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Tag Archives: WWII
Dueling Anthems: Memo From Hal Wallis
70 years ago today, Casablanca premiered. Memo from Casablanca producer Hal Wallis to Max Steiner, composer: On the Marseilles, when it is played in the Cafe, don’t do it as though it was played by this small orchestra. Do it … Continue reading
Posted in Movies, On This Day
Tagged Casablanca, France, Hal Wallis, romantic drama, war, WWII
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On This Day: June 6, 1944
Pvt. Dwayne Burns, 508th PIR: “Here we sat, each man alone in the dark. These men around me were the best friends I will ever know. I wondered how many would die before the sun came up. ‘Lord, I pray, … Continue reading
The Books: Survival in Auschwitz, by Primo Levi
Daily Book Excerpt: Memoirs: Next book on the Memoir/Letters/Journals shelf is Survival In Auschwitz, by Primo Levi Primo Levi, an Italian Jew, completed his memoir of his time in Auschwitz (he was there until the very end, even after the … Continue reading
The Books: Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
Daily Book Excerpt: Memoirs: Next book on the Memoir/Letters/Journals shelf is Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank I was 11 when I first read The Diary of Anne Frank. The book shattered my illusions about … Continue reading
The Books: Dear God, Have You Ever Gone Hungry?, by Joseph Bau
Daily Book Excerpt: Memoirs: Next book on the Memoir/Letters/Journals shelf is Dear God, Have You Ever Gone Hungry?, by Joseph Bau. Joseph Bau was interned at the Plaszow concentration camp in Krakow when he met his future wife, Rebecca, another … Continue reading
The Books: War Within & Without: Diaries And Letters Of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1939-1944
Daily Book Excerpt: Memoirs: Next book on the Memoir/Letters/Journals shelf is War Within & Without: Diaries And Letters Of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1939-1944 Anne Lindbergh’s journals of these terrible years read, at times, like one long apologia for her husband’s … Continue reading
Posted in Books
Tagged Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Charles Lindbergh, France, Germany, Memoirs, war, WWII
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The Books: I Will Bear Witness: 1942-1945, by Victor Klemperer
Daily Book Excerpt: Memoirs: Next book on the Memoir/Letters/Journals shelf is I Will Bear Witness 1942-1945: A Diary of the Nazi Years, by Victor Klemperer Volume II of Victor Klemperer’s extraordinary journal (volume I here). The screws tighten inexorably, and … Continue reading
The Books: I Will Bear Witness: A Diary of the Nazi Years, 1933-1941, by Victor Klemperer
Daily Book Excerpt: Memoirs: Next book on the Memoir/Letters/Journals shelf is I Will Bear Witness: A Diary of the Nazi Years, 1933-1941, by Victor Klemperer The journals (there are three volumes in all) are written by a Jewish man, an … Continue reading
Rebecca West on Goering
I’ve got a couple of what I call “intellectual idols”, people who analyze and parse the world and its events, in a way that seems singular, important, and (in some cases) life-altering (for me). I was one way before I … Continue reading
Posted in Books
Tagged George Orwell, Germany, Rebecca West, Robert Conquest, Robert Kaplan, Ryszard Kapuściński, war, WWII
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Today In History: September 1, 1939
Germany invaded Poland, 70 years ago today. From Newsweek: Scenes from the invasion of Poland From MSN: Friends, foes, mark WWII’s start in Poland Hitler’s speech on Sept. 1, 1939, from Berlin: To the defense forces: The Polish nation refused … Continue reading