

When the Final Roundup of Berlin Jews, including those in intermarriages, began in late February of 1943, Goebbels thought to rid himself of these "privileged" Jews. But as the tale of Rosenstrasse unfolds, he was wrong. The Jews were taken to a facility located in Rosenstrasse, a street at the center of Berlin. Non-Jewish spouses of the prisoners started to gather outside and demand the release of their loved ones. The individual stories of the women, including Charlotte Israel, Elsa Holzer, and Wally Grodka, reveal the resilience of these wives to rescue their Jewish husbands and children. Even though the Gestapo threatened to shoot time and time again, the women remained. As Elsa Holzer remarked, "We acted from the heart, and look what happened...What one is capable of doing when there is danger can never be repeated" (p. 239).

Goebbels and Hitler eventually ordered the release of the intermarried prisoners in order to dissolve the protest. Remarkably, all the Jews released from Rosenstrasse survived the war. But Stoltzfus questions whether or not the proest can be termed resistance or dissent.

With smooth prose and contemporary photos, Stoltzfus delivers a heartening, yet chilling tale. However, the historical accuracy of his sources may come into question since the interviews were held so many years after the war and time has a way of dimming one's memory. But perhaps Stoltzfus's most compelling question throughout the text is a tantalizing "what if?" Would more protests in Nazi Germany have halted the completion of the Final Solution? It is sobering to contemplate.

Review: Defiance

2009-08-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

True stories make some of the best films. That is certainly the case with Defiance.

Daniel Craig (Tuvia), Liev Schreiber (Zusia), and Jamie Bell (Asael) star as the three Jewish Bielski brothers of Belorussia who, after the slaughter of their family in 1941, take refuge in the lush forest near their home and begin an excruciating fight to stay alive.

It's not long before more hunted Jews join them. Staying alive remains their top priority for awhile and foraging for food and shelter becomes paramount. But as the news of more atrocities spread and as more Jews are slaughtered, the Bielski brothers vow to do more against the tyranny of Nazism. Along with others in the camp, they form a resistance group known as the Bielski Otriad.

The group build their own community in the forest and here, there is no room for dissent. Food must be shared equally, and everyone must do their part - even the intellectuals who previously had never picked up a hammer in their lives or fired a gun are expected to learn.

Through deadly winters and the threat of constant discovery, Tuvia has no choice but to rule with an iron fist, even when his brother, Zusia, decides to join the Russian partisans in striking against the Germans.

The theme running through this movie is the importance of family. The bond between the three brothers is stronger than iron, and even though they have their disagreements, their love for one another is deep. This bond winds through the camp itself as the people realize that they, too, are a family, a community, and must work together to survive. It's an incredible testament to the determination of a people to fight back against overwhelming odds, especially at a time when Jews were seen as victims with no will to fight back. Defiance sheds light on those instances where Jews refused to succumb to their fate.

Yet there is another aspect to Defiance that bears further pondering. While watching the DVD extras, which included interviews with the writers and director of the film, this question was asked: Must you become a monster to defeat a monster? The Bielski brothers were ruthless and there are several scenes in the movie which portray this. Tuvia executes those responsible for his family's death - a father and his two sons - in cold blood. Zusia goes out and kills Germans in revenge for the death of his wife and child. When a German soldier is captured and brought back to the camp, the movie portrays a chilling scene of the Jews beating the soldier to death as they let their overwhelming grief and anger at all of those lost at German hands overtake them.

It's a question worth pondering.

Overall, Defiance is an incredible movie, aptly titled, with solid performances by every cast member. It's also an amazing story of beating the odds. The Bielski's saved more than 1,000 Jews and today, those Jews' descendents number in the thousands.

To find out more about the Bielski brothers, visit the Holocaust Research Project or http://www.courageandcompassionexhibit.com/.

D-Day 65th Anniversary

2009-06-06T09:18:00.001-07:00

My Fellow Americans:

Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.

Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944

The Greatest Generation Society

2009-06-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to announce a new kind of community for those of us deeply interested in World War II. It's called The Greatest Generation Society and is a virtual gathering place for other like-minded individuals.

With an innovative social networking formula, you can add photos, post blog entries and news stories, make friends with others, and honor your family members who served in the war. It's a true interactive site that is a labor of love from founder Scott Lyons who started the site to honor his father, a World War II veteran.

Membership is free and the community is growing. Come be a part of this wonderful group and remember the Greatest Generation!

Propaganda: Your Job in Germany

2009-06-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

This U.S. Army film was made after the end of World War II. Soldiers who now occupied Germany had to watch it.

Viewed in the context of 21st century hindsight, we can definitely tell it's propaganda. But viewed through the lens of 1946, when the world had been through two devastating world wars, it looks slightly different.

What do you think when you watch this film?

Mrs. Miniver

2009-05-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

Made during the height of World War II, Mrs. Miniver is a touching yet gripping film dedicated to arousing the patriotic spirit in America and Great Britain. In this, it does not disappoint.

Kay Miniver is a kind, warm-hearted British woman who loves her family and her life in a small village not far from London, England. She and her husband, Clem (Walter Pidgeon) have three children. When war breaks out, their oldest, Vin (Richard Ney), joins the RAF and becomes a pilot while Clem has duty with the river patrol. Kay must deal with an escaped German parachutist, the marriage of her son to local girl Carol (Teresa Wright), the destruction of her home, and the loss of friends and family. Yet she continues on, encouraging others during this time, whether they be American or British, to continue fighting a just and necessary war.

Widely regarded as a propaganda piece, Mrs. Miniver is also a film full of heart and soul that won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1942. Greer Garson also won an Academy Award for her performance.

If you've yet to watch Mrs. Miniver, make haste! You'll not be disappointed.

Garden of Beasts by Jeffery Deaver

2009-03-20T10:21:00.001-07:00

Paul Schumann, a button man (read: hit man), has just been captured in New York City by the feds. But he's offered an unexpected way out of his tricky situation - he'll get his record swiped clean if he does a job for a special interest group in Washington D.C. Unfortunately, that job puts him right smack in the middle of Nazi Germany during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. And the mark is one of Hitler's highest men - Colonel Reinhard Ernst, the chief man for militarizing Germany.

Paul masquerades as a journalist and arrives in Berlin, only to immediately become thrown into a nightmare involving murder, betrayal, and morality. Deaver does an amazing job with the details, deftly incorporating the Olympics into the plot, and delving into the underside of Berlin. The multi-dimensional characters, including appearances by Jesse Owens, Himmler, and Goering, make for a fast-paced, gripping read. But it is Schumann himself who steals the show.

