SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Discover the books that inspired this story and dive deeper into history’s most extraordinary paradoxes
THE LAST BATTLE
The incredible true story behind the Battle of Castle Itter. Harding masterfully reveals how American soldiers, German Wehrmacht troops, and French resistance prisoners fought side by side in one of WWII’s most extraordinary battles. This meticulously researched account brings to life the complex human drama that unfolded in the final days of the war.
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THE FORGOTTEN SOLDIER
A powerful memoir that provides insight into the German perspective during WWII, offering context for understanding the complex motivations of Wehrmacht soldiers.
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THE FALL OF HITLER’S FORTRESS CITY
Explores the final days of Nazi Germany and the chaos that led to unprecedented alliances between former enemies.
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HITLER’S LAST DAYS
Provides crucial context about the collapse of Nazi Germany that set the stage for extraordinary events like the Battle of Castle Itter.
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Pigeon Hero!
A captivating children’s book that vividly recounts the amazing true story of G.I. Joe, the brave homing pigeon whose heroic flight saved over a thousand Allied lives during World War II. Perfect for young readers to learn about animal courage and historical impact.
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War Animals: The Unsung Heroes of World War II
Delve into the inspiring and often overlooked contributions of animals in World War II. Robin Hutton provides a detailed account of the U.S. Army Pigeon Service, horses, dogs, and more, including the famous G.I. Joe, highlighting their vital roles in combat and intelligence.
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The Animals’ VC: The PDSA Dickin Medal
Discover the inspiring stories of all the animal recipients of the prestigious Dickin Medal, often called the “animals’ Victoria Cross.” This book celebrates their extraordinary acts of bravery and devotion, with a dedicated section on G.I. Joe’s pivotal flight that saved Allied lives.
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Pigeons at War: How Avian Heroes Changed History
Explore the long and fascinating history of pigeons as military messengers, from ancient times to modern conflicts. This book details the training, bravery, and impact of these “avian heroes” on the outcome of battles, with G.I. Joe standing out as a prime example of their invaluable service.
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UFOs and the National Security State: Chronology of a Cover-up 1941-1973
While focused on UFO phenomena, Dolan’s meticulously researched work examines how the Battle of Los Angeles became incorporated into later UFO mythology and government secrecy debates. His analysis of declassified documents provides insight into how official explanations evolved over time.
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The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume 1: Plans and Early Operations
This official military history includes detailed analysis of the Battle of Los Angeles and its impact on air defense procedures. Written by military historians with access to classified documents, this work provides the most authoritative account of what military officials believed happened that night and how the incident influenced subsequent defensive strategies.
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Is Paris Burning?
The classic account that brought the story of Paris’s liberation to international attention. Based on extensive interviews with participants and access to previously classified documents, this book provides a comprehensive narrative of the events leading up to the liberation and von Choltitz’s controversial role in preserving the city.
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The Liberation of Paris: How Eisenhower, de Gaulle, and von Choltitz Saved the City of Light
A modern reassessment that examines the complex political and military factors behind the liberation of Paris. Smith provides valuable context on the strategic decisions made by Allied commanders and the diplomatic maneuvering that shaped the liberation’s outcome.
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The Search for Major Plagge: The Nazi Who Saved Jews
Part detective story, part personal quest, this remarkable book tells the story of Dr. Michael Good’s five-year search to uncover the identity and heroic actions of the German officer who saved his mother’s life. Based on extensive survivor interviews and previously classified German files, it reveals how Major Karl Plagge used his position at vehicle repair facility HKP 562 to rescue over 1,200 Jews from the Vilna Ghetto. Good’s research directly led to Plagge’s recognition as “Righteous Among the Nations” by Yad Vashem in 2005.
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The Sinking of the Laconia and the U-Boat War
The definitive account of the Laconia Incident, meticulously researched using German, British, and American archives. Duffy masterfully presents the full context of U-boat warfare while focusing on the human drama of Werner Hartenstein’s unprecedented rescue operation. The book explores how this single incident changed submarine warfare forever and examines the moral complexities faced by all parties involved.
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The Sinking of the Laconia
A gripping narrative account that brings to life the personal stories of survivors and participants in this extraordinary wartime incident. Grossmith combines extensive research with compelling storytelling to recreate the drama of the sinking, the remarkable rescue operation, and the tragic bombing that ended it. Essential reading for understanding the human dimension of the Laconia tragedy.
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Operation Underworld: How the Mafia and U.S. Government Teamed Up to Win World War II
The first comprehensive account of this extraordinary secret alliance, based on extensive research including the classified Herlands Report and previously undisclosed FBI files. Black masterfully chronicles how Commander Charles Haffenden and Lucky Luciano forged an unlikely partnership that helped secure America’s ports and aided the Allied invasion of Sicily. Written in compelling narrative nonfiction style, this book reveals the full scope of a story that remained classified for decades and explores the moral complexities of democratic societies making deals with criminals during wartime.
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Corrupted Science: Fraud, Ideology and Politics in Science
A comprehensive examination of how political ideology has corrupted scientific research throughout history, with detailed coverage of Ivanov’s human-ape hybridization experiments. Grant contextualizes the Soviet project within the broader pattern of politically motivated pseudoscience, exploring how totalitarian regimes have consistently attempted to use science to validate their ideological goals. Essential reading for understanding the dangers of politicized research.
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Internal Colonization: Russia’s Imperial Experience
By the Cambridge historian who conducted groundbreaking research into Ivanov’s experiments using newly opened Soviet archives. While this book covers broader themes of Russian imperialism and cultural transformation, Etkind provides crucial insights into the ideological motivations behind the human-ape hybridization project and its place within Soviet attempts to create the “New Socialist Man.” His work reveals the deep connections between scientific research and political control in Soviet society.
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The Volunteer
Winner of the Costa Book of the Year Award 2019. The definitive account of Witold Pilecki’s extraordinary mission, based on exclusive access to previously hidden diaries, family papers, and recently declassified files. Fairweather’s meticulous research and compelling narrative brings this incredible true story to international attention for the first time.
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The Auschwitz Volunteer: Beyond Bravery
Pilecki’s own words – the first English translation of his comprehensive 1945 report detailing his mission inside Auschwitz. This primary source document provides an unfiltered, firsthand account of life inside the camp and the resistance activities he organized. Poland’s chief rabbi states: “If heeded, Pilecki’s early warnings might have changed the course of history.”
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