Showing results for "john" in World War II

On April 12, 1945, a fleet of American B-29 bombers flew toward Japan. Their mission was simple: Stop World War II by burning the cities, factories, and military bases of the Japanese em­pire, thereby forcing an unconditional surrender. But it didn't go as planned. Beyond Valor is one soldier's...

John Basilone was a man who embodied self-sacrifice. Prior to his passing, he engaged in several incredible battles with America’s foes in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It was during the heat of battle at Guadalcanal that this Marine proved himself a thousand times over. Under heavy fire, he left his position to run across hostile terrain to grab up much-needed ammunition so that he could resupply his gunners. In the end, only Basilone and two other men from his unit were left standing, but they nevertheless managed to hand the Japanese a stunning defeat.

Letters from Bud is the remarkable firsthand account of the harrowing air war in Europe as told by WW2 flight navigator and bombardier John “Bud” Brandenburg, in his letters home during the conflict, from 1944-45. With guts, wit, and grace, Brandenburg records his experiences with the daring “Koltun crew”, which flew 30 missions over Europe. Through numerous strokes of fate, the crew survived a run of missions with the “bloody” 492nd Bomb Group, a unit that endured an 80 percent casualty rate as the men faced down the seemingly unstoppable German Luftwaffe.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill crossed the Rhine River on March 25th, 1945. His presence was calculated to emphasize the British role in the defeat of the Germans and to divert attention away from Patton and the Americans who had crossed the Rhine at Remagen two weeks earlier. Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower had warned his commanders that Churchill would seek to steal the limelight. Eisenhower ordered his commanders to refuse any requests to cross the Rhine--“The answer must be 'no!'”

Hans-Erdmann Schönbeck lag mit schwersten Verletzungen und erblindet vor Stalingrad und hatte keine Hoffnung. Doch er wurde gerettet. Als einer der letzten wurde er aus der Hölle geflogen. Fast 80 Jahre später, mit knapp 100 Jahren Lebensweisheit, blickt Schönbeck nun gemeinsam mit Spiegel-Bestseller-Autor Tim Pröse zurück: Auf seinen inneren Widerstand gegen Hitler. Auf die verpasste Gelegenheit, ihn zu töten, als Schönbeck nach der Schlacht in Hitlers Nähe kommandiert wird. Ein paar Nächte schläft er auch neben Graf Stauffenbergs Bombe.