An excellent, well-written novel, Garden of Beasts is Deaver at his finest.

A Letter from Quentin Aanenson

2008-12-23T12:09:00.000-08:00

If you watched Ken Burns' amazing documentary, The War, then you will be familiar with Quentin Aanenson, a World War II fighter pilot who was interviewed for the film. His eloquence and strength truly touched me.

Here is a letter he wrote to his girlfriend, who later became his wife, during the war. He never sent it, yet it is a haunting, brutally honest portrayal of what many soldiers went through during this terrible conflict.

Dear Jackie,

For the past two hours, I've been sitting here alone in my tent, trying to figure out just what I should do and what I should say in this letter in response to your letters and some questions you have asked. I have purposely not told you much about my world over here, because I thought it might upset you. Perhaps that has been a mistake, so let me correct that right now. I still doubt if you will be able to comprehend it. I don’t think anyone can who has not been through it.

I live in a world of death. I have watched my friends die in a variety of violent ways...

Sometimes it's just an engine failure on takeoff resulting in a violent explosion. There's not enough left to bury. Other times, it's the deadly flak that tears into a plane. If the pilot is lucky, the flak kills him. But usually he isn't, and he burns to death as his plane spins in. Fire is the worst. In early September one of my good friends crashed on the edge of our field. As he was pulled from the burning plane, the skin came off his arms. His face was almost burned away. He was still conscious and trying to talk. You can't imagine the horror.

So far, I have done my duty in this war. I have never aborted a mission or failed to dive on a target no matter how intense the flak. I have lived for my dreams for the future. But like everything else around me, my dreams are dying, too. In spite of everything, I may live through this war and return to Baton Rouge. But I am not the same person you said goodbye to on May 3. No one can go through this and not change. We are all casualties. In the meantime, we just go on. Some way, somehow, this will all have an ending. Whatever it is, I am ready for it.

Quentin

Edit: Sadly, Quentin Aanenson passed away on December 28, 2008.

Veterans Day 2008

2008-11-11T06:19:00.000-08:00

Please take a moment to thank a veteran today and to remember those that have fallen in service to their country. Their sacrifices cannot be forgotten.

Thank you - to all who served, who continue to serve, and to those who gave their lives so that we might enjoy the greatest freedoms on earth.

You will never be forgotten.

The Book Thief

2008-10-27T11:12:00.001-07:00

The true human cost of World War II is conveyed eloquently and perfectly in Markus Zusak's The Book Thief. Rarely have I read a more emotionally-powerful book than this true gem.

The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel Meminger who, at the beginning of the story, is only 9 years old and has just arrived at a foster home. Her parents have both been sent away (apparently they are "Komunists") and her little brother died in a train accident en route to Munich. And it is at her brother's funeral that Liesel steals her first book, setting the stage for many more to come.

Liesel lives with Rosa and Hans Hubermann. While Rosa is a tough, no-nonsense woman who often abuses Liesel physically and mentally, she hides a rather warm heart. But it is Hans, whom Liesel soon comes to call "Papa", who truly captures Liesel's heart. He helps her learn how to read, thus spawning Liesel's love for words and for books.

Liesel grows up on Himmel Street in Munching, a suburb of Munich. She becomes best friends with Rudy Steiner, a boy her age, and the two play soccer in the streets, steal fruit from a farmer's orchard, and stand up for each other against all odds. The war touches them from all angles: from a book burning to Jews being marched through the streets to Dachau, to Liesel and her family hiding a Jew named Max, to Rudy's father going off to war, to rationing, to the Hitler Youth and everything in between.

Throughout it all, Liesel clings to her books - some she received as presents from her Papa, while others she has stolen from the library of the mayor's wife. Each book is precious: but she soon learns the awesome power that words hold.

One word can sum up this book - brilliant. I have rarely read a book that is so well-written, with such colorful and vivid language that made me envious as a writer. But even more than the writing is the unusual nature of the story itself. Death is the narrator, and Death knows all and sees all. And in the process, Death reveals its own frailty.

It's an amazing work, very ambitious, and completely absorbing. It is one of the best books I have ever read and with my long history of reading, that is definitely saying something. This book is deserving of all the accolades it has received.

My Father's Secret War

2008-08-19T09:27:00.001-07:00

Pulitzer-Prize winner Lucinda Franks delves into her father's shrouded past in this emotionally-driven memoir that reads more like a novel than a nonfiction book.

After finding a Nazi cap in a box of her father's things, Franks begins a search for the truth of her father's role in World War II. Her father refuses to talk about it, and Franks must piece together the clues she finds. She soon discovers that her father played a pivotal role in the war as a secret agent behind enemy lines.

It's a journey of discovery for Franks as she struggles to understand why her father retreated from the world, haunted by a past that was too painful to discuss with his own family.

If you start this at ten o'clock at night like I did, be prepared to stay up a few hours reading. You'll be hooked from the very beginning. Franks' writing is as amazing as the story she has to tell.

Offering a look at not only the physical but the emotional and pyschological toll of World War II, My Father's Secret War should be required reading for any World War II enthusiast.

Sentimental Journey

2008-07-17T08:22:00.001-07:00

Sentimental Journey is a B-17 plane that served during World War II. It's currently on tour throughout the Midwest - and if you have $425 to spare, you can actually take a ride in it. It's been lovingly restored by the Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum. I was fortunate enough to see this plane at its stop in Beatrice, Nebraska, and was able to take lots of photos of the inside and out. To view these photos, visit my other blog.

Historic Photos of WW2: Pearl Harbor to Japan

2008-06-15T20:10:00.001-07:00

Before the Acknowledgments page in this latest book from Bob Duncan, there is a photo of a Marine dug into the black sand of Iwo Jima. He is trying to catch a few winks and he'll probably be able to since he has a faithful war dog by his side, alert to any danger that might bring harm to his master.

It's a powerful photo, and only one of many in Historic Photos of World War II: Pearl Harbor to Japan by Bob Duncan. His last book covered North Africa to Germany and revealed many stark photos of the war in Europe. This time, he delves into the Pacific Theater, by all odds a bloodier fight for the Americans than they had in Europe. And once again, Duncan delivers a batch of photos, all black and white, that capture the horror of a very different front.

