The British Board of Agriculture created the Women’s Land Army (“WLA”) in 1917 for the purpose of bringing civilian women into agriculture to replace the men who went off to fight in World War I. The women were placed on farms where they picked crops, tended the animals and basically, helped feed the country. Disbanded in 1919, the WLA was resurrected in 1939 to serve the same purpose but this time, the men were leaving to fight in World War II. These women volunteers were commonly known as Land Girls, or “Land Lassies.”
British Women’s Land Army recruitment poster. Poster illustration by anonymous (c. 1940). PD-Expired copyright. Wikimedia Commons.Women’s Land Army Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum. Photo by Harry Mitchell (c. April 2014). PD-CCA 4.0 International. Wikimedia Commons.Sculptor Denise Dutton created the finished statue at her studio in Stoke-on-Trent. The statue is part of the Women’s Land Army Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). Staffordshire Women’s Food and Farming Union.
Our topic today is not about the Land Lassies but their counterparts who happened to work on canal boats in England to ensure vital war supplies such as coal, timber and agricultural products (and even munitions) reached their destinations. These women were nicknamed “Idle Women” after the Inland Waterways badge worn on their clothing. As you will see, they were hardly idle. Read More Idle Women
Most of us are familiar with the Nazi atrocities committed in the occupied European countries and the collaboration of certain European governments (e.g., Vichy France and Norway) that supported and assisted the occupiers. However, collaboration in Eastern Europe has largely gone unnoticed. In countries such as Croatia, the Nazi-supported government of Ante Pavelić and his fascist Ustaše organization committed such atrocities and genocide that even the Nazis were appalled at their brutality.
Joachim von Ribbentrop (left) and Ante Pavelić (right) in Venice during the Independent State of Croatia’s admission to the Tripartite Pact. Photo by anonymous (c. June 1941). PD-Author’s life plus 70 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Today, we will look at a Georgia military organization comprised of ethnic Georgians who fought under the Waffen-SS (the military arm of the Schutzstaffel, or the SS). It’s no wonder they were commonly referred to as “The Georgian Gestapo.”
Did You Know?
Did you know that soldiers of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops” received the Congressional Gold Medal? Two days ago, marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day ⏤ the invasion of Europe during World War II. This top-secret military unit was responsible for saving the lives of thousands of American soldiers who came ashore on 6 June 1944.
Commonly known as “The Ghost Army,” the unit’s mission was to deceive the Germans into thinking the invasion would take place on the beaches of Pas-de-Calais, France rather than Normandy. They were part of the Allied “Operation Fortitude.” Members of the Ghost Army were artists, designers, audio technicians, and other deception experts. The story of their deception was kept secret until 1996 when the files were declassified after more than fifty years.
There were seven known survivors of the Ghost Army at the time of the White House ceremony. Three of the seven attended the ceremony along with families of the deceased soldiers. Bernard Bluestein, John Christman, and Seymour Nussenbaum accepted the Gold Medal on behalf of all the men of the Ghost Army.
Ceremony awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the Ghost Army. Photo by U.S. Army/Sgt. David Resnick (c.2022). The Association of the United States Army (AUSA). https://www.ausa.org.
Please refer to our 2024 blog, The Double Cross System (click here to read) and the 2022 blog, The Ghost Army (click here to read).
Georgia
Georgia is a country on the Eastern border of Europe near the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains. Its language is part of the Kartvelian languages, and the alphabet is one of the world’s independent alphabets. Georgia is one of the oldest wine producing countries in the world dating to BC 8000. Its population of 3.7 million is dominated by indigenous Georgians.
Map of Europe with Georgia outlined in red. Map by anonymous (date unknown). https://www.asabbatical.com.
Georgia is one of those countries that over the centuries has been ruled and inhabited by various surrounding regional powers. The Kingdom of Georgia reached its peak during the High Middle Ages (AD 1000 to 1300) before its disintegration and absorption by the Mongols, the Ottoman Empire, and Persia (today, Iran). By 1801, the Russian Empire had annexed the country. After the 1917 Russian Revolution, Georgia became independent but in 1921, the Soviet Union broke the Treaty of Moscow (wherein the Soviets recognized Georgian independence) and invaded Georgia turning it into a Soviet satellite country. Read More The Georgian Gestapo
Lavishly illustrated, gripping guide to the Paris that existed under Nazi rule.
This is a fantastic new book that provides extensive information for both those planning a trip and for armchair historians. While there are are walks that take you past famous places made infamous by Nazi rule, there is also a lot of detailed information. Stew Ross provides details about many topics that are not necessarily popular, including anti-semitism and collaboration. Photos add poignancy. Paris is haunted by its past, and these pages show you exactly why. The days of the Occupation and the Resistance are not that distant.
Jane Gabin, Amazon customer
Mr. Ross brings the streets of Paris to life, making it possible for you to stand on the very spots where the grand and tragic events of the French Revolution took place. If you are looking for more than just the typical tourist experience in Paris, then this book is must reading!
