wwii
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Although Switzerland remained neutral throughout World War II, it had to deal with numerous violations of its airspace by combatants from both sides – initially by German aircraft, especially during their invasion of France in 1940. Zealous Swiss pilots attacked and shot down eleven German aircraft, losing two of their own, before a threatening memorandum…
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In a time when true heroes are rare, it’s important to remember those who made a difference through selfless actions rather than self-promotion. Ross F. Gray and William Gary Walsh: Heroes of World War II During World War II, countless soldiers displayed extraordinary bravery in combat. Among them, Ross F. Gray and William Gary Walsh…
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“Collar the lot,” is what Churchill said about the citizens of enemy nations living in the UK, it didn’t matter if they were friend or foe,. During the Second World War (1939 – 1945) a number of internment camps for civilians from enemy countries were established on the Isle of Man. These were based at…
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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…
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On January 14,1942 U123 surfaced so close to New York Harbor that the rides at Coney Island could be seen silhouetted against the evening sky. Captain Reinhard Hardegen expected the U.S. east coast to be blacked out after more than a month at war and was surprised to see the glow in the sky from…
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It is well known that the Nazis made no distinction in age when deporting Jews in the Netherlands. The result was that even venerable elderly people were murdered in Auschwitz and Sobibor, and other camps. Among the victims listed on the Joods Monument(Jewish Monument) site, Klara Borstel-Engelsman is the oldest, at the remarkable age of…
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Over the past few days, I’ve been watching the second season of Squid Game. For those unfamiliar with the series, Squid Game is a South Korean thriller where financially desperate individuals are invited to compete in deadly childhood games for a massive cash prize. As the games progress, contestants face moral dilemmas, form alliances, and…
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The Battle of Ortona, fought in December 1943, stands as one of the most brutal and consequential engagements involving Canadian forces during the Second World War. Often overshadowed by larger operations in Normandy or the Eastern Front, Ortona nonetheless occupies a central place in Canadian military history. The battle was not merely a contest for…
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Although he was a highly controversial character there are two things that no one can deny.1. He was a hero,2. he was and is a legend. The commander of the U.S. Third Army, General George S. Patton, Jr., took no great pleasure in the end of the war in Europe; he already knew that despite…
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“Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler” is the first line of the theme of the British sitcom Dad’s Army. A truly hilarious show. I remember one episode where Capt Mainwaring is telling a story how he met an Australian soldier. He had asked him “Did you come here to die?” whereupon the…
History of Sorts 