Candid shots of soldiers resting in between battles, fighting in the sands of Iwo Jima and other islands, and of the deadly battles between carriers all appear in this wonderful book, plus many, many more.

These are photos worthy of studying, and simply glancing at them does them an injustice. Duncan's accompanying text only heightens their appeal and you'll come away from this volume with a good deal more insight into the Pacific Theater.

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T11:19:00.001-07:00

Remember their sacrifice...

Foyle's War

2008-04-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

If you haven't had the chance to catch this BBC miniseries, you're missing out on some extraordinary performances. Starring Michael Kitchen as Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle, this miniseries follows the solitary detective as he solves mysteries on the British homefront during World War II.

Foyle's War is a well-done series, written by Anthony Horowitz, with spot-on details in costumes and settings and a wonderful supporting cast. There's Foyle's driver, Samantha "Sam" Stewart who isn't afraid to jump in and help the inspector even though she's not a policewoman, wounded soldier turned sergeant Paul Milner, and Foyle's son, Andrew, who gets into his own share of scrapes as a pilot in the RAF.

Tom Keogh of Amazon.com sums it up brilliantly: Kitchen's magnificently measured performance and Horowitz's masterful grasp of the moral and dramatic issues of his battle-scarred milieu make Foyle's War a must.

Steven Spielberg's Film and Video Archive at USHMM

2008-02-14T08:52:00.000-08:00

Want to watch the Nuremberg Rallies online? Or see color footage of the Warsaw Jewish quarter in 1939? How about the liberation of Buchenwald?

It's all here.

The Steven Spielberg Film and Video Archive at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum offers a vast resource for scholars and enthusiasts of World War II history. The Internet has made it possible to share these fascinating videos with the world, offering an amazing, sobering, and sometimes horrifying glimpse into the Holocaust and other aspects of World War II. This online catalog provides more than 800 hours of film, primarily from the 1920s to 1948:

Here's a list from the website of just some of the topics covered:

--Prewar Jewish and Roma/Sinti (Gypsy) life
--Germany in the 1920s and 1930s the Nazi rise to power
--Nazi racial science and propaganda
--Persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany, occupied territories, and Nazi puppet states
--Deportations of Jews to ghettos and concentration camps
--Internment camps
--Resistance movements
--Tthe liberation and disclosure of Nazi concentration camps
--Refugees in displaced persons camps
--War crimes trials, including the Nuremberg Trials and the 1961 trial of Adolf Eichmann
--American responses to the events in Europe from 1933-1945, incl. rallies, protests, speeches, & newsreels coverage

Definitely worth a visit.

Picture Credit: USHMM, Julien Bryan filming in Warsaw, Poland, in 1939

Hollywood Goes To War

2008-01-23T14:09:00.000-08:00

World War II movies from the Golden Era of Hollywood are plentiful. Most of the era's biggest stars made a war picture. Others went on war bond tours, worked at the Hollywood Canteen, or even served in the armed forces.

Hollywood Goes to War: How Politics, Profits, and Propaganda Shaped World War II Movies, takes an in-depth look at Tinsel Town during the war years. It also takes a closerc look at the OWI - the Office of War Information bureau. This group had one important question for movies made during the war - Will this picture help us win the war?

This is a fascinating look at the relationship between the movie industry and the American government, and offers fantastic behind-the-scenes looks at several popular movies of the time.

Walk Down Memory Lane

2007-12-19T13:28:00.001-08:00

Reunion in France

2007-12-18T09:54:00.000-08:00

A stylish thriller, Reunion in France takes us to the heart of Occupied Paris during World War II. Joan Crawford plays Michele de la Becque, a former member of France's elite who has lost her home and fortune to the Nazis. When she returns to Paris from the south of France, she finds a different world. Her fiance before the war, Robert Cortot, is suddenly a collaborator, and she has to find a menial job.

When a downed RAF flyer, Pat Talbot (John Wayne) enlists her help to escape to England, Michele's love of her country compels her to assist him. Surprises await her, however, when she comes face to face with the Gestapo - and her own heart.

Crawford's performance is outstanding. She flawlessly goes from spoiled socialite to ardent patriot. Philip Dorn, who plays Cortot, is masterful - you love to hate him. Although John Wayne's role isn't a large one, the chemistry between him and Crawford is wonderful.

Produced by Joseph Mankiewicz, this is a tense, suspenseful, and very well-done war drama.

December 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor

2007-12-07T07:05:00.000-08:00

A day that will live in infamy...

66th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

Remember...

Veterans Day 2007

2007-11-11T19:38:00.000-08:00

It's a day for gratitude.

Thank a veteran today. Tomorrow. Every day.

They gave you your freedom.

And we can never forget.

The Wedding Officer

2007-11-07T16:35:00.000-08:00

In a delicious mix of love, war, and food, The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella sweeps you into World War II Naples, Italy, and offers a delectable feast for your senses.

British Captain James Gould is posted to Naples to be the "wedding officer." This position entails that he interview all the Italian women who want to get married to Allied officers. It's not an easy job, especially when he realizes that the majority of the potential brides are prostitutes - something that they have had to do to survive.

When James meets the gorgeous Livia, a feisty widow who has a gift for cooking, he suddenly finds himself looking at the world —and food — in a completely different way.

The Wedding Officer has a lot going for it - the details of Occupied Naples are impeccable, and Capella reveals that he used Sophia Loren's memoirs to help him recreate the time period. The food analogies and descriptions will literally make your mouth water and compel you to reach for your book of Italian recipes or visit your favorite Italian restaurant.

The book slows a bit during the last 1/4, but this is a minor glitch. Livia and James are very likeable characters, and it's a joy to read about their burgeoning relationship.

Capella doesn't mince words on how hard it was for the Italians during the occupation - both under the Germans and the Allies. Although the focus of the book isn't on battles and strategies, it does center on the human cost of war in all its variances.

Highly recommended.

Historic Photos of World War II: North Africa to Germany

2007-10-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

This new release from Turner Publishing Company delivers an honest, unflinching portrait of World War II. With many never-before-published photographs (all in black and white), Historic Photos of World War II is a terrific find.

From the destruction of London to military cemeteries overlooking Omaha Beach, historian Bob Duncan reveals a collection of photographs so powerful, so vivid, that the war ceases to become a historical event and instead becomes a human tragedy.

The last sentence of the preface states it best: "As you turn these pages, you have a through-the-lens view of things just as they were, on the seas and in the air, in thh sand and the mud and the snow where victory and liberation were won."

