Author Archives: secondbysecond

This week in the War, 30 Sept–6 Oct 1940: The statute of 3 October

Posted on October 5, 2012 by secondbysecond

On 3 October 1940, the first of the anti-Jewish laws was enacted by the Vichy government, which held authority in the Free Zone—that part of France that was not occupied by the German or Italian military. The statute of 3 … Continue reading →

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In the news: House for sale (in Paris!) & songwriter Cole Porter’s connection with the little song sparrow herself: Edith Piaf.

Posted on October 2, 2012 by secondbysecond

According to Jean Rafferty’s article in the New York Times (27 September 2012), A House… , Cole Porter’s old house in Paris is up for sale. For house, read mansion—or maybe palace or mini-château. Check the previous link for a picture. … Continue reading →

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Vignette: Venus, Victory, and the Chateau de Valencay

Posted on September 30, 2012 by secondbysecond

A few years ago, my wife and I visited the Château de Valençay some kilometres south of France’s Loire Valley. We followed hordes of French school children bent on learning about their country’s history—or having a fun time, at least—and … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 23–29 September: Failure at Dakar

Posted on September 28, 2012 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 23 September 1940, the Free French leader, Charles de Gaulle, arrived with a Royal Navy task force at Dakar on the coast of the Vichy-controlled colony of French West Africa. He sailed on board … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 23–29 September 1940: Rose Valland—portrait of a heroine

Posted on September 26, 2012 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 24 September 1940, Mademoiselle Rose Valland received a grant of 10,000 francs to conduct research into art. Her adventures are described in Rose Valland: Capitaine Beaux Arts (Dupuis, 2009), a captivating book by Catel, Polack … Continue reading →

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Vignette: Lumberjills of WWII—The Women’s Timber Corps

Posted on September 23, 2012 by secondbysecond

‘Jack and Jill went up the hill…’  If this took place in Britain’s woodlands during WWII and if Jill was a Lumberjill, then she wouldn’t be in search of water but of trees to fell, load onto trucks, and drive … Continue reading →

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In the news: Giant Messerschmitt found off the coast of Sardinia

Posted on September 18, 2012 by secondbysecond

According to the British newspaper The Telegraph (13 September 2012) a team of Italian researchers led by Cristina Freghieri recently discovered a Messerschmitt 323 Gigant (Giant) some 200 feet below the surface of the Mediterranean. The enormous aircraft had been shot … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 16–22 September 1940: ‘Hope & Glory’, and the City of Benares

Posted on September 16, 2012 by secondbysecond

As a boy, I loved Saturday matinees at the ‘pictures’—the ‘movie house’ as Americans would say. Give me a bag of sweets and I was all set for a couple of hours of Hopalong Cassidy. John Boorman’s movie Hope and … Continue reading →

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In the news: Hitler shop opens (and closes) in India

Posted on September 14, 2012 by secondbysecond

Who would think that Nazi Germany and British India—the Third Reich and the ‘Jewel in the Crown’—would have the slightest thing in common? Mahatma Gandhi’s famous letter to Hitler (below) represents one of the few and little known connections. Until … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 9–15 September 1940: Luftwaffe bombs Buckingham Palace

Posted on September 11, 2012 by secondbysecond

This week in the war saw the bombing of Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth (mother of the current queen) famously remarked that she was glad it happened because she would be able to “look the East End in the face.” (The … Continue reading →

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