The Resistance

World War II #17

by Russell Miller

Book 17 of the Time-Life World War II series.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Military History, Military Fiction, War, Reference

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1979

About the author

Russell Miller (born c. 1938) is a British journalist and author of fifteen books, including biographies of Hugh Hefner, J. Paul Getty and L. Ron Hubbard. While under contract to The Sunday Times Magazine he won four press awards and was voted Writer of the Year by the Society of British Magazine Editors.

Reviews

[Mickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit, I was obsessed with this book when I was in elementary school. At first, it was the pictures that fascinated me, especially the one of Jean Moulin (including the caption) and the photo of the sniper smirking at the German firing squad. When I was older and capable of actually reading this book, it became even more of a favorite. I would 'visit' it at the library when I went in. Ah, the memories this brings back...

[Michel Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of the better reads in Time-Life's World War II collection, The Resistance covers organized resistance in the occupied countries of the West - Scandinavia, Belgium and France - with plenty of grit and detail, anecdotes about living under a brutal occupation and rising up prioritize over the numbers game a lot of these volumes play. While the French Resistance and the savage Maquis get the lion's share of pages, other countries' efforts are still well covered for a bigger ensemble picture of resistants across Europe working towards underground railroads (for lost soldiers and Jews), sabotage, espionage, and counter-propaganda. And it somehow does it without overlapping too strongly books like Liberation and Partisans and Guerillas, which cover similar ground (thematic or literal). I suppose that as someone who got caught up in this collection originally for the promise of spycraft (the much advertised Secret War volume), this is as close to a Secret War II as they came.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare provided much more background and detail on SOE operations, the photos in this book provided excellent context to that book and this book’s high-level overview of that facet of the clandestine war in occupied Europe. Some of my favorite photos depict the secret dummy objects that concealed radio receivers and compasses! Human ingenuity at its finest. Gripping read.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's the best way of angering a nation? Trying to turn it into Germany and attempting to kill off part of it's population.

[Luke Hershberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda dry but good information.

[Valerie Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read based on human tales of bravery and action. One of my favorite in the Time-Life WWII series so far.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring documentation of the Resistance throughout World War II!

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Time-Life series, this book contains many photos from the World War II era. The courage of ordinary citizens in the German-occupied countries (Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Holland, Belgium and France) is amazing. What started as unorganized solitary acts of passive resistance eventually evolved into a well-organized network of resisters. Although the book focuses on the French Resistance, events that took place in the other countries are also mentioned. Many of these voluntary freedom fighters lost their lives in the process. True heroes, all of them.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focuses largely on the French Resistance, and perhaps rightfully so. Having just read a book about the resistance in Poland, I'd have preferred to see more of an overview of resistance in other countries. This book doesn't mention any resistance efforts outside of France and--to a much lesser extent--Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. Nit-picking time: I counted no fewer than four typos--something of a surprise, as most of these books are impeccably copy-edited. Still, this book is well worth a read.

[Robert Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this Life Time series in the early 1980's on WWII, a volume came to the house every 2 or 3 months so I could take my reading. It was very informative and enjoyable read, I still use it for reference.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume is full of great B&W (and color) photos, maps, and narratives of resistance against the Axis in France, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway. Well written.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the WWII Time-Life series.