Black Book

2007-10-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

World War II was so vast that it's impossible to know everything that happened in every country. That's why I love "foreign" films that give us a different perspective of the war.

Black Book is an amazing film. It's not for the faint of heart - there are graphic scenes of violence and nudity. But it doesn't detract from the film's power.

Rachel Stein, (played by Carice van Houten) a Jew in hiding in German-occupied Holland. When her family is killed, Rachel joins the Resistance and assumes the identity of the blonde Ellis de Vries. She infiltrates the Nazi headquarters and becomes the mistress of the head of the Gestapo, Ludwig Muntze (Sebastian Koch). Ellis becomes a secretary for Muntze and becomes involved in the partying lifestyle of the Germans while simultaneously working with the Resistance.

But there is a traitor in the midst of the Resistance and Ellis is determined to find out who it is. The culprit will surprise you.

Even though this is subtitled, I barely noticed because I was so caught up in the story. It's a bit Hollywood-ized, but it also shows the courage of those willing to stand up against the enemy. Ellis's fiesty personality is riveting and her curious relationship with Muntze brings out the human side of the war, the conflicting emotions between two people on opposite sides who suddenly question the definition of "enemy."

High drama, gut-wrenching emotion, and a wonderful cast make Black Book well worth your time.

Ken Burns' The War: A Documentary of World War II

2007-08-09T18:50:00.000-07:00

This is a must-see television event. Ken Burns is a master at the art of documentary. His past works include The Civil War, JAZZ, and Baseball.

Now, he tackles one of the most important events in history: World War II.

PBS will broadcast the seven-episode special, entitled The War, beginning on September 23, 2007.

Check out PBS for more information, including an interactive Web site that will go live on the 23rd. The War will also be available to order on DVD and as a companion book. A soundtrack will also be available.

Mark your calendars! You won't want to miss this!

World War 2 Memorial - Washington, D.C.

2007-08-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

Photos courtesy of my father who traveled to Washington D.C. in June. If you've been to the World War II Memorial, I'd love to hear what you thought of it. It's on my list of "must see's."

The Kommandant's Girl

2007-07-31T13:01:00.000-07:00

While the concept of this novel is quite good - a Polish Jew whose husband works for the Resistance dons a new identity and works as a secretary to the German Kommandant in Krakow - the writing itself falls flat.

Yes, it's simplistic. Yes, it's very easy to read. But I found that the cliches and other rather mundane details didn't quite draw me into this world of danger and intrigue. It's written in first-person and thus, offers a limited view of the world of nineteen-year-old Emma, a.k.a. Anna.

Since the author, Pam Jenoff, spent time in Poland and studied the Jewish Resistance in that country, I thought perhaps there would be a plethora of great historic detail. While there is some, I still had a hard time "picturing" the setting. Since setting is so important to a story - especially this particular one - I never quite connected with the sense of place.

That being said, this book has a great story to tell. The curious relationship between Emma and the Kommandant is riveting. Jenoff manages to keep you turning the pages to find out if Emma is going to get caught spying for the Resistance while she works at one of the most important Nazi strongholds in Krakow.

Worth a read. If you're a fan of the simplistic style of writing, you'll enjoy this novel of heroism and danger.

June 6, 1944: Day-Day

2007-06-06T08:31:00.000-07:00

Today is the 63rd anniversary of the Normandy Invasion.

Although no one can ever completely recreate what the experience was really like, Hollywood has produced a few movies that will give you an idea of the bloodshed that summer day in France.

Saving Private Ryan

The Longest Day

Band of Brothers

And if you're anywhere near the New Orleans area, this is a must see: D-Day Museum.

Downfall

2007-05-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

April, 1945. Germany stands on the brink of defeat. And their leader stands on the brink of insanity.

Downfall portrays the last days of Hitler. It's gritty, realistic, stunning, and appalling to watch. Even though the Russians surrounded Berlin, Hitler refused to surrender, and in his madness believed that his armies would somehow miraculously deliver them.

Hitler's inner circle is all here in the relative safety of his bunker - Goebbels, Speer, Eva Braun, and his generals. But it is his secretary that captures our attention. She is a fervent admirer of the Fuhrer and it is not until his suicide and her escape from the bunker that she begins to see the other side.

There are scenes that are extremely difficult to watch, made even more so because they really happened - Magda Goebbels poisoning her children because she didn't want them to grow up in a world without National Socialism; Hitler's mad insinuations that the German people were to blame for their fall; the Hitler Youth bravely defending the city when there was no more hope.

This film makes you think. It makes you see the ugliness of blind fanatacism. Unwavering loyalty. The willingness to die for a lost and horrific cause. The disregard for human life.

And it makes you ask, Why? Why did this happen? Why did a western European nation, one steeped in culture, take such a path?

This, then, is why we study history, why we continue to study the roots of World War II. We have the human need to understand this atrocity, to keep it from happening again. But have we learned from history? Are we living the old saying, "Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it"?

It is something we must all consider.

But we must also consider the reasoning behind the making of this film - which, by the way, is not entirely historically accurate. For an in depth review, read this fascinating article by David Cesarani and Peter Longerich.

Memorial Day 2007

2007-05-28T07:01:00.000-07:00

Remember...

Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley

2007-04-23T00:57:00.000-07:00

One word to describe this book: amazing.

Flags of Our Fathers is a stunning, gripping, and utterly realistic story of the Battle of Iwo Jima and of the six flag raisers who were forever immortalized in a photograph that captured the world's imagination.

James Bradley's father, Jack Bradley, was a naval corpsman - a medic - during the battle. Even though James knew his father participated at Iwo and was one of the flag raisers, he never knew the full story. In fact, he didn't discover that his father had earned the Navy Cross until after his death.

Bradley set out to research his father's life, as well as the lives of the five other flag raisers. The result is one of the best books on World War II. This is a story not about great generals or battle maneuvers, but about the men and women who participated in this monumental war. It is a deeply personal story, a story that reaches into your heart and grabs hold, never letting go, even after the last page has been turned.

These were ordinary men doing their jobs. But the flagraising photo elevated them to hero status, a label they were never comfortable with. Of the six who were in the photo, only three survived Iwo: Jack Bradley, Ira Hayes, and Rene Gagnon. After the war, their lives took drastically different paths. But they will always be bound by what came to be known as The Photograph.

