Inferno: The World at War, 1939-1945

Hastings Max. Inferno: The World at War, 1939-1945. 2011. 729p. ISBN 9780307273598.

World War II, a conflict of unprecedented scale, involved tens of millions of soldiers and claimed an average of twenty-seven thousand lives daily, totaling sixty million fatalities. Inferno crafts a uniquely intimate portrait of the world at war through strikingly detailed personal stories, weaving together the experiences of diverse individuals, including soldiers, sailors, airmen, British housewives, Indian peasants, SS killers, and the citizens of Leningrad who endured cannibalism during its two-year siege, as well as Japanese suicide pilots and American carrier crews. Simultaneously, Inferno traces major strategic developments—such as Hitler's refusal to retreat from the Soviet Union, Stalin's ruthless use of population to wear down the German army, Churchill's leadership in the dark days of 1940-41, and Roosevelt's steady hand—placing them firmly within their real human context.

Inferno sheds light on some of the war's darker and less-explored aspects. It delves into the conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland, highlighting the Finns' fierce and surprising resistance against Stalin's invading Red Army. It further examines the devastating Bengal famine of 1943-44, an event that claimed at least one million lives and which, in Nehru's words, served as "the final epitaph of British rule" in India. This expansive approach offers a nuanced understanding of the war's far-reaching impact, extending beyond its most commonly recounted battles.

Unlike many histories of World War II, Inferno draws extensively from journals and letters of individuals who lived through this frightening period in history. The personal touch of living the war through the eyes of participants builds a strong foundation for the history told by Max Hastings. Fans of history will find this volume one of the best history of the Second World War.

Mr. Einstein's Secretary

Reilly, Matthew. Mr. Einstein's Secretary. 2024. 450p. ISBN 9781761260766.

Hanna Fischer and her twin sister Ooma live in Germany. Ooma has mental health issues, and is frequently hospitalized. At the end of the First World War, their father was one of the negotiators at the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the war but led to the myth that Germany had been stabbed in the back by its civilian government. An aspiring physicist, Hanna lives next door to Albert Einstein, and she dreams of studying physics with him. In 1919, her father is killed by assassins, and their house is burned to the ground. Escaping with only the clothes on her back, Hanna is helped by Einstein to immigrate to the United States.

This turn of events launches her into an extraordinary existence that encompasses roles as a student, secretary, sister, and spy. Her journey is fraught with peril, taking her from encounters with racist gangs in Berlin to dangerous gangsters in New York City, and later, into the menacing presence of Nazis in the 1930s and even Hitler's inner circle during World War II. Throughout these tumultuous historical periods, Hanna navigates a world filled with both brilliant minds and horrific events, all while desperately fighting for her survival, with several encounters with her sister Ooma, who successfully escapes and impersonates her on several occasions.

Over the course of forty years, Hanna serves a variety of "bosses," ranging from astute businessmen to vile Nazi officials, ultimately culminating in her working for the renowned Albert Einstein himself. Her unique position as a secretary places her at the heart of some of history's most dangerous moments. This thrilling tale of a young woman propelled through pivotal historical events promises a narrative where appearances can be deceiving, urging readers to pay close attention to the unfolding story.

Bomb Graphic Novel: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Sheinkin, Steve and Nick Bertozzi. Bomb (Graphic Novel): The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon. 2023. 256p. ISBN 9781250206732. Available at 623.4 SHE on the library shelves.

Adapted into a graphic novel by Steve Sheinkin and Nick Bertozzi, Bomb chronicles the intense and perilous race between Americans and the Nazis to develop the atomic bomb during World War II. The groundbreaking discovery of nuclear fission in a German laboratory in 1938 ignites a global scientific pursuit. Soviet spies infiltrate Allied scientific communities, while daring commando raids in Norway sabotage German efforts as brilliant scientists perform clandestine work at the isolated Los Alamos site.

The graphic novel version of Bomb vividly depicts the high-stakes atmosphere, the complex political maneuvering, and the sheer scientific ingenuity that characterized this era. Detailed and colorful illustrations bring to life the historical events and the personalities involved, enriching what is already a compelling narrative. Bomb effectively captures the tension and the moral complexities surrounding the creation of the world's most destructive weapon, highlighting the profound impact it had on the arms race and the Cold War.

Max in the Land of Lies

Gidwitz, Adam. Max in the Land of Lies. Book 2 of the Operation Kinderspion. 2025. 320p. ISBN 9780593112113.

