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Israel Let Mengele Go So They Could Get Eichmann
A former Israeli Mossad agent says the team that kidnapped Nazi mastermind Adolph Eichmann in 1960 knowingly let another notorious war criminal - Josef Mengele - get away. A former Israeli Mossad agent says the team that kidnapped Nazi mastermind Adolph Eichmann in 1960 knowingly let another notorious war... more
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Julia Child was Covert OSS Spy During WWII (Photos)
During the early 1940’s, President Franklin Roosevelt authorized the creation of the Office of Strategic Services - an early version of the CIA. The secret organization recruited 24,000 spies including many famous and influential people to participate in surveillance across the globe. Among those was the famed chef Julia Child. During the early 1940’s, President Franklin Roosevelt authorized the creation of the Office of Strategic Services - an early version o... more
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Vernon Baker: Only Living African-American Awarded WWII Medal of Honor
Wofford College, a small classical private (and once highly segregated) Southern college, will confer upon Vernon Baker an honorary doctorate degree in September. Baker and six of his soldier comrades waited 52 years to receive their Medals of Honor that they deserved, but which had been denied after World II because they were African-Americans. By the time they were finally awarded, Mr. Baker was the only one who was still living to accept the Medal of Honor in person.
This very detailed, complex article includes photographs and two gripping videos (with a documentary about Vernon Baker).
I honestly am not concerned about "blogdom popularity" with regard to this piece. But I hope that some of you will care about reading it. On the one hand it's a very complicated article, but at the same time it's also just so deeply touching and heart-wrenching. The multi-faceted thoughts that are evoked by this narrative pierces ever so many of the issues that are tearing many of us apart today: racism, the escalating ravages of wars, the indifference of morally corrupt governmental bureaucracies and more. Wofford College, a small classical private (and once highly segregated) Southern college, will confer upon Vernon Baker an honorary do... more -
Recovering Stolen Art
Artwork from Adolf Hitler's infamous Linz collection is now on display online, in hopes that all of the missing pieces may be found and returned. Artwork from Adolf Hitler's infamous Linz collection is now on display online, in hopes that all of the missing pieces may be fou... more
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Remembering Hiroshima
A woman prays along the Motoyasu River in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome at the Peace Memorial Park in memory of the victims of the world's first-ever attack with a nuclear bomb 63 years ago in Hiroshima, Japan. The dropping of the atomic bomb by the US killed an estimated 70,000 people instantly on Aug. 6, 1945, with many thousands more dying later from the effects of radiation. Three days later another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, ending World War II. It was the last time a nuclear weapon has been used in an attack. A woman prays along the Motoyasu River in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome at the Peace Memorial Park in memory of the victims of the wor... more
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Bill will ensure 'sole survivor' veterans get full benefits
It's been more than 65 years since Thomas and Alleta Sullivan of Waterloo, Iowa, lost all five of their sons as the result of combat action in the Guadalcanal Campaign during World War II.
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The tragic loss of the Sullivan brothers in 1942 led the U.S. military to adopt a "sole survivor" policy. The policy provides that when several siblings are in the military, and all but one is killed, the sole survivor can be discharged before his or her enlistment period is complete.
But the policy has a catch, which Jason Hubbard discovered after he and his two younger brothers all served in Iraq. After Jared and Nathan Hubbard were killed, Jason Hubbard left the Army under the sole survivor policy.But then the California resident discovered that his discharge left him without any of the Army benefits to which he normally would have been entitled, such as health coverage and access to the GI Bill for educational benefits. He even was asked to repay some of his enlistment bonus.
Lawmakers were justifiably shocked to learn of Hubbard's predicament, and last month the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Hubbard Act," to ensure that sole survivors are entitled to the same benefits as others who are honorably discharged from the military. The U.S. Senate passed the bill last Friday and President George W. Bush is expected to sign it soon.
The Hubbard Act is retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001, and the Defense Department says there are at least 50 sole survivors who stand to benefit from the measure. That is the least that we as taxpayers can do for people whose families have endured the ultimate sacrifice - sometimes multiple times - on behalf of this nation and our freedom. It's been more than 65 years since Thomas and Alleta Sullivan of Waterloo, Iowa, lost all five of their sons as the result of com... more -
Hitler’s Art Collection
A musuem in Berlin has put the legendary Linz Collection, Hitler’s private collection of art, online. Just think how different world history would be if Hitler had just been accepted to art school. A musuem in Berlin has put the legendary Linz Collection, Hitler’s private collection of art, online. Just think how different world h... more
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Black veterans formally exonerated of crimes
28 Black soldiers who were wrongly convicted of rioting and lynching an Italian POW in 1944 were publicly exonerated at the grounds near the former Fort Lawton chapel and parade grounds in Seattle, Washington.
