Elinor Florence's Blog, page 15

Saving Jewish Lives: What Would YOU Do?

This week marks the seventieth anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, so I'm updating a post that I wrote last year. The Scheffer family hid a Jewish couple for two years, saving them from certain death. If caught, the entire family would have been sent to a concentration camp or executed. When I heard this remarkable story, I asked myself – what would I have done?

Saving Jewish lives: what would YOU do?

This week marks the seventieth anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, so I'm updating a post that I wrote last year. The Scheffer family hid a Jewish couple for two years, saving them from certain death. If caught, the entire family would have been sent to a concentration camp or executed. When I heard this remarkable story, I asked myself – what would I have done?

My Brass Button Bracelet

One of my best Christmas gifts this year came from an old and dear friend. She ran across this collection of brass buttons that the owner no longer wanted. Knowing my fondness for military memorabilia, she had them strung into a bracelet for me!

My Top Ten Favourite Star Weekly Covers

A striking, colourful Star Weekly cover image has appeared here almost every week since Wartime Wednesdays began. I want to kick off the New Year by sharing my top ten favourites so far.

Happy New Year From Wartime Wednesdays!

Nothing represents hope and optimism like the New Year’s Baby – in my case, my first and only grandchild Nora! It’s been a great pleasure to bring you stories about Canadians at home and overseas during World War Two. Today I'll answer your questions about the future of Wartime Wednesdays in 2015.

Dresden Church Rose From the Ashes

I saved this topic for Christmas Eve, simply because it is so inspirational. The rebuilding of the bombed Church of Our Lady in Dresden, Germany, is a heart-warming example of renewal and redemption. Please look at the before and after pictures to see what I mean.

'The Morale Squadron' Made Mail Their Mission

[image error]

Imagine saying goodbye to your husband or son, knowing that you will not see his face or hear his voice for years -- maybe forever. That’s why mail during wartime was absolutely critical, both for the boys over there and the folks back home. And never more so than at Christmas.

My Wartime Scrapbook

Readers send me lots of interesting tidbits – none of them long enough to form a complete blog post (not without masses of research, anyway). But here I share some of the fascinating photos, stories, and videos that have come my way. 

Double Tragedy for Fernie Family

A chance sighting of an old grave marker in Fernie, British Columbia, awakened fresh sympathy for a family who suffered the worst blow of all -- not once, but twice.

Presents for People Who Love the Past

It’s exactly four weeks until Christmas Eve. so here's a short list of shopping suggestions for men and women who are fascinated by the unique, exciting, dramatic, never-to-be-repeated World War Two era.