Max Bretzfeld  escaped from Germany and Hitler's grasp. Now after some intensive training and with the world at war and Germany currently winning, Max returns to his native Berlin, not as a refugee, but as a British spy. His official mission, sanctioned by his British spymasters, is to infiltrate the Funkhaus, the heart of Nazi radio and propaganda. This dangerous assignment requires Max to use his radio expertise to gather intelligence and disrupt the Nazi propaganda machine.

However, Max harbors a secret, personal mission that he keeps hidden from his spymasters: the search for his missing parents. Driven by a desperate hope to reunite with his family, Max is willing to risk everything, even his own safety and the success of his official mission, to find them amidst the chaos and danger of Nazi Germany. Can Max stay one step ahead of the Nazis who are hunting him down?

Max's dual objectives create a complex and suspenseful narrative, as he balances his loyalty to his new country with his unwavering commitment to his family. The character of Max is realistic and he makes mistakes like all middle schoolers. But he's also conscious of the risks and every step he takes gets him closer being discovered. Fans of historical novels will enjoy this well researched book and will appreciate this glimpse into a totalitarian society.

Tales of World War II: Amazing True Stories from the War that Shook the World

Hearn, Hattie. Tales of World War II: Amazing True Stories from the War that Shook the World. 2023. 160p. ISBN 9781684493128.

From the daring exploits of a Canadian cabin boy evading German U-boats to the secret code developed by Navajo soldiers and the bravery of a jazz singer working as a spy for the French Resistance, Tales of World War II showcases a diverse range of human experiences. The book also features captivating anecdotes, such as the heroic efforts of a dog during the London Blitz and the remarkable story of a bear recruited by the Polish army. Interspersed throughout these inspiring tales are informative pages that provide essential context on key events of the war, offering readers a comprehensive and engaging understanding of this crucial period in human history.

Tales of World War II offers a unique perspective on this pivotal period in history, moving beyond the well-known figures like Hitler, Roosevelt, and Churchill to focus on the extraordinary stories of ordinary people. This beautifully illustrated book brings to life the incredible acts of courage, resilience, and ingenuity displayed by individuals from all walks of life during this tumultuous time.

The School That Escaped the Nazis: The True Story of the Schoolteacher Who Defied Hitler

Cadbury, Deborah. The School That Escaped the Nazis: The True Story of the Schoolteacher Who Defied Hitler. 2022. 464p. ISBN 9781541751194.

The School that Escaped the Nazis recounts the remarkable story of Anna Essinger, a German schoolteacher who recognized the imminent danger posed by the rise of Nazism in 1933. Foreseeing the devastating impact of Hitler's ideology on her students, Anna made the audacious decision to relocate her entire progressive school from Germany to England. This daring escape allowed her to safeguard her pupils from the impending horrors of the Nazi regime.

As the war intensified in Europe, Anna's school in Kent, England, provided refuge not only to her original students but also to orphaned children who had endured unimaginable suffering under Nazi persecution. Anna's unwavering commitment to offering love, security, and a brighter future for these traumatized children serves as a testament to her resilience and her unwavering belief in the power of compassion and human connection. 

This poignant historical account, drawing upon firsthand testimonies, letters, and diaries, offers a unique perspective on the Holocaust and serves as an inspiring reminder of the importance of standing against hatred and violence.

Under the Same Stars

Bray, Libba. Under the Same Stars. 2025. 480p. ISBN 9780374388942.

Under the Same Stars weaves together three interconnected stories across generations, all centered around a mysterious oak tree in a forest in Germany believed to possess magical powers.

In the late 1930s Nazi Germany, Sophie, a young woman yearning for love, discovers a cryptic message hidden within the oak, sparking a romantic intrigue. Her best friend, Hanna and her have always looked to the oak tree to provide guidance on their lives, to the point of being insulted by the local boys who mocked them. As Germany provokes a war, however, the girls start using the tree for a more urgent purpose: to communicate with the resistance movement against the Nazi regime. But Sophie is still hopeful that one day she will find love.

In the 1980s, American teenager Jenny has just moved to West Germany and is struggling to adapt to her new life away from her friends. Jenny finds herself drawn to Lena, a rebellious punk rocker determined to break down the Berlin Wall. Their lives intertwine with Frau Hermann, an elderly woman harboring secrets connected to the oak tree's past.

