I’m not much of a hat person. I find a ball cap or a toque will do me for the year. And ball caps seem to be the most popular hat style, at least here in Canada. We don’t see a lot of people wearing fedoras… although the prairies may see a fair number of […]
The Trilby Hat – A Chapeau for All Seasons Read More »
A few years ago, I told the story of my great aunt’s common-law husband, Gustav Goldemann. While my great aunt was not a Jew, Gustav was a Jew. For many months, he managed to avoid deportation, perhaps because he was in a common-law relationship with my great aunt, Tante Hanni Knöffler. But eventually, his luck
The 1942 Deportation of German Jew Gustav Goldemann from Berlin to Latvia Read More »
I am way behind in my book reading! And blogging… and research! But… I am happy to report that earlier this summer, I ordered and read Jan-Willem van den Braak’s book about Nazi spy Jan Willem ter Braak (no relation to the aforementioned author). Hitler’s Spy Against Churchill was first published in Dutch a few
Book Review – Hitler’s Spy Against Churchill – Jan-Willem van den Braak – 2022 Read More »
Hello faithful readers, Going to take a summer hiatus from blogging. Life has gotten a bit hectic with a very busy AirBnb and visiting family. I may get a blog or two out, but don’t count on it. Planning to be back September!
Summer 2022 Hiatus Read More »
Jan Willem van den Braak’s book on Second World War spy Engelbertus Fukken (a.k.a. Jan Willem ter Braak) has been published by Pen & Sword! I’ve ordered the book and am eagerly waiting its arrival. Originally published in Dutch, Hitler’s Spy Against Churchill examines the background of Fukken in some detail. I am very interested
New Book Published – Hitler’s Spy Against Churchill (2022) Read More »
Almost 80 years ago, a pair of reading glasses changed hands. German spy Josef Jakobs handed his spectacles to Lance Corporal William Chidlow, a Coldstream guardsman who was a Military Policeman with Britain’s Armed Forces. The transfer took place in the early hours of Friday, August 15, 1941, at Wandsworth Prison. Josef, found guilty of
Seeing Clearly – The Reading Glasses of German Spy Josef Jakobs Read More »
Several weeks ago, I received a comment on this blog from Andrzej Mrowiński, a Pole who grew up in Barlinek, a small town in western Poland. Andrzej is researching the stories of Jewish citizens of Barlinek and their fate during the Second World War. At the time, Barlinek was called Berlinchen (Little Berlin) and it
The Jewish Boy Who Moved from Berlinchen to Berlin Read More »
A couple of months ago, I wrote a post about Ursula Eileen Lloyd, an aviatrix who encountered Robin W.G. Stephens in Addis Ababa during the mid-1930s. Ursula was a bit of a character, to say the least, and I admit to being sucked down the rabbit hole with her story! While writing the original post,
Ursula Eileen Lloyd – Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way Read More »
A few months ago, I received a follow-up email from Dutchman Ivar B. who has been digging away at accessing files on Harm Knol Bruins and his second wife, Anna Lilian von Vaupel-Klein. But before we get to that… a recap. As some readers might remember, I did a post on Bruins about three years
Harm Knol Bruins – An Engineer in Search of Work Read More »
And…. I’m back! Sorry for the long radio silence on this blog. Life got a bit hectic and writing seems to be the first thing to go. I’ve also been waiting on a few books/documents which seem to be taking forever to arrive. I’ll just blame it on Covid and supply-chain issues! I’m still chipping
Robin W.G. Stephens – A Younger and Leaner View of the Man Read More »