Dear Enemy by Jack Cavanaugh

2007-02-20T15:51:00.000-08:00

During the final German push in the Battle of the Bulge, nurse Annie Mitchell must evacuate the hospital where she works. But when she discovers that her husband, Keith, may be wounded in the Ardennes Forest only a few miles from the hospital, she and her best friend steal an ambulance and race toward the forest.

Keith is alive, but their situation is perilous. With her best friend killed from the fighting around them, Annie has no time to mourn. But things take a decided downturn when Keith exchanges fire with two patrolling German soldiers. To her utter horror, Keith is killed and Annie is taken prisoner by the one German soldier left alive. Can she escape or will this German soldier prove to be her worst nightmare?

What follows is a compelling story about compassion, forgiveness, and trust. Jack Cavanaugh blends the harsh reality of war with the beauty of the human soul in Dear Enemy.

Thanks for the Memories

2007-02-14T19:20:00.000-08:00

"Thanks For The Memories: Love, Sex, and World War II is the true story of how the World War II generation responded to the passions of war and how their lives and the relationships between the sexes were forever changed." - From the Introduction

Jane Leder pens a truly groundbreaking work with Thanks for the Memories. While works on World War II continue to emerge each and every day, this particular title touches on a subject not often studied. Sexuality during World War II was a topic often relegated to the whispers of society and often contradicted itself. For example, even though the U.S. Army forbid soldiers to fraternize with prostitutes or loose women, they provided condoms.

Divided into nine chapters, Leder explores subjects including sexual harassment of women in the workplace, government "educational programs," illegitimate births on the home front, dating, and love.

Well-written and highly-readable, Thanks for the Memories is sure to become the definitive book on the subject of sexuality during World War II.

Coming Soon: Thanks for the Memories

2007-02-04T20:32:00.000-08:00

Watch for a review of Thanks for the Memories: Love, Sex, and World War II by Jane Mersky Leder coming soon!

Saving Private Ryan

2007-01-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

Saving Private Ryan has already become a classic World War II movie. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, and Edward Burns, this movie tells the haunting story of an eight-man patrol sent out to rescue Private Ryan whose other three brothers have been killed.

Spielberg manages to portray the gritty reality of war in a myriad of ways - the storming of the beaches at Normandy, the emotions of losing a comrade, the friendship and comraderie between soldiers. As the commanding officer, Hanks brings a very human aspect to the role. Burns is his opposite, challenging authority and wondering why they are risking the lives of eight to save one.

But it is Hanks' final words that manage to sum up the entire movie - Earn it. If you haven't watched the movie, I won't disappoint you by revealing that scene or the ending. But hopefully, it will be enough to entice you to rent the DVD and immerse yourself in the reality of war.

A Woman in Berlin

2006-12-13T09:10:00.000-08:00

Although the name of the woman who wrote this book has never been revealed, it doesn't diminish the power of her story.

Set in Berlin just as the Russians invaded the city, A Woman in Berlin is one woman's diary of the events surrounding the fall of Berlin in 1945.

Once you read the first page of this woman's story, it's nearly impossible to put down. The book was first published in the 1950's, but garnered criticism from many since the author frankly describes the rape of women, something not openly discussed in the '50's. She decreed that she didn't want it to be republished until after her death, and her request was honored.

Her description of life around her - from rushing to the basement bomb shelter as bombs scream overhead, to sitting around the living room talking with the "Ivans" - i.e. Russian soldiers - to scrambling for food - is so vivid and detailed that you almost feel as though you're reading a novel. But it is not - it is the truth - every painful, shattering shard. This woman wrote this diary while living through these events, and it is evident she used it to cope with the horrors around her.

65th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

2006-12-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

The Pearl Harbor Survivors Project offers you the chance to read (or view) stories by those who experienced and survived Pearl Harbor. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Take a moment to remember this day that will always "live in infamy."

New Release: The Rising Tide

2006-11-15T09:04:00.000-08:00

Noted historical novelist Jeff Shaara has just released his latest epic, The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II. Focusing specifically on the European Theater - including North Africa, Sicily, and Italy - The Rising Tide takes you deep into the heart of Rommel, Churchill, and Eisenhower, as well as the ordinary soldier on the battlefield.

The Rising Tide is the first in a trilogy of World War II. With Shaara's excellent track record writing historical fiction, this is his latest contribution to his ongoing legacy as one of the world's premiere novelists.

Veteran's Day: Please Thank a Veteran

2006-11-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

In the midst of the weekend activities, the sales, and the football games, don't forget who made it possible for you to enjoy all these freedoms. And make no mistake about it - they are freedoms.

Thank the veteran in your life today. Thank the veteran you see on the street. Remember those who did not return, but sacrificed their life for your freedom.

To the vets in my life: my father, my husband, my great-uncles, and all the veterans I've known throughout the years, to all the veterans I will never meet:

Thank You.

As Time Goes By

2006-11-02T19:26:00.000-08:00

This three-CD collection captures some of the best-loved songs of World War II. Best of all, they are done by the original artists.

With such hits as Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the Andrews Sisters, and Sentimental Journey the the Les Brown Orchestra, you'll be swept away to the 1940's. Don't miss this collection!

Swing Shift

2006-10-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

Starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Swing Shift is a fun, light-hearted look at the American homefront during World War II. Goldie plays Kay, a sailor's wife who goes to work at an airplane factory in California. Along with her friends Hazel and Lucky (Kurt Russell), she begins to find there's a whole lot more to life than being a housewife.

The strongest point of this film, besides the wonderful costumes and well-acted roles, is the focus on discrimination of women in the workplace. Even though the government urged women to go to work in the factories, they faced criticism, sexual harrassment, and rudeness on the job from other men. Worse, they were forced to quit their jobs when the war was over and told to go back home where they belonged - as housewives and mothers.

At the heart of this movie, though, is also the way war plays on human emotions. Affairs were not uncommon on the homefront between married women and single men, just as they were not uncommon for men overseas with foreign women. Kay must take a good look at what she wants out of life when her husband, Jack (Ed O'Neill) finds out she's having an affair with Lucky. Will she choose Lucky, the happy-go-lucky trumpet player or Jack, her faithful and brave husband? The answer just might surprise you.

Charlotte Gray: The Movie

2006-10-02T20:39:00.000-07:00

Starring Cate Blanchett and Billy Crudup, Charlotte Gray is based on the novel by the same name by Sebastian Faulks. Unfortunately, I tried to read the novel and didn't have much success. I found the writing stilted and the character motivations a little unbelievable.