Finally, in the midst of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, two friends, Miles and Chloe, stumble upon a forgotten mystery while investigating the disappearance of two teenagers linked to the Bridegroom's Oak eighty years prior. As Miles and Chloe suffer through lockdowns and a loss of social contacts, they come across information that shed a light on what happened in the forest back in 1942, and that connect their lives to that of Sophie, Hanna, and Jenny.

This book explores themes of love, loss, resistance, and the enduring power of history. It weaves together the past and present, connecting the lives of these diverse characters through the enigmatic oak tree, revealing its secrets and the profound impact it has had on their lives and the world around them. Fans of coming of age story, or who want to learn more about living in Nazi Germany or another totalitarian society will enjoy Under the Same Stars.

Peace is a Chain Reaction: How World War II Japanese Balloon Bombs Brought People of Two Nations Together

Stone, Tanya Lee. Peace is a Chain Reaction: How World War II Japanese Balloon Bombs Brought People of Two Nations Together. 2022. 176p. ISBN 9780763676865.

Yuzuru Takeshita had recently returned to the United States from Japan after spending a few years living with his grandparents when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and catapulted the United States into the Second World War. Despite being an American citizen and in violation of the Constitution, Takeshita was interned with his family in camps with over 120,000 Japanese Americans.  For more than three years, the family lived in cramped conditions and endured privations and the loss of their freedom. While in the camp, Takeshita earned his high school diploma and vowed to prevent another gross violation of the Constitution.

In Japan, high school students worked on the war effort. While boys were training and joining the military, girls worked in industries and manufactured weapons. Many girls joined the highly secret balloon program, designed to deliver explosives to the United States in reprisals for American bombings of Japanese cities. These girls crafted over 10,000 balloons released on Japan's western coast. Over five days, the balloons would drift high in the skies with the wind currents toward North America. 

An imprecise weapon, the balloons landed randomly. Many exploded harmlessly, others failed and did not explode. However, a pastor, his young wife, and several kids from the youth church group were out on a picnic in Bly, Oregon. They found a balloon that had crashed and not exploded. Because of military secrecy, Americans did not know about these Japanese balloons and therefore were not wearied. The bomb exploded, killing six, the only deaths suffered on the American mainland during the Second World War.

Coincidentally, Takeshita was internet only a few miles away from Bly when the bomb went off, but they never knew about this incident. It wasn't until the 1980s that Takeshita, now a sociology professor, heard of the balloon bombs. He worked tirelessly to connect the Japanese women who crafted the balloons to the survivors of Bly, to bring an understanding and to foster healing between the two. His efforts resulted in Japanese women coming to Bly and meeting with the survivors. His efforts demonstrated that humans can connect and foster peace, even in the face of historical trauma.

Abandon Ship! The True World War II Story About the Sinking of the Laconia

Tougias, Michael J. and A;lison O'Leary. Abandon Ship! The True World War II Story About the Sinking of the Laconia. Part of the True Survival Series. 2023. 272p. ISBN 9780316401371. Available at 940.54 TOU on the library shelves. 

During wartime, sinking enemy ships was considered of paramount importance, denying the enemy the ability to transport troops and move equipment. The laws of warfare suggests that civilians should not be targeted, but in the fog of war, with decisions needing to be taken within split seconds, sometimes tragedies occurred. A reckless disregard for human life often affected commanders in the field as well, as they sought to destroy enemy targets regardless of civilian casualties. 

There have been "famous sinkings" of passenger ships during the First and Second World War, from the destruction of the Lusitania in 1915 to the tragic sinking of Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945 with over 25,000 dead. A little-known sinking, that of the Laconia in 1942, however, should be better known, as several passengers who managed to escape survived for nearly a month drifting at sea. Some were rescued by German submarines, others by French warships. Still, some eventually landed on the coast of Africa after a trip of 700 miles.

Mistaking the ship for a cargo ship, a German submarine fired two torpedoes which struck dead center, causing the Laconia to sink in less than an hour. Survivors jumped overboard and boarded rescue boats. Realizing they had sunk a British civilian liner instead of a cargo ship, the German captain made the unprecedented decision to rescue as many survivors as possible, even if this meant putting his own ship at risk. When he discovered that many of the survivors were Italian prisoners of war, the captain received permission to continue the rescue.

