Introduction to the Volkssturm The Volkssturm, translating to “People’s Storm” in English, was a national militia established by Nazi Germany in the final months of World War II. As the war progressed unfavorably for Germany, the Allies pressed forward on both the Eastern and Western fronts, leaving the Nazi regime in a desperate situation. The …
Introduction to Operation Overlord Operation Overlord, more commonly known as D-Day, stands as one of the most pivotal events of World War II. This monumental military operation, which took place on June 6, 1944, marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. The sheer scale and meticulous planning that went into Operation Overlord were …
What is a ‘Mensch’? What is a Mensch? “Mensch” (pronounced ‘mɛnʃ’) has its roots in Yiddish, a High German-derived language spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. The word “Mensch” is closely related to the German word “Mensch,” which means “human” or “person.” However, in Yiddish, “Mensch” is used to describe a person of integrity, honour, and kindness. …
The Fallen of World War II – A video short by Neil Halloran ‘The Fallen of World War II’ is a superb data driven documentary, created by Neil Halloran. Neil dramatically brings into focus the enormous death toll of World War II is this excellently created video. The inclusion of civilian deaths is truly sobering …
Nazi War Criminals – Paul Blobel Paul Blobel, a high-ranking SS officer in Nazi Germany, played a significant role in the implementation of the Holocaust and other war crimes during World War II. As one of the commanding officers responsible for the mass shootings and extermination operations, Blobel’s name became synonymous with the heinous acts …
French Air Attacks on Gibraltar during World War II The strategic importance of Gibraltar during World War II cannot be overstated. Its location at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula provided a gateway to the Mediterranean Sea and was a crucial link between Britain and its colonies in Africa. While Gibraltar primarily faced threats from …
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Oranienburg, Germany Sachsenhausen concentration camp, located at Oranienburg, just outside of Berlin, Germany, was one of the first and most notorious Nazi concentration camps established during World War II. Sachsenhausen was primarily a labour camp, but did have a number of sub-camps, a gas chamber and medical experimentation section. Despite not being …
Rudolf Vrba – Escapee from Auschwitz Rudolf Vrba, born as Walter Rosenberg, was a Slovak-Jewish Holocaust survivor and one of the few individuals who escaped from the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during World War II. His daring escape, along with his subsequent testimony and reports about the atrocities being committed in the Nazi concentration camps, played …
The Katyn Massacre – 1940 The Katyn Massacre, also known as the Katyn Forest Massacre, was a mass execution of Polish military officers and intellectuals by Soviet secret police in 1940 during World War II. The massacre remains one of the most controversial events of the war, with the Soviet Union denying responsibility for the …