There is a fantastic piece on the BBC about an Italian biker from World War II, did you see it? You may read it here. Gino Bartali: The Cyclist Who Saved Jews In wartime Italy. The title alone tells you his story but words are hard to convey the courage of what he did. (He acted as a courier, carrying photographs and identity documents but when stopped, he said that his bike could not be touched as it was carefully calibrated for weight! As he was training for the Tour de France, he got away with it!) I wonder if we can truly appreciate those who helped when it would have been a death sentence to have been found out? Much like Miep Gies, who helped Anne Frank and her family in hiding in Amsterdam, it is something that we should think about, remember and honor.
For the countries who were occupied during World War II, I can only say that the difficulties that they endured are just very hard for me to imagine. I am reading a book just now, which is set in Norway, and I am FILLED with admiration for the Norwegian people. I just read that this book was made into a movie in 1958 and it was voted the most beloved movie in all of Norway. I will tell you about this book very soon, but for now, I can tell you that it is a book that very often makes me put my hand over my heart in awe and respect.
Please read that article about Gino Bartali on the BBC. These true stories are ones that we should know about and share with all that we know- for Gino Bartali, Miep Gies and for all the heroes, known and unknown
The photo above is of Eastbourne in England which is on the southeast coast of England. This is so very close to France! The Germans bombed England heavily and there was great loss of life but Great Britain was never occupied, except for the Channel Islands. (There was a great TV series about the Channel Islands in World War 2, I can't remember the name of it, it starred Hugh Bonneville, the same star from Downton Abbey, if you ever see it repeated, make sure you watch it.)
I saw the series you mentioned with Hugh Bonneville, can't remember the name either, maybe The Island at War?
ReplyDeleteYes, that was the name of it! I just looked it up, and I could have sworn that Hugh Bonneville was in it, but he is not listed in the credits. I must be getting him mixed up with someone else! Oh well! It's a good series anyway, glad you liked it too!
DeletePretty photo of England. How I would love to visit again.
ReplyDeleteI know, me too!
DeleteDear Kay, do you know "Midsomer Murders"? The man who played Barnaby for many years, John Nettles, has been involved in documentaries about the Channel Islands during WWII as well. His daughter lives there, I think.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, we should have deep respect for everyone who dared to resist oppression and helped others to escape. There are, I think, many more who showed great courage but will never be known, since their names and acts are lost to us. Even how "everyday" struggles towards the end and after the war made some men and women sacrifice everything merely to feed their children is amazing. And in one way or other, it is all still going on in far too many places all over the planet (Syria, the Congo, South Sudan, to name but a few).
Oh yes, I think I have seen all the Midsomer Murders! In the USA, we MIGHT get those documentaries in about 10 years or so! HA! That happens quite a bit, it takes so long for us to get something, and then we ask Richard's parents about something, and they have to search their memories, as years might have passed since then!
DeleteAnd regarding your past point, there is a wonderful blogger from Hawaii also named Kay, and just this morning, I read her post from her trip to Bangladesh. http://travelerswife.blogspot.com/2014/05/day-20-march-30th-sundarbans.html
There, if you can't click on the link you can see it and maybe find her post!
Thanks for the great link, Kay - anything with "cycling" grabs my attention and this looks especially interesting.
ReplyDeleteWe are so blessed to live in peace and safety - it's hard to imagine the kind of danger and stress so many nations and peoples have suffered in the last century, and still suffer today.
Yes, Sue, when I saw this story that I truly thought was worth sharing, I thought it would somehow be fitting to have it after my last post!
DeleteSo much better to have a Tour de France winner who is a true hero, and not someone like L. Armstrong associated with it! :-)
See my comment to Meike above, her son's comments on her post from Bangladesh was on my mind when I typed this post.
Happy Mother's Day Kay!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, I love to read anything about WWII. I also love your Robins Egg blue shawl, it looks so pretty on you.
Hugs, Dorothy
Thanks, Dorothy. I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day too!
DeleteOne of my favorite books is The Hiding Place, in which Corrie Ten Boom tells about how her family hid Jews in Holland. All those who didn't comply or just turn a blind eye and pretend nothing was happening, but who did something, are heroes.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day!
Corrie Ten Boom is one of my heroes too.
DeleteHope you had a great Mother's Day also. xx
There are so many outstanding, courageous people in history and today who are examples to us all. Trust you are enjoying a blessed Mothers' Day! p.s. yes, it was hard to pack Scout up -- my mom says I'll never sell any of them at that rate lol
ReplyDeleteHello Janice!
DeleteI just know how difficult it must be for you to send away your little "darlings", I know it would be that way for me! xx
I enjoyed the link very much. What a brave and modest man!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for taking the time to read that on the BBC, I thought it was worthy very much calling attention to this account of this man's life.
DeleteGreat post. Thanks,
ReplyDelete~John M
Thanks, John. I appreciate it.
DeleteA wonderful, inspirational story.
ReplyDeleteActor John Nettles spent the 10 years he spent filming the TV series "Bergerac" living on the island of Jersey where the series was set. He's written a couple of books about the German occupation of the Channel Islands, too.
When I was managing the resort on Hinchinbrook Island, John Nettles and his then girlfriends, Sue (a London nurse) holidayed at the island resort for a week. He was very nice fellow.
Ah yes, I just looked it up. "Jewels and Jackboots" is the title and it looks very much like a book I would like to read!
DeleteAnd you have actually MET the actor and author, John Nettles! Lucky you!
Yes...and we were in contact again a couple of years ago via Facebook, Kay. Nettles is a genuinely nice fellow.
DeleteI always enjoy your insights on history here. Sounds like a great one--off to read Gino's story now.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Monday, Kay.
Thanks, I know you will like his story as much as I do.
DeleteHope you have a great week!
Oh man, I know I commented to this post last week sometime but I don't see my comment on here now. Pooh. If only I could remember what I wrote! Ha! I am always in awe of these heroes. They's so brave and such an inspiration! XOXO
ReplyDelete