An attack by an American bomber ended those efforts, and those who remained in the water found themselves without water or food as they drifted away from shipping lines. Through grit and pure survival instinct, a few hardy individuals survived to tell the tale of the Laconia.

Fans of history and of true survival stories will appreciate this quick read.

American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky

Smith, Sherri L. amd Elizabeth Wein. American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky. 

The soaring of the first airplane triggered a race to the skies in the United States. Intrepid individuals took to the air in home-made planes, but as commercial engines became available, a whole infrastructure grew up around servicing and flying airplanes. African-Americans, who were discriminated against, wanted to fly just like their White counterparts, but were being prevented by segregated airfields and laws and customs that argued for the separation of people. African-Americans who wanted to fly were thus hampered in their abilities to do so, and had to ingeniously devise their owns way to get airborne.

During the First World War, several Black pilots flew airplanes, but they did it for France or for the United Kingdom. American pilots could only be White. Following the end of the war, a few of them came back but found their flying prospects limited. Others, like Cornelius Coffey, were enthusiasts who wanted very much to fly, but were blocked from doing so. Cornelius Coffey, a mechanic by trade, partnered with Johnny Robinson, and the two of them, instead of being deterred by all of the obstacles in their way, decided to create their own flying opportunities. They bought their own plane, secured rights to use a field, and eventually even started their own flying school. Black women were doubly hampered by these restrictions, but they fought just like their male counterparts and soon many of them were flying as well.

The struggle continued with exams that Black students could not sit for, permits that were not delivered, and Jim Crow attitudes especially in the South, but through it all Black pilots persevered. As the world hurled towards the Second World War, the need for more military pilot became apparent, and soon programs were expanded to Black students as well, providing them opportunities that had not previously existed., such as the Tuskegee program. These programs demonstrated that integration was possible and did not undermine the fighting spirit and cohesion of a unit. 

By the end of the Second World War, Harry Truman desegregated the military, and folks of all stripes could now learn to fly. Thanks to the struggles of those who came before them, today's pilots share the skies regardless of race or gender.

One of the authors of this book also wrote Code Name Verity, about two girls who fly airplanes during the Second World War and crash in France.

Free to Obey: Management from Nazism to the Present Day

Chapoutot, Johann. Free to Obey: Management from Nazism to the Present Day. 2020. 144. ISBN 9781609458041.

When the Nazis were elected to power in 1933, they set out to dismantle the State to achieve what they deemed a "free" society. The Nazis sought to remove any constraints on actions to further the Nazis' goals, as the people were the State, and not the other way around. This created particular difficulties for the organization of labor, as corporations and businesses were organized around unions and management relations. The Nazis took over all unions, and enforced strict management rules. How could workers express their displeasures at labor policies under such a system? Reinhard Höhn, a technocrat and respected labor specialist, joined the Nazis and proposed changes that would increase German productivity without undermining the power of management to set goals and run their organizations as they saw fit. 

Höhn promoted the concept of freedom for employees. Management could set goals, and employees were free to find ways to meet these goals. Obviously, they were expected to be successful, and would own any failure that resulted from attempting to reach these goals. In this way, employees gained flexibility while the rigid hierarchical structure that granted management power and control over the employees remained solidly in place, despite a push for eliminating the rest of the "State."

Following Germany's defeat, Höhn did not disappear from public life like many other former Nazis. Instead, he founded a management school that continued to extoll the virtues he promoted during the Nazi years, without the racial component so clearly loved by them. And over the following decades, more than half a million managers and white collar workers attended the school, receiving instructions and being formed to this management idea that workers should be free to obey. This definition remains a cornerstone of Western-style management today. Thus, Nazi-inspired ideas about organization of labor and the management of corporations remain with us to this day.

Fans of history and of management will appreciate this succinct history, and will wonder if there are better opportunities to structure labor / management relationships in organizations in businesses that will increase productivity while reducing labor conflicts.

Lawyer, Jailer, Ally, Foe: Complicity and Conscience in America's World War II Concentration Camps

Muller, Eric L. Lawyer, Jailer, Ally, Foe: Complicity and Conscience in America's World War II Concentration Camps. 2023. 304p. ISBN 9781469673974.

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Americans living on the West Coast became suspicious of their Japanese neighbors. Many of the Japanese Americans were first generation immigrants who had come over for a better life, but others were second or even third generation Americans. Regardless of their citizenship, the U.S. government elected to intern and displace all Japanese to avoid sabotage and the presence of a fifth column as it prosecuted the war in the Pacific.