They were told: “we’re sorry,” and given honorable discharges, their convictions set aside and their families awarded back pay for the time they served in jail.
Forty-three black soldiers were initially charged for rioting, three of whom also were charged with the murder. Only two attorneys were assigned to the case and given two weeks to prepare. They were never shown an Army investigation criticizing its own handling of the riot, and during the investigation two of the accused were threatened with lynching by Army investigators.
Samuel Snow, the only surviving soldier scheduled to attend the event, was unable to attend because of health problems. He was recently paid $725 in recompense.
In the book entitled, “On American Soil,” which revealed serious flaws in the case, the authors, Jack and Leslie Hamann, concluded through witnesses that one of the soldiers charged with rioting was actually trying to quell the disturbance.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/372367_fortlawton27... 28 Black soldiers who were wrongly convicted of rioting and lynching an Italian POW in 1944 were publicly exonerated at the grounds ne... more -
Russia slams Bush for linking Nazi and Soviet evils
Russia said on Saturday that U.S. President George W. Bush had insulted veterans of World War Two by equating the evils of Soviet communism with Nazi fascism. Russia said on Saturday that U.S. President George W. Bush had insulted veterans of World War Two by equating the evils of Soviet comm... more
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Nazi Jews: A Historical Paradox
Would it surprise anyone to learn that there were upwards of 150, 000 soldiers of partial Jewish descent serving in the Nazi army during World War II? Would it surprise anyone to learn that there were upwards of 150, 000 soldiers of partial Jewish descent serving in the Nazi army duri... more
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World War II bomb forces evacuation in Japan
About 5,400 residents were evacuated in Osaka in western Japan and flights at nearby airports were rerouted Sunday as army experts disposed of a large unexploded bomb believed to have been dropped by the U.S. military during World War II, authorities said.
An explosives disposal unit from Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force safely defused the rusty one-ton bomb in the crowded residential area during a 50-minute operation, local army spokesman Shoji Matsumoto said.
Nearby highways and roads were closed, and city buses, boats and flights in and out of nearby airports were rerouted, city officials said in a statement.
The bomb -- about 6 feet long -- was found by workers at a construction site last month, Matsumoto said.
Although the war ended more than 60 years ago, unexploded bombs still turn up regularly in Japan, where U.S. forces conducted extensive air raids against major cities.
A similar bomb was found in the outskirts of Tokyo in May, forcing 16,000 residents to evacuate for a disposal operation. Another one was unearthed in Osaka three years ago. About 5,400 residents were evacuated in Osaka in western Japan and flights at nearby airports were rerouted Sunday as army experts dis... more -
"The Fat Man" - Soviet Promo
A graphic novel - Serialised later this year.
All profits will be going to charity.
www.the-fat-man.co.uk
Synopsis
Undercover British agent “The Fat Man” infiltrates a rogue gang of time-travelling Nazis in a tale that warps and weaves across the violent backdrop of history. Responsible for the death of millions, the mysterious Tegal Project threatens the very core of civilisation.
Betrayed by MI5, The Fat Man finds himself caught between the blazing guns of would-be assassins and the blood-red lips of silent movie star Louise Brooks. Unable to trust anyone and faced with a series of unpalatable choices, he careers madly along the arch of time on the seemingly impossible mission of keeping himself and his lover alive. A graphic novel - Serialised later this year. All profits will be going to charity. www.the-fat-man.co.uk Synopsis ... more -
WWII bomb defused near London Olympics site
An army bomb disposal team is working to dismantle a huge unexploded World War Two bomb unearthed this week near the future Olympic Park in London.
The 2,200-pound German explosive was discovered on Monday by contractors clearing the site. It measures four feet by two feet - the largest discovered in the capital since the mid-70s. At one point it even started ticking.
Bombs are uncovered two or three times a year in London, which bore the brunt of the Blitz aerial bombardment. An army bomb disposal team is working to dismantle a huge unexploded World War Two bomb unearthed this week near the future Olympic Pa... more -
Pearl Harbor a national monument?
"President Bush has asked his defense and interior secretaries to look into designating Pearl Harbor and other historic World War II sites in the Pacific a national monument.
A May 29 presidential memo to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said such status could offer the sites additional protection.
"These objects of historical and scientific interest may tell the broader story of the war, the sacrifices made by America and its allies, and the heroism and determination that laid the groundwork for victory in the Pacific and triumph in World War II," Bush said.
The letter, posted on the White House Web site, doesn't say what specific places Bush has in mind aside from Pearl Harbor.
Parts of the naval base are already under some form of protection or have historic designation.
The USS Arizona, an underwater grave for over 1,100 sailors and Marines unable to escape the ship before it sank during the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack, is currently part of the USS Arizona Memorial run by the National Park Service.
Ford Island, where several of the Navy's battleships were moored during the attack, is a National Historic Landmark.
