Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 368
October 17, 2014
Today in World War II History—October 17, 1939 & 1944
North African troops of the French First Army in France, 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 17, 1939: Movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur, premieres in Washington, DC.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 17, 1944: French halt offensive through Vosges Mountains toward Belfort Gap in France.
October 16, 2014
Today in World War II History—October 16, 1939 & 1944
Junkers Ju 88A over France, 1942 (German Federal Archives, Bild 101I-363-2258-11 / Rompel / CC-BY-SA)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 16, 1939: First Luftwaffe attack of war on Britain—Ju 88s bomb British ships in the Firth of Forth, and are engaged by RAF Spitfires. US Neutrality Patrols begin patrolling to 200 miles offshore from Newfoundland to Trinidad.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 16, 1944: In Germany, bread ration cut to 7 ounces per week.
October 15, 2014
Book Beat – Promise to Cherish by Elizabeth Byler Younts
One of the most interesting aspects of World War II for me is how the war thrust people together from different walks of life. Cultures collide in Promise to Cherish by Elizabeth Byler Younts. Eli Brenneman is Amish. As a conscientious objector, he’s assigned to work as an aide in a mental hospital where he encounters patients, nurses, and physicians who disapprove of the “COs,” who appear to be dodging combat. Eli is appalled at the poor conditions in the hospital and finds an ally in nurse Christine Freeman.
After a horrible encounter with old crush Jack Delano, Christine becomes pregnant – which means the loss of her job and the disapproval of her family. Eli brings Christine home to his Amish community, where she hopes to have the baby and give the child up for adoption. As Eli and Christine fall for each other, new complications arise. How could she become Amish? But how could Eli leave the community he’s finally embraced?
Promise to Cherish highlights little-known aspects of World War II on the home front – the work of the conscientious objectors and the state of psychiatric care. Elizabeth Byler Younts doesn’t shy away from unpleasant truths, nor does she try to infuse modern sensibilities into the past – both of which are refreshing and honest. Eli and Christine are complex and interesting characters facing difficult decisions about who they are, their relationship to God, and their status in their communities. An insightful novel, and not to be missed!
Watercolor Dreams Giveaway Winner!
Thank you to everyone who came by to celebrate the release of Sherry Kyle‘s charming historical romance, Watercolor Dreams – you can read my review HERE. All those beachy-keen comments made me long for surf and sand!
Now for the winner of Watercolor Dreams…it’s Raechel (at God’s Peculiar Treasure)! Raechel, I’ll email you and Sherry so you can arrange the book mailing. Congratulations and happy reading!
Today in World War II History—October 15, 1944
Photo: Miklos Horthy
70 Years Ago—Oct. 15, 1944: As Soviets cross Hungary, the Hungarian regent, Admiral Miklós Horthy, is deposed by the Germans and replaced with a fascist leader, Ferenc Szálasi the next day. Szálasi will begin aggressive deportation of Hungarian Jews to concentration camps.
October 14, 2014
Today in World War II History—October 14, 1939 & 1944
HMS Royal Oak (British government photo)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 14, 1939: German U-boat U-47 sinks British battleship HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow; 833 killed.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 14, 1944: German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, a suspect in the July 20 Hitler assassination plot, commits suicide to protect his family. Ann Baumgartner becomes first Wasp to fly an experimental jet aircraft.
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in North Africa during the desert campaign. 1942 (Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-785-0287-08 / CC-BY-SA)
October 13, 2014
Today in World War II History—October 13, 1939 & 1944
Barber shop set up by a Marine on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 11 October 1944 (US Marine Corps)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 13, 1939: In skirmishes along Maginot Line, French destroy 3 bridges over Rhine. Movie premiere of Busby Berkeley musical Babes in Arms, starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 13, 1944: Soviets take Riga, Latvia. US secures Palau Islands in the Pacific.
October 12, 2014
Today in World War II History—October 12, 1939 & 1944
Troops of the US 92nd Infantry Division firing mortars, Massa, Italy, November 1944 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 12, 1939: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain rejects Hitler’s “peace offer.”
70 Years Ago—Oct. 12, 1944: First B-29 Superfortress arrives in the Marianas, Joltin’ Josie, flown by 21st Bomber Command CO, General Haywood Hansell. In Italy, Buffalo Soldiers of US 92nd Infantry Division breach Gothic Line, the only black unit to see combat in Europe. Greek Resistance and British glider troops/paratroopers enter Athens, Greece.
October 11, 2014
Today in World War II History—October 11, 1939 & 1944
US 26th Infantry in the streets of Aachen, Germany, 15 October 1944
75 Years Ago—Oct. 11, 1939: NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund established to fight discrimination. Albert Einstein delivers letter to President Roosevelt warning of possibility of German atomic bomb.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 11, 1944: US First Army begins battle for Aachen, Germany.
October 10, 2014
Today in World War II History—October 10, 1939 & 1944
“Glamorous Glen III,” Chuck Yeager’s P-51D during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 10, 1939: Hitler forms Winter Relief, forced charitable contributions from German civilians. Chinese troops recapture all territory in Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi Provinces.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 10, 1944: British and Greek troops secure Corinth, Greece; Germans retreating from Greece. Lt. Chuck Yeager (US 363rd Fighter Group) shoots down 5 German Me 109s in a single engagement over Holland.
