Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark (Scholastic Focus)
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- 3,49 €
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- 3,49 €
Publisher Description
Critically acclaimed Sibert Honor author Deborah Hopkinson brings to bold life the remarkable story of the Danish resistance and rescue of over 7,000 Jews during WWII.When the Nazis invaded Denmark the morning of Tuesday, April 9, 1940, the people of this tiny country to the north of Germany awoke to a devastating surprise. The government of Denmark surrendered quietly, and the Danes were ordered to go about their daily lives as if nothing had changed. But everything had changed. Award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson traces the stories of the heroic young men and women who would not stand by as their country was occupied. Rather, they fought back. Some were spies, passing tactical information to the British; some were saboteurs, who aimed to hamper and impede Nazi operations in Denmark; and 95% of the Jewish population of Denmark were survivors, rescued by their fellow countrymen, who had the courage and conscience that drove them to act. With her extraordinary talent for digging deep in her research and weaving real voices into her narratives, Hopkinson reveals the thrilling truth behind one of WWII's most daring resistance movements.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Utilizing interviews and extensive documentation, Hopkinson (Titanic: Voices From the Disaster) reconstructs the stories of those who lived during and fought against the Nazi occupation of Denmark. In an easy-to-follow, accessible manner, she touches on a wide cast of characters as they find ways to resist and disrupt the invaders, from solo sabotage to organized rebellion. It's a compelling look at everyday heroism and acts of valor, as Hopkinson follows the exploits of men like Tommy Sneum, who gained spy footage of a German radar station in action before making an impossible escape to England by plane. The account takes a turn for the near-miraculous as Hopkinson looks at how the Danes spirited the vast majority of Denmark's Jewish population to safety before the Nazis could round them up, then dips into the tragic as she covers the conditions of the prison camps many suffered through. With numerous pictures and illustrations accompanying the text, this is a fascinating look at a little-known corner of WWII. Ages 8 12.