Fortunately, the movie was none of these things. And in poking around the novel a bit further, the movie deviated from it quite a bit. But isn't that always the case? Hollywood likes to chop the pieces of the book that they like the most and form it into something much more Hollywood-ish. But in this case, I can honestly say that I liked the movie much better than the book.

En route to London, Charlotte Gray is approached by Richard Cannerly who believes her French-speaking skills and time spent in France would be a great asset for Britain. Charlotte mulls over his proposition. At a party, she meets Peter Gregory, an RAF pilot. The two fall madly in love. While Peter is away, Charlotte decides to train to become a courier in France. It is while she is in the midst of training that she learns of Peter's plane going down in France. She immediately volunteers to go on a mission into Vichy France, thinking that she might have an opportunity to rescue him.

But nothing goes right when she arrives. Her contact is arrested almost immediately and Charlotte is forced to seek help with the local Resistance fighter, Julian. Before long, she finds herself caught up in the Resistance and taking care of two Jewish boys whose parents have already been deported.

Perhaps Charlotte Gray is more Hollywood than history, but in this case, it manages to bring out a few issues pertaining to Vichy France. A scene in particular struck me. A Vichy French official said that the highest form of patriotism was collaboration. Definitely a quote to ponder.

Even though this didn't garner much attention when it was released, I certainly think Charlotte Gray is worthy of a place in your DVD collection.

The Good German

2006-09-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

When is it justice and when it is vengeance? Joseph Kanon tackles this moral question in his stunning novel, The Good German.

Set in postwar Berlin, Jake Geismar is a newspaper reporter who returns to Berlin to cover the Potsdam Conference and to find the German woman he left behind. But while he searches for her, he stumbles upon the dead body of an American soldier that just happens to surface during the Potsdam Conference. Geismar smells a rat and begins making enquiries, eventually leading him to a traitorous mix of Russians, Americans, and Germans.

Kanon briliantly examines the question of justice in this book - from those who committed war crimes and to those who stood by and did nothing. Are they just as guilty? And how much should a people be punished before it turns into nothing more than cold-blooded revenge? Kanon leave the answer up to you.

A fast-paced read and brimming with details of post-war Berlin, The Good German is a must for any World War II enthusiast.

Berlin Diaires: 1940-1945 by Marie Vassiltchikov

2006-09-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

I'm only a quarter into reading this book, but already it's captured my attention. Marie Vassiltchikov was a White Russian princess living in Germany during World War II. Most notably, she worked in the German Foreign Office from 1940 to 1944.

Her diary entries are informal, yet able to capture a moment in time that the war destroyed forever. From the endless rounds of parties to bombing raids and late nights at work, Marie or "Missie" as she was more well known, shares a little-known part of German history. We come to know her family, her friends, and her co-workers. A keen observer, Missie documented much of what went on around her in the context of what was happening in the war. This gives us a perceptive and startling glimpse into the everyday lives of those living in Berlin. As the war stretches through the years, so, too, do Missie's diary entries become lengthier, as if trying to fully understand the devastation of Hitler's mad ambition.

Highly readable and entertaining, Berlin Diaires: 1940-1945 will be a welcome addition to any World War II collection.

Black Cross by Greg Iles

2006-08-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

If you want to read a book that will keep you up until all hours of the night because you cannot wait to see what happens next, then pick up a copy of Greg Iles' World War II thriller Black Cross.

The Nazis are creating a deadly nerve gas in a concentration camp that might possibly be used on the Allies at D-Day. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill asks Dr. Mac McConnell and a Zionist named Jonas Stern to execute a daring plan to convince the Germans that the Allies also have the deadly gas.

Tightly written and full of fascinating history and facts, Black Cross is one of those books you'll remember long after you've finished it.

Memphis Belle

2006-08-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

I guess you could say that the movie Memphis Belle started my fascination with World War II. Released in 1990, it had an all-star cast including Matthew Modine, D.B. Sweeney, Eric Stoltz, Harry Connick Jr., Sean Astin, and the relatively unknown Billy Zane.

Inspired by the real-life Memphis Belle airplane, this movie portrays the 25th and final mission of the Memphis Belle crew when they flew over Bremen, Germany. Although the special affects are a bit lacking in places, the actors' performances are superb, portraying the gritty realism of ordinary airmen in the midst of war.

This is an excellent movie on every level. Highly recommended!

Roosevelt's Secret War

2006-07-02T17:50:00.000-07:00

Roosevelt's Secret War: FDR and World War II Espionage by Joseph E. Persico.

This New York Times bestseller has it all - secret meetings, late night chats, spies, traitors, presidents, and prime ministers. Persico argues that "no American president was better suited for secret warfare than FDR."* Did FDR know about the bombing of Pearl Harbor before it happened? Persico addresses this question- and the answer may surprise you.

"Explores—with judicious historical zest and a fine eye for detail—the hallucinatory world of snooping, concealments, betrayals and confidence games played for world-history stakes."—Time

*From the back cover of the book.

Band of Brothers

2006-06-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

If you haven't had a chance to catch this ten-part HBO miniseries on the Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, U.S. 101st Airborne Division, get thee to a video store. (Or wait for it to come on the History Channel again.)

Beginning with the company's training and their participation in D-Day to the end of the war, Band of Brothers is wonderfully acted. Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, it is a hauntingly vivid portrait of the true face of war.

Remember D-Day

2006-06-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

Take a close look at this picture. Put yourself in the photographer's shoes. You look out of the troop transport vehicle and see hundreds of your comrades wading through the water, en route to the beach. Shells burst overhead. Guns fire. Men are screaming. Yelling. Dying. It's hell on earth. And you're right in the midst of it.

Today is the anniversary of the Normandy Invasion - D-Day, June 6, 1944. Sixty-two years ago, the Allies lost many brave men.
Remember those men today, and remember the sacrifice they made.

The Guns of Navarone

2006-05-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

Based on Alistair MacLean's novel of the same name, The Guns of Navarone is a thrilling adventure that was nominated for 7 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, and David Niven are members of a special team recruited to take out the guns on the German-occupied Greek island of Navarone to save over 2,000 British soldiers stranded on the nearby Kiros. If the guns are not taken out, naval destroyers will be blown to bits in their rescue attempts.

Peck does a wonderful job portraying a leader who never hesitates to make the decision that will most benefit the mission, often putting him at odds with David Niven's Cpl. Miller. Anthony Quinn plays an embittered, determined Greek avenging the death of his family.

