Tag Archives: Nazi Resistance

White Rose

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This novel, written in verse, is based on the incredible story of Sophie Scholl, a young German college student who challenged the Nazi regime during World War II as part of The White Rose, a non-violent resistance group. Sophie, her brother, and soldiers in his regiment, are disillusioned by Nazi propaganda and together they formed the White Rose,a group that conducted an anonymous leaflet and graffiti campaign for a few years in the 1940s. Sophie and her brother were arrested in 1943 for treason and interrogated for information about their collaborators.

The books is organized in sections that move backward and forward in time. We hear Sophie’s thoughts, those of her boyfriend, Fritz, who served in the German army, and those of the Gestapo interrogator. This is a tragic but powerful story which is beautifully told. It is appropriate for middle school and high school students, and adults interested in history and novel in verse will also appreciate White Rose.

The Lady is a Spy: Virginia Hall, World War II Hero of the French Resistance by Don Mitchell

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This biography is a younger reader version of the story of Virginia Hall, an American woman who fought discrimination over her gender and physical disability when she worked for the US State Department, left that job in Europe and to drive an ambulance for the French Army, then becomes a spy for the French Resistance during WWII, is captured several times, escapes, is awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and later works for the Central Intelligence Agency during the Cold War.

Virginia Hall suffered discrimination not only because she was a woman working in intelligence in the 1930’s-60’s, but also because she wore a prosthetic leg after losing hers in a hunting accident as a teenager. Even with the assistance of President Roosevelt, she could not advance in government service here in the USA, so went to work for the State Department abroad. Fluent in multiple languages and having a brilliant mind, she still struggled with discrimination. With war breaking out in Europe, she joined the war effort in France where her disability was not considered a liability. From there she joined the British Intelligence Service as a spy, finding herself at the top of the Nazi’s most-wanted list. She was pursued by the Gestapo’s infamous Klaus Barbie, known as “the Butcher of Lyon” for the torture and killing of thousands in France by his forces. Hall later becoming the most highly decorated civilian woman of WW II, and is regarded as the greatest American spy of the era.

With such an exciting plotline of espionage and danger, courage, determination, and romance, one would expect this book to be a gripping read. Unfortunately, it is not. It reads like a mediocre Reader’s Digest edition of a greater work. In this case, the greater work being A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell. Students who are interested in espionage, WW II history, and equal rights for women and those with disabilities, should read Purnell’s book instead if they can brave the violence that is glossed over in The Lady is a Spy.

Irena’s Children: A True Story of Courage

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“ Irena’s Children” Young Readers Edition is a true story of courage written by Tilar J. Mazzeo and adapted by Mary Cronk Farrell.

This book is about Polish woman Irena and her acquaintances ( her co-workers and her friends), who helped more than 2,000 Jewish children survive during one of the worst times of  World War 2.  This incredible story set in Warsaw, Poland, when Germans hunt and tried to wipe out the Jewish nation: they herded all Jewish people into separate territories, and then send them away to labor camps, or killed them.  This territory is called ghetto.  It was an extremely horrible place, where dogs were valued more, than people by the Nazis. Author describes in details, how it looked like: ”… children in the ghetto with no shoes, no coats, their clothes in rags. That first night some seventy froze to death. Each morning, the dead lined the streets, piled naked and covered with old newsprint and stones. The threads they had worn were taken by the living, who desperately needed warmth.Rats gnawed at the corps. Bodies also lined the streets like garbage each morning after SS men used pedestrians for target practice.”   Also this story shows us, how people could be brave, strong and fearless, even like the moment, when Irena and all her friends got the children out of the ghetto, and helped in keep them safe in Aryan sector of the city.  They did this, even though they were risking their, their kids’ and families.  Another detail, the author shows us the desperation of the Jewish people, as they try to save their own and their kids’ life.  They did unbelievable things, just to keep hope and survive, even with slim odds: “…mother threw their babies over  the wall, never knowing  if anyone caught them and took them to safety.”, people and children jumped between the rooftops, went through city’s sewers, hid children in the coffins, snuck them under overcoat.  This book teaches us, that even in the most hopeless situation, we should never give up.

In my opinion, the book has some gruesome details, that make it hard to read in one sitting.  But this is a good reminder of our history.  That’s why I would recommend this book for middle and high schoolers as well, as for adults, who enjoy history.

– Marianna