Fighting to Survive World War II

Nancy Dickmann

Description

World War II was filled with deadly battles. And people caught in the crossfire were in just as much danger as the soldiers. Learn about the war's determined survivors and what it took for them to escape.

Informations

• Publié par: Capstone Global Library
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781474789585
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

Extrait

By Nancy Dickmann

Raintree is an imprint of Capstone Global Library Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales having its registered office at 264 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DY – Registered company number: 6695582

www.raintree.co.uk [e-mail]

Text © Capstone Global Library Limited 2021 The moral rights of the proprietor have been asserted.

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Edited by Aaron J. Sautter Designed by Terri Poburka Original illustrations © Capstone Global Library Limited 2021 Picture research by Morgan Walters Production by Kathy McColley Originated by Capstone Global Library Ltd Printed and bound in India

978 1 4747 8942 4 (paperback)

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A full catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Acknowledgements We would like to thank the following for permission to reproduce photographs: Alamy: C. and M. History Pictures, 20, GL Archive, 45, History and Art Collection, 7, ITARTASS News Agency, 27, 28; ASSOCIATED PRESS: Rick Wilson, 51; Bridgeman Images: Claus Helberg, 33; Getty Images: Humphrey Spender, 49, Taro Hama @ ekamakura, 55; iStockphoto: genlock1, 38, yuribon, Cover; Newscom: Everett Collection, 57, World History Archive, 40; Shutterstock: Dziajda, 10, Everett Historical, 4, Isaac Marzioli, (ink) design element throughout, James A Dawson, 47, lynx_v, 12, Miloje, (paper) design element, Peter Hermes Furian, 17, 36, 43, Rainer Lesniewski, 25, Scandphoto, 35, xpixel, (grunge) design element throughout

Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders of material reproduced in this book. Any omissions will be rectified in subsequent printings if notice is given to the publisher.

All the internet addresses (URLs) given in this book were valid at the time of going to press. However, due to the dynamic nature of the internet, some addresses may have changed, or sites may have changed or ceased to exist since publication. While the author and publisher regret any inconvenience this may cause readers, no responsibility for any such changes can be accepted by either the author or the publisher.

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Introduction ........................................ 4 Escape from Colditz 6 Airey Neave .................................................... Hiding from the Enemy 16 Toby Levy ..................................................... Under Siege 24 Elena Kochina............................................... Sabotage in the Snow 32 Claus Helberg ............................................... Lost at Sea 42 Edgar Harrell ................................................ Never Surrender 52 Hiroo Onoda .................................................

60 Glossary ....................................................... 61 Find out more .............................................. 62 Source notes ................................................. 63 Bibliography ................................................. 64 Index ............................................................

introduction

A war began on 1 September 1939, that would soon involve most of the world. The leader of Germany, Adolf Hitler, resented the treatment his country had received after losing World War I. He was the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, or the Nazi Party for short. The Nazis wanted to create a new Germany that spanned Europe. At the same time, Hirohito, the leader of Japan, had plans to expand his country’s power in Asia and across the Pacific Ocean.

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Soldiers marching through a demolished German town.

World War II began when Germany invaded Poland. Other countries, including France and the United Kingdom, declared war against Germany. Soon fighting occurred across Europe, spilling into northern Africa. In Asia the Japanese army attacked China. The war continued to escalate, and in 1941 two huge powers were pulled into it. The Soviet Union, after being attacked by Germany, and the United States, after an attack by Japan, joined the Allied forces.

Soldiers and Civilians Brave soldiers, sailors and pilots faced death on the battlefield. But millions of civilians were put in danger too. Some of them lived in areas that were occupied by an invading army. Others saw their towns and cities bombed by the enemy. Even people far from the front lines experienced food shortages caused by the war. At the same time, a different sort of war was being waged – a war against anyone the Nazis didn’t like. Hitler and the Nazis hated the Jewish people and believed they were an inferior race. As a result, the Nazis treated them horrendously. Before the war started, the Nazis stripped Jewish people of their rights. During the war, they forced millions into concentration and death camps. They also imprisoned gay people, Romani, people with disabilities and other minority groups. They used these people for slave labour, and killed millions of them, including many children. This genocide is called the Holocaust.

Death and Survival By the time World War II ended in 1945, it had caused the deaths of an estimated 60 million people – approximately 3 per cent of the world’s population at the time. Despite these deadly statistics, many people have amazing stories of survival. They used their wits and determination – and sometimes a bit of luck – to escape seemingly impossible situations.

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