Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 316
January 7, 2016
Today in World War II History—January 7, 1941
British poster, 1940
75 Years Ago—Jan. 7, 1941: Britain freezes prices on scarce foods: coffee, cocoa, meat, fish, honey, and pasta. US establishes Office of Production Management to regulate defense production.
January 6, 2016
Book Beat – Friends and Enemies
In Nazi Germany, recent war widow Heidi Wetzel heads to the countryside to avoid Allied bombings and to help her friends with refugee children. However, a fervent Gestapo agent keeps his eye on Heidi due to her years spent in America.
Lt. Paul Braedel serves as a navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress based in England. When his bomber is shot down over Germany, he can only think of one solution—find Heidi, his high school friend. But harboring Paul could bring danger to Heidi, her friends, and the children.
Brimming with excellent research, Friends and Enemies by Terri Wangard gives an interesting look into life in Nazi Germany and the experiences of B-17 bomber crewmen. World War II fiction buffs will truly enjoy this story!
Today in World War II History—January 6, 1941
President Franklin Roosevelt delivering his State of the Union address to Congress, 6 Jan 1941 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—Jan. 6, 1941: President Roosevelt makes his “Four Freedoms” speech in his State of the Union address to Congress and repeats his proposal for Lend-Lease program to send supplies to Britain.
January 5, 2016
Today in World War II History—January 5, 1941
Australian troops rushing through the streets of Bardia, Libya, 4 Jan 1941 (Australian War Memorial)
75 Years Ago—Jan. 5, 1941: Australians capture Bardia in Libya, taking 45,000 Italian POWs. Record-breaking British pilot Amy Johnson, who navigated solo from Britain to Australia, is killed when the trainer plane she’s ferrying crashes into the Thames Estuary.
British aviatrix Amy Johnson, 1930 (British government photo)
January 4, 2016
Book Beat – Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor
In the 1950s, nineteen-year-old Maggie finds herself pregnant – and the father is nowhere to be found. Sweet-natured journalist Walter Doyle is madly in love with Maggie, and is thrilled when she suddenly agrees to his proposal.
In modern times, art restorer Heather Toulson returns to England from Portland after the death of her father, Walter Doyle. Heather must clean out the family’s old cottage outside mysterious Ladenbrooke Manor, praying she doesn’t run into her first love. As Heather sorts her parents’ belongings, she becomes more and more curious about her older sister, Libby, who died around the time Heather was born. Free-spirited Libby, who sneaked into the manor grounds to dance with the butterflies, but was seen as odd by the townspeople.
For the second year in a row, Melanie Dobson has penned my absolute favorite novel of the year. In 2014, Chateau of Secrets blew me away, and in 2015, Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor did the same. Maggie, Walter, Libby, and Heather are fascinating characters, and the intricate web of secrets is slowly unraveled. With writing as lovely as Libby’s butterfly paintings, I was swept into the world of English gardens and intertwined families. Do not miss this novel, my friends!
Today in World War II History—January 4, 1941
US cartoon honoring Felix Eboue, colonial governor of Chad during WWII and France’s first black colonial governor (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—Jan. 4, 1941: Free French lead Tuareg and Tibesti tribesmen from Chad to destroy Italian air base at Murzuk, Libya, having crossed 468km of desert. German-born singer-actress Marlene Dietrich becomes US citizen. Bugs Bunny receives his name in “Elmer’s Pet Rabbit.”
January 3, 2016
Today in World War II History—January 3, 1941
Crew of gunboat HMS Ladybird operating a 6-inch 50-caliber Mk XIII gun during the bombardment of Bardia, Libya, 2 Jan 1941 (Australian War Memorial)
75 Years Ago—Jan. 3, 1941: After suffering heavy losses, the Italian Air Force withdraws its aircraft from supporting the German Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. Australian troops launch attack on Bardia, Libya in their first major action in WWII. Medical study shows the antibiotic sulfanilamide reduces death rate from pneumonia.
January 2, 2016
Today in World War II History—January 2, 1941
Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O’Brien in San Francisco, Fleet Week 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
75 Years Ago—Jan. 2, 1941: President Roosevelt announces plan to build Liberty Ships, cargo ships designed to be produced quickly and efficiently. The Andrews Sisters record “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”
January 1, 2016
Today in World War II History—January 1, 1941
75 Years Ago—Jan. 1, 1941: Britain suppresses Daily Worker, the Communist newspaper. In hte Netherlands, Nazis require all radios to be registered and taxed.
December 31, 2015
Today in World War II History—December 31, 1940 & 1945
US poster, WWII
75 Years Ago—Dec. 31, 1940: Three French scientists who specialize in High-Frequency Direction-Finding equipment (HF/DF) arrive in New Jersey, having escaped Nazi-occupied France, will work with US Navy.
70 Years Ago—Dec. 31, 1945: US National War Labor Board is disbanded. US ends tire rationing. Australian Women’s Land Army for farm workers is disbanded.
