Did You Know?

Did you know that I wrote a blog about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion? (Click here to read the blog, The Ten Percenters). It was the largest all-Black, all-female group to serve in World War II and its nickname was the “Six Triple Eight.” Not only were the soldiers presented with the herculean task of clearing a massive backlog of mail, but they were also met with discrimination at every turn. President Biden signed a bill in March authorizing a Congressional Gold Medal for the unit.

Romay Davis, 102, poses with a photo showing her in World War II. Photo by Jay Reeves (c. July 2022). AP Photo.

There are six surviving members of the Six Triple Eight. The oldest survivor, Romay Davis, 102, was recognized for her service at a ceremony at Montgomery (Alabama) City Hall. Romay said in an interview, “It isn’t mine, just mine. No. It’s everybody’s. The mail situation was in such horrid shape they didn’t think the girls could do it. But they proved a point.”

Yes, they did prove a point.

David, Prince of Wales, Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor, and Mrs. Simpson

Born to the future King George V and Queen Mary as their eldest son, Edward Albert Christian Andrew Patrick David (1894−1972)⏤simply known as “David” to the family⏤became the Prince of Wales in 1911 after his father ascended the English throne. Despite a limited role in World War I, David learned to fly and took his first military flight in 1918.

Edward, the Prince of Wales in a post-World War I portrait. Photo by anonymous (c. 1919). PD-Copyright expired. Wikimedia Commons.

Four of the five sons of King George V. From left to right: Prince George, Duke of Kent, King Edward VIII (later Duke of Windsor), Prince Albert, Duke of York (future King George VI), and Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). PD-Expired copyright. Wikimedia Commons.

Queen Mary (third from left) and her son, Edward, the Prince of Wales (third from right). Photo by anonymous (c. 1915-1920). Bain News Service. PD-No known copyright restrictions. Wikimedia Commons.

The Prince of Wales was a handsome and unmarried man. His favorite pastime was partying and developing relationships with married women. Some have characterized his behavior during the interwar period as “reckless.” His father was disappointed and believed David would eventually ruin himself. Read More

Volume One Available Now!

Our new book, Where Did They Put the Gestapo Headquarters? A Walking Tour of Nazi-Occupied Paris, is available for sale direct from Stew and Yooper Publications.

The price of the book is $24.95. All books sold directly will be autographed with a personal message. Sales tax will be covered by Yooper Publications.

For our domestic subscribers, we’ll pay the postage. For our international subscribers (and non-subscribers), the cost of postage will be added to the cost of the book.

If you would like to own and read our new book, please contact Sandy directly at sandy.ross@yooperpublications.com. Your review of the book on Amazon would be greatly appreciated (click here).

This is the first of three volumes on the occupation of Paris. I hope you enjoy the following preview of the book.

The False War & Vichy, 1940-1944

BRING OCCUPIED PARIS TO LIFE

(without obtaining a ration card to survive)

Come walk in the footsteps of the men, women, and children who lived, worked, and died in Nazi-occupied Paris. Your walks will take you to buildings, places, and sites that were significant to the Nazis, French Resistance, Free French, the British, and most importantly, the citizens of Paris.

“Maybe I’ll protect it; maybe I won’t. It’s up to me.”

Adolf Hitler

(to Albert Speer on the fate of Paris sometime during their three-hour tour of Paris on the morning of 28 June 1940)

Although World War II and the German occupation of Paris occurred more than 75 years ago, these historical events are still fresh in our minds. France spent almost 40 years denying its role in the collaboration with the Nazis and in particular, the arrests and deportations of the French Jewish population. While the German occupation of Paris started out rather benignly in June 1940, within two years the city and its citizens were firmly in the grip of the tightening Nazi vise.

WALK ONE (Vichy France)

Louis Darquier de Pellepoix to the Kommandantur du Groß -Paris

WALK TWO (PARIS BY NIGHT)

Cabaret le Shéhérazade to the Milice Headquarters

WALK THREE (SOLDIERS ON LEAVE)

Montmartre: UGIF to the Moulin Rouge

METRO WALKS (OTHER SITES TO VISIT)

Sample Stops

WALK ONE STOP 10

WALK TWO STOP 9

Testimonials

“Stew blends the dark history of buildings in Paris that are associated with the infamous deeds of the Gestapo with contrasting insights into the bravery of the French people, who, at great risk to themselves and their families, secretly resisted the German Occupation.”

⏤Squadron Leader Stanley Booker, MBE, RAF (Ret.), Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, Member: KLB Club

“An invaluable guide to a host of little-known locations and facts about wartime occupied Paris. Not just for the historian, this book will allow anyone to view this beautiful city of light in the shadows of enemy occupation.”

⏤Paul McCue

Historian, lecturer, and author of SAS Operation Bulbasket: Behind the Lines in Occupied France 1944

“Guidebooks are usually described as informative, sometimes entertaining and Stew Ross’ newest work is both. It is also more⏤it evokes a difficult and frightening time in the history of the City of Light. The detailed descriptions of sites such as the Vél’ d’Hiv’ or Gestapo headquarters as well as the home of glamorous traitors such as Coco Chanel reminds us of the choices people made during those years. Even more interesting is how Paris did its best to remain a capital of pleasure as nightclubs and cabarets remained open to the mainly German audience.”

⏤Cynthia Bisson, PhD

Professor of History, Belmont University

French Resistance Expert

“Another outstanding, well-researched, and presented book by Stew Ross. It gives a detailed guided walking tour full of facts about the activities of the Gestapo during their occupation of Paris during World War II. I highly recommend this book to everyone who has an interest in what life was like during the Nazi occupation in France.”

⏤Richard H.F. Neave

Member of Paris-based Libre Résistance SOE “F” section and author of SOE: A Life in the Shadows”

Tag: Coco Chanel

Prince, King, and … Traitor?

Did You Know?

David, Prince of Wales, Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor, and Mrs. Simpson

Available Now: “Where Did They Put The Gestapo Headquarters?”