An excellent World War II movie, splendidly portraying the human side of war.

Memorial Day

2006-05-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

Remember those who fought...

Remember those who died...

Freedom is not free.

Dedicated to all the brave men and women of our armed forces, both past and present. Thank you for your sacrifice, for your courage, and for your bravery.

Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's World War II Weekend

2006-05-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

If you're around Reading, Pennsylvania, the weekend of June 2-4, 2006, make sure you catch the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's World War II Weekend!

Entertainers, special guests, vendors, airshows, and much more are part of this event, which is in its 16th year. I've never been there before, but it looks like a fabulous time!

Check out their website to learn more - and look for me there next year!

The Perilous Fight: World War II in Color

2006-05-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

Even though I was exhausted last night, I stayed up to watch Pacific War: They Filmed the War in Color on PBS. I had a late morning today, but it was worth it. World War II in color somehow makes it all seem more "real" than in black and white.

I had never before seen pictures of the battles of Okinawa or Midway. Watching the kamikaze's diving into aircraft carriers was a sobering sight. But I think the scene that got to me the most was of the stacks and stacks of helmuts sitting on some beach in the Pacific - helmuts that belonged to dead U.S. soldiers.

In my studies, I've tended to focus on the European theater. Nazism and Germany are two of the main topics I handled in graduate school, but I did happen to take a History of Japan class, as well. It was very eye-opening and helped me to understand, if just a little, why the Japanese were so difficult to defeat and felt that there was honor in suicide missions.

But I have a new admiration for the U.S. Marines. They fought not only the Japanese, but malaria, heat, humidity, bugs, rain, and loneliness. Guerilla warfare was a different kind of war - and fighting an enemy that refused to surrender no matter how bad their position was only intensified the marines' experience. I remember listening to a veteran who was a marine in the Pacific recounting his experiences. He wept when he said, "It was not for a marine to question why - it was for us to do or die." That memory has stuck with me for years, and I doubt it will ever lose its power.

Tonight there is a different series on - The Perilous Fight: America's World War II in Color. Check your local PBS stations for the time.

The Devil's Brigade

2006-05-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

On a whim, I bought this movie over the weekend. I rarely buy a movie on DVD that I haven't viewed before, but this one looked good enough to take a risk. And I was right.

Loosely based on the real Devil's Brigade officially activated in July of 1942 as a joint U.S. - Canadian effort- the First Special Service Force - The Devil's Brigade is the story of how the Americans and Canadians put aside their differences to become one of the most legendary commando units of World War II.

While the movie is not entirely historically accurate - for example, the U.S. forces were not made up of "jailbirds" and "misfits" as portrayed in the movie - it does portray the determination and dedication of this special fighting force, especially the camraderie between the Canadians and Americans.

William Holden does a terrific job as Lt. Colonel Robert T. Frederick. There are also some terrific performances by character actor Robert Jaeckel and Claude Akins.

Great battle sequences and interactions between the men, but if you're looking for a historically accurate portrayal of the real Devil's Brigade, this doesn't quite fit the bill. But it's entertaining, nevertheless, and worth watching.

Entertaining the Troops! (Or in this case, the POWs!)

2006-05-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken at the German POW camp in Fort Robinson, Nebraska, during World War II. The men pictured are POWs who participated in the theater troupe Varista - a contraction of the words Variete im Stacheldraht, or Variety in Barbed Wire. Some of the members had been performing artists back in pre-war Germany, such as Willi Schwind, who had been a trapeze artist, comedian, and professional clown. The hall where Varista performed (shown above) was relatively small, necessitating that the troupe give eighteen performances of the same show in order that all the POWs could attend.

These productions were also shown to the American personnel and even to civilians. One of the most notable productions the troupe performed was the opera Fledermaus. Pictures survive of the variety shows at Fort Robinson, including one with jugglers and costumed POWs. Varista also had a regular segment in the camp newspaper.

Sisterhood of Spies

2006-04-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

Before Julia Child became a world-famous chef, she worked for the OSS - the Office of Strategic Services - during World War II. Surprised? You shouldn't be.

Intelligence gathering during World War II wasn't just limited to men. Women played a vital role. Whether they were in the office, typing reports and decoding codes or out in the field, risking their lives as undercover agents, women filled a vital link in intelligence operations.

Elizabeth McIntosh's Sisterhood of Spies is a compelling account of these women, including McIntosh herself, that is brimming with details about the OSS. With pictures, first-hand accounts, and little-known facts, Sisterhood of Spies is a brilliant examination of how women bravely met the challenges of war.

Music: Swing Kids soundtrack

2006-04-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

If you've never had a chance to watch this powerful film, I highly recommend it. Focusing on 1930s Germany and the Hitler Youth, Swing Kids delivers a powerful view of resistance through music. To read a review of the movie, click here.

The big band "swing" movement exploded in America, but it also made it overseas to the youth of Germany. And they loved it. Many of them grew out their hair, wore their clothes baggy and unkept, and at night, they went and danced.

The soundtrack for this movie is phenomenal. It accurately portrays the mood of the era with fast-paced swing music, guaranteed to put you in the dancing mood. Bill Banks' "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Aint' Got that Swing)" and Benny Goodman's "Swingtime in the Rockies" are only a few of the toe-tapping tunes included. But the soundtrack also includes orchestral sections that delve into the dramatic portions of the movie.

The film delivers a little known slice of pre-World War II history, when Germany stood on the brink of unleashing the worst war the world has ever known. But the soundtrack puts you smack in the middle of that history.

If you're looking for some great WWII era music, the soundtrack to Swing Kids will definitely put you "In the Mood"!

POWs in Nebraska

2006-04-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

It may be hard to believe, but thousands of German prisoners of war were interred on U.S. soil beginning in 1943.

Nearly every state in the United States had a POW camp. Camps were hastily built within a matter of months to prepare for the vast influx of German soldiers, most of them from Rommels' Afrika Korps in Northern Africa.

In Fort Robinson, Nebraska, located in the upper northwest corner of the state, German POWs arrived in June of 1943. They stayed until the camp closed in 1946.
For my MA thesis, I focused on the intellectual diversion program implemented by the Office of the War Department. The War Department wished to "re-educate" the German soldiers in democracy.

