Tag: World War II

  • The Dirty Tricks Department by John Lisle

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Dirty Tricks Department: “Dirty” is entirely subjective. Quick synopsis: The story of the precursor to the CIA and the insane weapons they developed during World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: There used to be a Brooklyn Dodgers football team. It has nothing to do with the overall…

  • Our Man in Tokyo by Steve Kemper

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Our Man in Tokyo: Ohhhhh, so that’s why Pearl Harbor happened. Quick synopsis: The story of how Japan ultimately chose to attack the U.S. from the perspective of the American ambassador, Joseph Grew. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Japanese emperor was seen as infallible, so he was never allowed…

  • Empress of the Nile by Lynne Olson

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Empress of the Nile: It is way easier to acquire an ancient temple than I thought. Quick synopsis: The story of Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, a trailblazing archaeologist and preserver of Egyptian treasures. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: More than 1.25 million people went to the Louvre to see King Tut’s treasures.…

  • The Confidante by Christopher Gorham

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Confidante: I don’t know what she said in those meetings, but it worked. Quick synopsis: The story of Anna Marie Rosenberg who was known as the most important woman in the U.S. government during World War II and beyond. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: To keep up morale during…

  • Dunkirchen 1940 by Robert Kershaw

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Dunkirchen 1940: Let’s see how the Germans messed this up. Quick synopsis: A look at the events leading up to the Battle of Dunkirk from the German point of view. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Never forget that Germany was still using horse drawn artillery at the beginning of World…

  • Operation Underworld by Matthew Black

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Operation Underworld: They may be criminals, but they are still Americans. Quick synopsis: The story of how the Mafia helped the war effort during World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: When TVs were first being introduced to the public, RCA had to create TVs with a transparent case,…

  • Hanged in Medicine Hat by Nathan Greenfield

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Hanged in Medicine Hat: Life is so much more civilized without Nazis. Quick synopsis: The story of executions at a German POW camp in Canada. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Yes, there is a town in Canada called Medicine Hat. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Yes, there were German POW…

  • The Lighthouse of Stalingrad by Iain MacGregor

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Lighthouse of Stalingrad: Hard reading about the Russians as good guys right now. Quick synopsis: The story of the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The U.S. suffered 419,000 killed in action in World War II. The Soviets suffered 27,000,000. Fun Fact for…

  • White Knights in the Black Orchestra by Tom Dunkel

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for White Knights in the Black Orchestra: Yeah, the title is already awesome. I got nothing. Quick synopsis: The story of various Germans who tried to destroy the Nazis from within in World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Henry Ford was a huge anti-Semite. Hitler was a huge admirer…