D-Day
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The Ardenne Abbey massacre took place during the Battle of Normandy at Ardenne Abbey, a Premonstratensian monastery in Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe near Caen, France. In June 1944, members of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend executed 20 Canadian soldiers in the abbey gardens over a period of days and weeks. The killings formed part of the wider…
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First-hand accounts from soldiers who participated in D-Day provide a vivid and personal perspective on the events of June 6, 1944. These narratives capture the chaos, bravery, and camaraderie experienced by those who were there. Here are some notable accounts: Omaha Beach: Charles E. “Chuck” Shay Charles Shay, a Native American medic with the 1st…
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(First published in 2019) Ireland remained neutral throughout World War II, but that is not to say there was no contribution from the Irish during the war. Many young Irish men did join the British army and also partook in Operation Overlord, more commonly known as D-Day. However, this blog is not about any of…
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Beneath the whispering trees, they lie,In silent rows where poppies bloom,Their names inscribed against the sky,In fields that echo with the tomb. In foreign lands, on distant shores,Their stories linger, etched in stone,Brave souls who fought in global wars,Now rest in peace, their battles done. White crosses mark the endless sea,Of dreams cut short, of…
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The Longest Day is still one of my favourite movies. The epic cinematic event about D-Day and the direct aftermath. It was one of the first ensemble cast movies, basically anyone who was anyone in Hollywood was part of the movie. Because it was shot less then 2 decades after D-Day and the end of…
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One thing about World War II I often wondered about was the transporting of injured troops back to the United States. The photo above shows the first American casualties from the Battle of Normandy arriving in the Eastern U.S. on 29 June 1944, after a 19-hour plane trip from the British Isles. The wounded—a U.S.…
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I have done a blog before on Arthur Kahn, a 21-year-old Jewish German medical student, who had enrolled at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He had returned to Germany to retrieve his student records from the University of Würzburg. Arthur was the first to be murdered during the Holocaust. However, this blog is about…
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On December 16, 1944, the Germans launched their last great offensive against the Western Allies through the Ardennes Forest of eastern Belgium. It would become known as the Battle of the Bulge. Three German Armies attacked a long a 50-mile front. American troops manning the line were thrown into confusion. Even the high command was…
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A subject rarely discussed in the context of World War II is the manner in which daily life gradually returned to a semblance of normality in France following D-Day, particularly in Normandy. By 25 July, with most German armored units drawn westward by the British Goodwood Offensive, American forces encountered a front largely stripped of…
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The Maquis were among the most emblematic forces of the French Resistance during the Second World War. Emerging in the countryside after France’s defeat in 1940 and the subsequent German occupation, these clandestine guerrilla groups played a decisive role in undermining Nazi control and preparing the ground for the liberation of France in 1944. Their…
History of Sorts 