Tens of thousands of Japanese Americans found themselves in camps, away from their property and the comfort of a life now behind them. Each camp was run by the War Relocation Authority, and a civilian lawyer was attached to each with contradictory orders. First, they were to provide legal advice to any of the internees who needed it. They could provide divorces, sell assets, attempt to resolve banking issues caused by the forced relocation, and deal with any civilian law enforcement. Second, they were mandated to ensure that the camps kept operating, and were not disturbed by strikes or protests. The fact that order in the camps often violated civil rights, and the wholesale imprisonment was a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution, added to the burden of these lawyers.

Lawyer, Jailer, Ally, Foe explores the lives of three of these lawyers, who served the U.S. government but attempted to negotiate the best of a bad situation for the detainees. Navigating a racist system that implemented a structure to deal with a perceived lack of loyalty, these lawyers fought the Japanese Americans' exclusion from their own rights, and shone a light on a dark page of American history. 

Spearhead

Makos, Adam. Spearhead. 2022. 352p. ISBN 9780593303450.

Following the Allied landing during D-Day on June 6, 1944, a massive amount of equipment rolled off floating harbors. Among these were the American-made Sherman tanks, large vehicles feared by the German forces. But by September, the Germans were fielding their own large tank, the Panther, with an even bigger tank, the Tiger, slowly appearing on the battlefield. 

Clarence Smoyer is part of E company in the 3rd Armored Division, and is riding in a Sherman tank as the Americans are pushing towards Germany. On the opposite side, Gustav Schaefer rides in a German tank, with the mission of destroying as many American tanks as possible to prevent them from reaching Germany. Through bloody and violent actions causing the deaths of many, armies fight each other as the Germans slowly retreat, pushed on both sides by the Allies and the Soviets. Clarence and Gustav's lives intersect in an urban battle. In the 2000s, both tank crew members are reunited, seeking answers as to what happened on that fateful day in 1944, an event that kept haunting them.

Fans of the Second World War will appreciate this inside look in the lives of crewmen aboard some of the deadliest machines of the war, and will feel every bullet and explosion as the war reaches its climax in Germany.

North African and the Mediterranean

Jeffrey, Gary, illustrated by Allesandro Poluzzi. North African and the Mediterranean. Part of the Graphic Modern History: World War II series. 2012. 48p. ISBN 9780778741930. Available at 940.54 JEf on the library shelves.

In the summer of 1942, the Germans had triumphed on all fronts, and were deep in the Soviet Union. Allies had been pushed out of Europe, and in North Africa Rommel and the Afrika Korp were driving towards Egypt. Three key moments of the Mediterranean campaign have been illustrated in this short volume. The 1941 German conquest of Crete, an island off the coast of Greece, was the first aerial paratrooper assault in history. Thousands of Germans jumped out of gliders and secured airports that could be used to land more troops. But in 1942, the Allies stopped the German advance towards Egypt, and began to push back, eventually defeating the Germans and securing the south shore of the Mediterranean. In 1943, the invasion of Sicily saw the Allies expand in Italy and begin the slow process of moving up the peninsula towards the south of Germany.

Fans of the Second World War will appreciate the details provided by this brilliantly illustrated book. 

Valkyrie: The Story of the Plot to Kill Hitler, by Its Last Member

von Boeselager, Philipp Freiherr. Valkyrie: The Story of the Plot to Kill Hitler, by Its Last Member. 2009. 211p. ISBN 9780307270757.

Many Germans were opposed to Hitler's rise to power in Germany, even in the military. As Europe descended in the flames of the Second World War, German military officers began plotting to kill their leader. Loyal to Germany, if not Hitler, they sought each other out, until a critical number of them were ready for action. Though they attempted to end Hitler's life many times, only the July 1944 bombing that partially injured the German dictator came close.

Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager was a member of a cavalry regiment with his older brother when Germany invaded Poland in 1939. An enthusiastic hunter and excellent horse trainer, Philipp loved his family and his country, and his deep Catholic faith informed all of his actions. Apolitical, Philipp at first cheered the war effort, determined to erase the humiliation Germany had suffered at the end of the First World War when the Treaty of Versailles was concluded. 