Although the success of this program has never been fully known, it is entirely possible that it was not a failure. Germany today has moved far beyond the Nazis rhetoric of the 1930's and 1940's. Is it possible that German POW's found a voice when they returned to their country? Further studies need to be done, but sadly, the opportunity to do such studies is slipping away. As the World War II generation disappears, it becomes even more difficult to discover answers to the past.

For more photos of the German POW camp at Fort Robinson, click here.

The World War II Lecture Institute Website

2006-04-04T21:23:00.000-07:00

The World War II Lecture Institute's mission is to preserve the legacy of World War II veterans by recording their stories.

This website contains a comprehensive collection of oral histories and narratives from those who experienced World War II.

If you're near Abington, Doylestown or Hershey, Pennsylvania, you can atend the lecture series and hear veterans and others share their stories.

If you know a veteran, ask them their story. Preserve it for future generations. Become a part of the Veterans History Project!

Blood Moon Over Britain

2006-03-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to see that the romance genre is taking a chance on books set during World War II, especially since I have developed my own World War II romantic suspense series.

Blood Moon Over Britain is an amazing, fast-paced tale of two lovers caught in the midst of an international spy ring. The period language and descrption is well done, and the suspense is quite believable.

I'm a bit short of time, but wanted to post something, so if you'd like to read a review of this novel, go here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0843955821/qid=1142281663/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-9858604-0646458?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Stalag 17

2005-12-29T15:38:00.000-08:00

If you've never seen this gritty, yet humorous movie, you're in for a surprise.

William Holden plays a Sgt. Sefton, an American soldier in a German POW camp, who has a way of getting what he wants. He trades with the Germans—cigarettes, hosiery, wine—to get an extra ration of food, perhaps an egg, or maybe even a visit to the Russian female prisoners compound.

But there is something amiss at Stalag 17. The last two American prisoners to escape didn't make it out alive. And it looks like someone is ratting out the information to the Germans.

But who is it? The zany comedians Animal and Shapiro? What about Joey, the POW with a haunted look in his eyes who never speaks? Is it Sefton? Whoever it is, the rest of the guys in the barracks are determined to find out.

When two pilots are captured and put into the barracks, one of them is taken to the commandant's headquarters and questioned about his role in the sabotage of a German train. The situation becomes dire when the pilot is about to be taken into Gestapo headquarters. Can they rescue him in time or will the snitch claim yet another American life?

The television show Hogan's Heroes was based on this movie. Although there are moments of comedy, it also brings a relatively realistic look at what life was like in a German POW camp. While it may be a bit too far-fetched in places, it still is an excellent film.

Daughters of Fortune Series: Book One

2005-12-16T10:19:00.000-08:00

Written on the Wind

Judith Pella delivers an absolutely stunning series about three American sisters enduring the trials of World War II. The first book of the Daughters of Fortune series, Written on the Wind, is the introduction to the three sisters - Cameron, Blair, and Jackie. The daughters of a wealthy newspaper publisher, the three continually struggle to gain his approval. Cameron is a hard-edged reporter, bent on showing her father that a woman is just as capable as a man in reporting the news and travels to Russia to report on the war. Spoiled and selfish Blair has Hollywood aspirations that quickly turn to shattered dreams. Jackie falls in love with a Japanese-American, a friendship threatened by the attack on Pearl Harbor.

In the midst of the three sisters' struggles with their lives, they also struggle with their faith.

With this first book, Pella does an outstanding job of introducing this intriguing family and the problems they face in pre-war America. She also paints a colorful portrait of Russia during the war, skillfully portraying the Russian people's strength and courage in the midst of one of the country's darkest periods.

Pearl Harbor Day

2005-12-07T13:15:00.000-08:00

Today is December 7. Sixty-four years ago, Pearl Harbor was attacked. And it's a day that will truly "live in infamy."

Wing and A Prayer

2005-11-22T09:26:00.000-08:00

What a movie.

I found this on sale at a local department store and bought it on a whim. A great decision!

Staring Don Ameche and Dana Andrews, this World War II action-adventure takes place on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. Sent on a decoy mission, the men are ordered not to engage in combat with the enemy in order to lull the Japanese into a sense of false security before the battle of Midway.

With frustration increasing and moral hitting an all-time low, the men engage in their own private battles with each other.

But it's not long before they have their chance to fight - and become heroes.

Wing and A Prayer has a lot going for it. One, it has great actors. Don Ameche does a stellar job of the ship's commander who has to make tough decisions. Dana Andrews is the squadron leader, struggling to hold his men's moral together while battling his own personal frustrations. William Eythe gives a wonderful performance as a Hollywood star who is now fighting in the war.

The realism of this movie is wonderful. From the inner workings of life on an aircraft carrier to how the men lived, Wing and A Prayer is a history lesson as well as a moving tale of men fighting for their country.

The Best Years of Our Lives

2005-11-02T15:42:00.000-08:00

I bought this DVD without ever having watched the movie. Call it a leap of faith. And I wasn't disappointed.

The Best Years of Our Lives portrays three soldiers and their struggles to readjust to civilian life after World War II. Dana Andrews, Frederic March, and Harold Russell all do a magnificent job of coming to terms with returning to a sense of normalcy.

Each one manages to capture different aspects of civilian life, whether it be trying to find a job, returning to an old job, dealing with the memories of war, or dealing with the injuries of war. All three actors do a wonderful job.

Highly recommended not only for a great look at the difficulties of servicemen returning from war, but a touching story.

The North Platte Canteen

2005-10-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

Right here in little ol' Nebraska, in a small town right in the middle of the state, stood the North Platte Canteen. During World War II, troop trains from all over the country went through North Platte every single day. And every single day, they would stop at the Canteen for a short time - usually no longer than 10-15 minutes - and disembark. There they found something they did not expect...

Food. Smiles. Thank you's. Birthday cakes. Hot cups of coffee. Warm sandwiches. Music. Pretty girls to dance with. Popcorn balls. Magazines. Women that reminded them of sisters, wives, girlfriends...mothers.

Bob Greene wrote a fabulous book called Once Upon A Town about this remarkable place. It was so remarkable, in fact, that many a World War II soldier would talk about the Canteen to other soldiers and more often than not would get an enthusiastic, "I've been there! It was wonderful" Years later, when Greene found these veterans and interviewed them about the Canteen, they choked up, tears coming to their eyes, as they recalled the overwhelming kindness shown to them by those small-town Nebraskans.

It's a book that makes you feel good and puts you right back into the 1940's. But more importantly, it shares the story of people willing to sacrifice their own comforts for others...for those defending their country.