The island, located at the center of Pearl Harbor, is home to historic airplane hangers that survived the aerial assault. A red and white striped airplane control tower on Ford Island delivered the first radio broadcast of the attack.
Next door to Pearl Harbor, the top Air Force commander in the Pacific today has his headquarters in a building that served as barracks for Army airmen in 1941. Bullet holes left by Japanese machine guns are still visible on the outside of the structure's concrete walls.
Outside Hawaii, crucial battles were fought at Midway, Wake and Guam islands. All are still U.S. territory.
Today, Midway is mainly a wildlife bird refuge and key node in the island chain making up the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument that Bush established in 2006. The former naval base, where the U.S. defeated Japan in June 1942 to turn the tide of World War II in the Pacific, was named a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
Many areas — particularly Pearl Harbor, Hickam Air Force Base, and Guam — that would likely be eligible for inclusion in the monument are still actively used today by the U.S. military.
Making them part of a monument could complicate daily operations for the services. But Bush's memo told Gates and Kempthorne that national monument classification shouldn't interfere with the military's business.
"Please consider in your assessment that any proposed actions should not limit the Department of Defense from carrying out the mission of the various branches of the military," Bush said.
The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives the president the authority to make national monuments of "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest." The president doesn't need Congressional approval to do designate monuments.
Other national monuments include the Statue of Liberty, designated by Calvin Coolidge in 1924, and the Grand Canyon, made a national monument by Herbert Hoover in 1932".
By Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press Writer
With all this negative talk about Bush I thought it would be nice to add something to make it a little balanced. Maybe. "President Bush has asked his defense and interior secretaries to look into designating Pearl Harbor and other historic World War... more -
The Alienation of Bertolt Brecht
It seems that once again, literary critics are discounting the genius of Brecht's work. Since Angels in America was produced, more and more plays have embraced the A-effect as an effective story-telling tool. We have Brecht to thank for this, and it is a shame that his contribution to 20th century theatre and our contemporary theatre has been threatened by anti-Communist sentiment. It seems that once again, literary critics are discounting the genius of Brecht's work. Since Angels in America was produced, mo... more
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Germany honors Nazis' gay victims
The Nazis convicted nearly 50,000 gay and lesbians as criminals. Approximately 15,000 were sent to concentration camps. Few survived. On Tuesday, Berlin's mayor Klaus Wowereit inaugurated a memorial to these victims, whose stories were seldom told.
"This memorial is important from two points of view -- to commemorate the victims, but also to make clear that even today, after we have achieved so much in terms of equal treatment, discrimination still exists daily," Wowereit said.
The pink triangle which symbolizes pride today, was used by the Nazis to identify homosexuals. A pink triangle patch was placed on their uniform. Homosexuals were considered the worst form of humanity by the Nazis and were treated that way. The Nazis convicted nearly 50,000 gay and lesbians as criminals. Approximately 15,000 were sent to concentration camps. Few survived... more -
Tempelhof Airport: Memories of The Berlin Airlift Fade Away
For years, one of Berlin's major cultural landmarks has been Tempelhof Airport, which symbolizes the 1948-49 American-led airlift to deliver food and other essential supplies to the besieged capital. Berlin's Tempelhof Airport is a reminder that American valor has had its better days. Sadly, now there are plans to close the airport by year's end.
This article includes photographs, a video about the Berlin Airlift, and a photo-gallery. For years, one of Berlin's major cultural landmarks has been Tempelhof Airport, which symbolizes the 1948-49 American-led airlift... more -
On The Edge of the Internal Fringe (Utah can be amazing too!)
The secrets and forgotten history of Utah.. explored by a handful of serious artists.
The land you see is more common than you realized; it has been featured in numerous car commercials and films - such as Independence Day, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, and The Hulk. What you may not know is it's a 13 mile stretch of pure salt. Look it up yourself.. city: Wendover, park: Bonneville Salt Flats.
About this clip: "GPS Expo"
The first annual of GPS Expo! Temperature: 115 degrees. The art is ultra fun and super cool. The secrets and forgotten history of Utah.. explored by a handful of serious artists. ... more -
Saving Lives in World War II
Judson Hemperley is a veteran of World War II. But he didn't go to fight... he went to heal. As a medic, he saved many lives including the prisoners at the Nazi concentration camp Dachau. Judson Hemperley is a veteran of World War II. But he didn't go to fight... he went to heal. As a medic, he saved many lives i... more
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The Youngest Railsplitter Part 2
The Youngest Railsplitter is the story of Lewis Bennett who lied about his age and joined the 84th Division during World War II to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. This is the second part to the story of this amazing veteran from Grants, New Mexico. Produced by Poco Loco Productions of NMSU-Grants. The Youngest Railsplitter is the story of Lewis Bennett who lied about his age and joined the 84th Division during World War II to fig... more
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