World War II occurred between 1939 -1945 and involved all of the world’s major powers. Hitler’s racist ideology and brutal concept of power caused him to set certain goals in Europe, such as creating slave labor, advancing the ideal blonde/blue-eyed Aryan race, and the genocide of Europe’s Jews.
By 1944, up to half a million American soldiers were stationed in England with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). They worked with the British Royal Air Force (RAF). Their job was to attack German cities and industry, thus weakening the Germans’ ability to fight.
Although France was mostly occupied by the Germans, resistance groups were active throughout France. Their activities included spying and reporting information to allies, sabotage, helping people hide or escape, and distributing anti-Nazi literature. Resistance was extremely dangerous; if caught, the consequences were brutal and fatal.
Bomber by
ONE IN FIVE NEVER RETURNED. Every boy dreams of flying, but in war that dream can turn into a nightmare. Harry Friedman is the gunner of the Macey May, an American Flying Fortress stationed in East Anglia. The Second World War is raging and the Nazis have swept over Europe. The crews of every Flying Fortress face terrible odds on their bombing missions. To make it through alive, Harry will need luck on his side and courage ... Courage to keep going when he has watched close friends die. Courage to confront a terrible evil. And the courage to make it home from deep behind enemy lines.Nail-biting tension and compelling storytelling combine with Dowswell's meticulous research to deliver a page-turner for fans of John Boyne, Morris Gleitzman and Marcus Zusak.
Non-com: Non-commissioned. Commission has to do with military rank. Commissioned officers have higher rank than non-commissioned officers.
Kraut: Kraut is an ethnic slur, or an insulting name, for a German. It was usually used to refer to German soldiers during World War I and World War II. It comes from the word sauerkraut, a traditional Eastern European food.
Limey: Limey is an American slang nickname for a British person.
Behind Enemy Lines by
An unforgettable autobiographical tale of survival during World War II. DeMaillie, pilot of a B-17, describes in riveting detail his successful bombing run from England to the industrial center of Germany. But things go very wrong on the return flight when his plane is struck by enemy fire and the crew is forced to parachute into Holland. Although a group of heroic Dutch resistance fighters try to hide him, the Nazis eventually capture DeMaillie and send him to a prisoner of war camp. There, he endures hunger, cold, and brutality until the Allies finally free him. Years later, he returns to Holland in search of his brave Dutch rescuers.
Macfarlane, Bryant. “Photograph Of B-17 Formation Over Schweinfurt, Germany.” Milestone Visual Documents in American History: The Images, Cartoons, and Other Visual Sources That Shaped America, edited by Craig Kaplowitz, 1st ed., Schlager Group Inc., 2023. Credo Reference, https://credosource.infobase.com/articles/Qm9va0FydGljbGU6NDkzMTQwNg==?aid=106697.
B-17: Flying Fortress
Watch for about 12 minutes