But when his regiment was transferred East to attack Russia in 1941, Philipp saw a darker side of Germany. SS divisions rolled through the plains, killing indiscriminately and hunting Jews and Communists. Appalled by what he saw, he was even more shocked to discover that these actions were not only supported and encouraged by the German leadership, but they were in fact state policy. Disgusted by these actions, Philipp sought others who, like him, had had enough. Working with his brother and the full knowledge of his commanding officers, a small group soon assembled to plot the assassination of Hitler and Himmler and plan a future for Germany.

Several attempts were planned, from shooting both men during an inspection to an army camp, to blowing Hitler's plane. When these attempts failed, the plotters determined to destroy Hitler's headquarters with him inside. In July 1944, von Stauffenberg placed the bomb and raced to Berlin, so that he could take control of the city. Philipp led his cavalry regiment away from the Russian front and rushed to Berlin as well, to support the overthrow. 

Unfortunately, this attempt too failed, and Hitler survived. SS units tracked down the conspirators, who were executed. Philipp managed to return to the front with his regiment, and thus avoided being discovered, and eventually the war ended with Hitler's suicide and Germany's unconditional surrender. 

Philipp, who survived the war, provides one of the most vivid account of German resistance and the steps they took to try to end the war sooner. Fans of history and of the Second World War will appreciate Philipp's devotion to his country and to his men, and will realize how close they came to fulfilling their goal of killing Hitler!

Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan

O'Reilly, Bill, and Martin Dugard. Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan. Book 6 of the Killing series. 2016. 323p. ISBN 9781627790628.

By the fall of 1944, the war was winding down in Europe. Allies had landed in Normandy, the Soviet Union was pushing into Eastern Germany, and the Nazis had only one more offensive left in them before the end. However, in the Pacific, the war continues to rage on, with an increased tempo in death and destruction. Japanese soldiers fight tooth and nail for every each inch of every island, opposing American efforts to conquer islands and get closer to Japan. Japanese soldiers would rather die in suicide waves than surrender to those they perceive as uncouth and violent barbarians.

With the bloody body count fast increasing, the Americans devise mass destruction plans for Japanese cities, dropping incendiary bombs on Tokyo and others, burning down several square miles. General MacArthur, how has returned to the Philippines, is now planning an invasion of Japan proper, with over 2 million soldiers. 

Shore and plane bombardments destroy island beaches and mountains, without being able to dislodge Japanese defenders, as American marines and soldiers hop from island to island, getting ever closer to the Japanese mainland. And in the desert of New Mexico, a new weapon, the atomic bomb, is being worked on in secret.

Within one year, the world will be drastically different as the inevitable defeat of the Japanese brings an end to the Second World War, but ushers in the Cold War. Fans of history will love this fast-paced conclusion to the largest war in human history, and will be left wondering whether such a war could ever happen again.

This series also include Killing England and Killing the SS.

Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History

O'Reilly, Bill and Martin Dugard. Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History. Book 8 of the Killing series. 2018. 307p. ISBN 9781250165541.

When Germany capitulated in May 1945, Adolf Hitler's Third Reich came to a crashing end, leaving ruins and death in its wake. Hitler, who committed suicide at the end of April, avoided punishment for his deeds, but most of the other high ranking Nazis attempted to escape. Himmler and Goering were caught by allied forces, and the first one soon swallowed a cyanide pill, while the second was condemned to death but also avoided punishment by killing himself.

However, many of the worst Nazis escaped Germany and took refuge in South America. Dreaded SS doctors, guards, and administrators all fled justice and thought they had found sanctuary. But dedicated teams of investigators pursued them across the glove, and eventually brought most of them to justice. Individuals like Klaus Barbie, the Gestapo chief in Southern France who led thousands to their death, and Adolf Eichmann, the architect of the Final Solution, eventually stood as accused and were judged.

Fans of history will appreciate this story of spycraft and justice being delivered to those who deserve it most.

This series also include Killing England and Killing the Rising Sun.

The Last Battle: The Classic History of the Battle for Berlin

Ryan, Cornelius. The Last Battle: The Classic History of the Battle for Berlin. 1995. 571p. ISBN 9780684803296. 

By April 1945, Nazi Germany was being attacked on two fronts, with combined American, Canadian, British, and French armies attacking from the West, and Soviet armies marching from the East. The situation was growing desperate, and the capital city of Berlin was under constant aerial bombardment. The end of the war was near, and as a result the Nazi regime was growing desperate. The defense of the city had never been envisioned, but with Soviet units mere miles away, it suddenly became a growing concern. Adolf Hitler decided to make his last stand in Berlin, and planned to take Germany down with him since it had failed him.

