Greg Lewis

history

  • Cross of Lorraine crushes the Swastika

    November 11 1943 is, I understand, a well-remembered day for historians of the Resistance in Nazi-Occupied France. It was on that day that the Maquis paraded through the town of Oyonnax in an event designed as a show of strength, a morale boost for the local population. The town was chosen because there was no

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  • The Story of the “Real McCoy”

    The Story of the “Real McCoy”

      Writing Tom Sharkey’s biography meant we got to “meet” many of the great characters of old-time boxing. Sharkey wasn’t the only wild character among them. One of our favourites was “Kid” McCoy – real name Norman Selby – who faced Sharkey in January 1899 as a boyish-looking 26-year-old and had fast become one of

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  • ‘Freiheit’. Tribute: the White Rose

    For those fascinated by this week’s tributes to Sophie Scholl, her brother Hans and Christoph Probst (all executed 76 years ago) this is the spot at which their fate was sealed. Sophie threw anti-Nazi leaflets from the balcony under the clock and into the hall below at Munich university. All these years later it is

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  • Defying Hitler: The Germans Who Resisted Nazi Rule

    Coming soon from Dutton Caliber in the US (published April 2019):An enthralling work of popular history that vividly resurrects the web of everyday Germans who resisted Nazi rule Nazi Germany is remembered as a nation of willing fanatics. But beneath the surface, countless ordinary, everyday Germans actively resisted Hitler. Some passed industrial secrets to Allied

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  • British POW witnesses Nagasaki: “It was simply astounding, nothing left standing for miles, everything flat and burnt out.”

    Sgt Major Les Spence Les Spence was a remarkable man who kept an astonishing journal. For almost four years he risked his life to keep a daily record of hardship, courage and endurance in prison camps run by the Japanese. He and his fellow prisoners faced starvation, disease and cruelty. They kept up their spirits

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  • “Strongly and unreservedly recommended” – study of female spies of WW2

    Lovely new review for Shadow Warriors of World War II from Mid West Book Review: “The result of an extraordinary and comprehensive research, “Shadow Warriors of World War II: The Daring Women of the OSS and SOE” is impressively informed and informative. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, Shadow Warriors of World War II is

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  • In conversation about female spies in WW2

    Many thanks to Angus Wallace of WW2 Podcast

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  • Shadow Warriors: “A welcome addition to WWII literature”

    Shadow Warriors: Daring Missions of World War II by Women of the OSS and SOE KIRKUS REVIEW A group biography of the fearless young women who became secret agents during World War II. Award-winning journalists Thomas (Operation Exodus: From the Nazi Death Camps to the Promised Land: A Perilous Journey That Shaped Israel’s Fate, 2010,

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  • The bravest of the brave: women agents of SOE & OSS

    World War Two was the war in which old gender rules changed, as intelligence agencies created specific training and roles for women. SHADOW WARRIORS is the story of women as undercover combatants: armed with Sten guns and grenades; cutting telecommunication wires, laying mines in roadways; organizing bombing raids; preparing the way for the D-Day invasion

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  • From Snowdon to Everest

    After becoming the first man to climb Mount Everest Sir Edmund Hillary returned to North Wales where he had trained for the historic event. Planning to meet up with Lord Hunt and the rest of the expedition for their first-ever reunion, Hillary arrived late at the Pen y Gwryd hotel and was told that everyone

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