Category Archives: World War II

In the news: Silver galore!

Last week, according to the British newspaper The Telegraph, hundreds of bars of silver were retrieved from the cargo ship SS Gairsoppa, which was sunk by a German U-boat in 1941. The ship went down off the coast of Ireland and … Continue reading

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This week in the War, 15–21 July: An end to the war?

The war could have ended this week. It would have been a different end, with Hitler and Churchill, if not exactly shaking hands, at least agreeing to quit fighting and go their separate ways. Britain would keep its Empire, Germany … Continue reading

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Book review: Fifty Shades of Grey, plus two more

Anastasia Steele is bright, witty, and beautiful—in the eyes of her boyfriend Christian Grey, who’s no dog himself as far as looks go. To boot, he’s not badly off. Think Daddy Warbucks and scale up by a few powers of … Continue reading

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This week in the War, 8–14 July 1940: Vive l’Angleterre! Vive la France!

14 July, Bastille Day—in happier times a day of national celebration—was observed as a day of mourning throughout France, this week in the war, 1940. In London, General de Gaulle laid a wreath at the Cenotaph and inspected soldiers of … Continue reading

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Guest blog by Mark Stuart Ellison: Remembering a World War II Radio Man on Independence Day

Barbecues, fireworks, and beach parties are fine ways of celebrating July 4, but we should also remember the people who have put themselves in harm’s way to make possible the freedoms that Americans enjoy. My favorite way of commemorating America’s … Continue reading

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In the news: Queen Elizabeth unveils Bomber Command memorial, 28 June 2012

A few days ago, and 67 years after the most devastating war in history, the Queen unveiled a new monument on the edge of Green Park in central London. The larger-than-life sculpture features the WWII airmen of Britain’s Bomber Command. … Continue reading

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This week in the war, 1–7 July 1940: England’s Last War Against France

England’s last war against France—as recounted in Colin Smith’s book of that very title—was not fought in Napoleonic times. We are not talking Wellington versus Bonaparte at Waterloo. Rather: Winston Churchill versus Marshal Philip Petain, leader of Vichy France. Their war … Continue reading

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Milestones: Reinhard Heydrich. The usurper meets his end.

This week finds me in Prague and in the company of friends—some of whom are World War II buffs. The beautiful old city is dominated by its castle, which was once home to the kings of Bohemia and still lodges … Continue reading

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This week in the War, 24–30 June 1940: ‘A policeman’s lot is not a happy one’

Were Gilbert & Sullivan right? In a show-stopping number in their comic musical The Pirates of Penzance, the policemen’s chorus declares ‘A policeman’s lot is not a happy one.’ The action takes place near the English seaside town of Penzance … Continue reading

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Milestones: The cadets of Saumur

In Saumur, there’s a marvellous tank museum—le Musee des Blindes, as it’s called in French—and I was there not so long ago. The tanks date from World War I up to modern times. There’s a WWII Panther and a King … Continue reading

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