Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 472
June 28, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 28, 1942: Germans begin summer offensive in Ukraine toward Stalingrad. Germans take Mersa Matruh, Egypt.
June 27, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 27, 1942: All eight German saboteurs who landed in US by U-boat earlier in June are imprisoned.
June 26, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 26, 1942: Germans and Italians attack British at Mersa Matruh, Egypt. First flight of Grumman Hellcat shipboard XF6F-1.
June 25, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 25, 1942: RAF bombs Bremen, Germany with first successful use of Gee guidance radar. Gen. Sir Claude Auchinleck replaces Gen. Ritchie over British Eighth Army.
June 24, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 24, 1942: Gen. Dwight Eisenhower assumes command of US European Theater of Operations (ETO), including North Africa. Gen. Erwin Rommel invades Egypt and is promoted to Field Marshal. Allied POWs begin work on 294-mile extension of Burma-Thailand Railway under brutal conditions.
June 23, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 23, 1942: RAF captures first Fw 190 (German fighter plane), which landed by mistake in Wales. President Roosevelt signs bill deferring married men from draft “until reservoir of single men exhausted.”
June 22, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 22, 1942: Germans take Bardia, Libya. Japanese sub I-25 shells Fort Stevens, OR, no damage; first enemy attack on US continental military installation since War of 1812, only one of WWII.
June 21, 2012
Book Beat - Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot
What would you do if you lived in a land where no one could trust anyone? Where a single misspoken word could lead to death?Tracy Groot's Flame of Resistance explores life in Nazi-occupied France shortly before the Allied D-Day invasion of 1944. American pilot Tom Jaeger is shot down over France, and the "Flame" Resistance cell convinces him to use his Aryan looks to pose as a German officer. Brigitte Durand plays the biblical role of Rahab the prostitute, running a brothel for Germans, but secretly supporting the Resistance. Tom and Brigitte team up to pass on Nazi secrets - at high cost.
The desciption of life in Nazi-occupied France is vivid and shocking, with civilians desperate for food and never knowing whom to trust. The author also gives a nuanced view of the German occupiers - from the evil to the conflicted to the quietly heroic.
Because of its realism and grit, including scenes of torture and the brothel setting, I would not recommend this book to younger or more sensitive readers.
Overall, Flame of Resistance is a moving story that raises challenging questions about redemption, perceptions, and the cost of doing the right thing in an evil world. I highly recommend it.
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 21, 1942: Rommel takes Tobruk after long siege, 32,000 POWs.
June 20, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 20, 1942: Rommel launches final assault on Tobruk. Japanese sub I-26 shells telegraph station on Vancouver Island, BC, no damage; first enemy shelling of Canada since the War of 1812.