The Allies, meanwhile, were in a race to see who could capture Berlin first. Plans in early 1944 had been drawn that divided Germany into three conquered and occupied areas, with the Soviets in charge of Berlin. But as resistance remained stiff on the Eastern Front, German armies were less effective on the Western Front, allowing units to move up to 50 miles a day on their drive to the German heartland.

With a population already under siege, the city of Berlin would soon find itself surrounded for one last ditch attack that would essentially end the war in Europe. The Battle of Berlin was the climax of five years of war and destruction.

Fans of history will appreciate the details documented by the author, and will follow well-known individuals as well as regular inhabitants of Berlin as the city fell under the bombs and soldiers of its enemies.

28 Days

Safier, David. 28 Days. 2020. 416p. ISBN 9781250237149.

Mia and her family are prosperous Poles who, though nominally Jewish, are not practicing. As a young girl, Mia watched with indifference as Hitler took power in Germany, but grew increasingly concerned at the rhetoric and the actions of the Nazis. Then in September 1939, the Germans invaded Poland from the West, quickly followed by the Soviet Union from the East, effectively ending that country's independence. At first not much changed, but then strict laws controlling the lives of Jews were put in place. Soon, Mia and her family found themselves forced into Warsaw's ghetto, a small space where hundreds of thousands of Jews were crammed, with very small possibility of employment and never enough food to eat.

Mia, who looks Aryan, the Nazis' standard for the perfect race, is able to smuggle herself out of the ghetto to go and acquire food she can bring back and sell at a large profit. On one particular instance in 1942, she is stopped by bounty hunters, but is saved by a man she does not know, and who kisses her to make it seem she is his girlfriend. This was Mia's first kiss. Over the next weeks, life in the ghetto becomes worse, and there are rumors that it will soon be emptied and everyone will be forced into concentration camps out east, or suffer an even worst fate.

Then Mia runs into the boy again, who is Jewish and works for the resistance. Mia quickly joins and begins to fight back against the Germans. Her mother and younger sisters are killed during German raids to empty the ghetto, and with nothing to lose Mia throws herself into a deadly fight where the only triumph is surviving one more day ..

Armed with small-caliber guns and homemade petrol bombs against the Germans' superior weapons, armored vehicle, and training, the Warsaw ghetto Jews nevertheless manage to repulse their assault to destroy the ghetto for 28 days, marking the longest and most violent resistance against German occupation in the history of the Second World War.

All the Light We Cannot See

Doerr, Anthony. All the Light We Cannot See. 2014. 531p. ISBN 9781476746586.

Marie-Laure lost her sight at age 7. Living in Paris with her father, she spends her days wondering the Museum of Natural History, where he works as a locksmith, learning about the past and the present of animals and man's relationship with nature. Marie-Laure is especially attracted to seashells and the ocean, even though she's never been. Grumbles of war threaten their existence, however, as Germany rearms and seizes territories in Eastern Europe. Following France's declaration of war in September 1939 and a swift German invasion in 1940, Marie-Laure and her father flee to Saint-Malo, where he has family. Her father has been entrusted with a cursed jewel from the museum's collection, and he has been tasked with protecting it.

Werner is a German orphan. Growing up, he is destined to work in the coal mines. Using scraps, he fixes a radio, and suddenly the orphanage catches music and words from around the world. Especially fascinating is a regular broadcast in French aimed at children, which the woman in charge of the orphanage translates for the children. His affinity for electronics and radio allows him to escape his future. He instead finds himself training in the German army to locate radio signals. Having left his little sister behind at the orphanage, Werner knows he is not suited for war, but fears the mines more. In 1944, following D-Day, his unit is sent to Saint-Malo to track down the signals of a resistance cell that is broadcasting German secrets to the allies.

Sergeant Major Reinhold von Rumpel is a gem appraiser who has been tasked by the Nazis to identify jewels and turn them in to the government to finance the war. von Rumpel searches for the gem that was hiding at the Museum of Natural History. Even though it is rumored to be cursed, causing no end of suffering for the person who owns it, it also possesses curative powers, and as he is dying from cancer, he would gladly trade suffering for healing.

As the allies intensify their bombing of Saint-Malo, the story of these three characters become intertwined in a deadly confrontation ...