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It all adds up to a good reading of a small band of men in the Second World War, but what they went through is beyond our imagination. For those who love war stories, this book is a must to read. I finished reading this book in less than a week, reading in between my tight schedule as a surgeon in 3 hospitals. War is bad, and this book proved it, let's hope we don't have to live through another world war.Anyway, this book is a must for lovers of war stories or war history, once you start reading it, you just can't stop. They're all historical facts compiled by a good historian, but retold as a "war story book / novel". Surprisingly, the stories in this book are more suspenseful, more emotional, and full of surprises, thinks that you wouldn't think could actually happen in a real war.
Memphis Belle flew in the 91st bomb group. I gave this book to my father for Christmas since he was a pilot in the 8th air force and the 92nd bomb group and he was surprised by that statement and checked it out. These stories were very enlightening and worth the purchase of this book for the reader interested in the 8th air force.I was also impressed with the numerous stories of the airmen who got shot down over Germany and became prisoners of war. Although this error was made, I still recommend the book to any reader interested in learning about what the brave airmen of the 8th air forcer who fought over Germany during WWII experienced. It just further highlights the sacrifice that these brave airmen gave to our country.One issue that I had with the book, though, that I need to highlight. This book tells a number of stories of the brave men who flew over Germany during World War II.
The story regarding the airman who was imprisoned in a Swiss concentration camp is new as is the stories of the Swiss shooting down our B-17s that flew over their airspace either accidentally or because they were damaged. I also did - through Wiki-pedia. Some of the stories are similar to ones told in other books - the battling with German fighters, the flak, the experiences of being shot down and being a prisoner of war. The Memphis Belle DID NOT fly in the 92nd bomb group. In a number of years, these men won't be around, so it is important that these stories be captured and shared. Others are unusual and not found in other books on the 8th Air Force.
How they were treated by the civilians, the Luftwaffe, the prison guards and especially their experiences at the end of the war, when they were required to hike many miles with little to eat or drink.
(p. Clearly, the Germans put observance of the Geneva Convention ahead of their plans to exterminate all possible Jews. At one point in the book, there is a quoted discourse in which the Nazi killings of the Jews (and--not mentioned--that of millions of non-Jews) is equated with Allies and their killings of German civilians through bombing. 212).
173), and treated downed American flyers accordingly. 84-on). [The reader familiar with Holocaust history may recount that this, ironically, occurred after the Birkenau crematories had been shut down--in November 1944--two months before the arrival of the Red Army would have forced this development].There were American Jews in Nazi captivity for quite a few years. 78-79).All this is counterintuitive. (p.
Although much has been written, in recent years, that bemoans the plight of German civilians killed by Allied bombing, this book reminds us that the bomber crews themselves faced heavy casualties in their campaigns. 78). There is a brief account of the evacuation of Stalag Luft III in the face of the advancing Red Army (p. Instead of repeating other reviewers, let's focus mostly on seldom-mentioned content.
The Nazi treatment of American Jews was far from monolithic. In early 1945, towards the very end of the war, the Nazis did separate the Jewish POWs from non-Jewish ones, and made other moves against them. Morris comments: "Though the Third Reich was a system dedicated to the complete destruction of the Jewish race, almost all the Jewish aircrew POWs lived to tell the tale of their captivity." (pp. Morris writes: "Some Jewish airmen who ended up as POWs reported that their experiences as guests of the Germans were nearly devoid of anti-Semitism or mistreatment.However, there were instances of Jews being mistreated." (p. It is sobering to realize that the American Jewish POW had a greater right to live, in Nazi eyes, than did the Byelorussian-gentile or Ukrainian-gentile Soviet POW].
Interestingly, Werner Goering, the nephew of Hermann, fought on the American side. 136-on). But when all was said and done, the Nazis did not, in fact, extend the Final Solution to American Jewish POWs. [The reader who is a student of WWII POWs may recount the fact that the Germans murdered over 3 million Soviet POWs, mainly through starvation. (p.
An unknown number, certainly several thousand, were shot down and ended up as prisoners of war in German Stalag Lufts, or prisoner camps." (p. The USSR had not signed the Geneva Convention; the Americans had done so. We see from this book that such was not necessarily the case. Morris writes: "There were tens of thousands of Jewish airmen flying over the Reich in World War II.
We had been led to believe that the Nazis would spare no effort to kill every single possible Jew within reach, even if it went against German military, economic, and political interests. Though both Sweden and Switzerland were neutral, the latter tilted strongly towards the Germans (p. However, nothing more was done against them. 77).
203)--an evacuation that took place several months after the famous GREAT ESCAPE. Some readers may find this false comparison offensive.The most fascinating part of the book deals with American Jews.
There was very little time devoted to their actions during their active duty. Instead 80% of the book is about the service mens life stories before and after WW II. In the entire book there were two chapters that interested me. The title of this book is misleading. I expected to be reading about untold stories of W II.
Would read other books by this author. This book is well researched. Excellent detail and written so all readers can enjoy.
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