Lume Books
From Dachau to D-Day: The Refugee Who Fought for Britain
Key Metrics
- Helen Fry
- Lume Books
- Paperback
- 9781839013621
- 7.81 X 5.06 X 0.42 inches
- 0.41 pounds
- History > Military - World War II
- English
Secure TransactionBook Description
'I wanted to give something back to Britain for saving my life. But for all the risks, I never once regretted being part of the biggest invasion force ever to land on the Normandy beaches in June 1944, even though it brought personal losses.'
Willy Field was born Willy Hirschfeld in Bonn, Germany. The morning after Kristallnacht in November 1938 he was arrested by the Gestapo and transported to Dachau concentration camp.
This fascinating book details his horrific experiences as a German Jew in the camp, and how he survived to come to England as a refugee. Sent to Australia and interned as an enemy alien, Willy returned to the UK and in time became a tank driver in the Royal Armoured Corps.
He fought for 11 months on the frontlines in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, at a time when the average life expectancy for a tank driver was mere weeks, and was ultimately sent back into Germany - with a tank.
Praise for From Dachau to D-Day:'Excellent biography' - The Oldie
'Fascinating' - The Jewish News
Dr Helen Fry is a historian who has written extensively on the subject of World War II. Her books include The King's Most Loyal Enemy Aliens, Freud's War and Building the Peace. She is an honorary member of the Association of Jewish Refugees, an ambassador for the Museum of Military Intelligence and President of the Friends of the National Archives.
Author Bio
Welcome to the official site of historian Dr Helen Fry.
Helen has written and edited over 25 books. Her works cover the social history of the Second World War: including British Intelligence and the secret war; spies and espionage; and MI9 escape and evasion.
She is the leading expert on the 'secret listeners' at special eavesdropping sites by British intelligence in WWII. She has been at the forefront of widespread media coverage and in-depth research of the greatest intelligence deception of the war: the bugging of Hitler’s generals at Trent Park in North London, and thousands of prisoners of war at Latimer House and Wilton Park in Buckinghamshire.
Helen is recognized as the official biographer of MI6 spymaster, Colonel Thomas Joseph Kendrick.
She has also written extensively about the 10,000 Germans who fought for Britain in WWII.
Because of her expertise, she has been involved in a number of documentaries – including David Jason’s Secret Service for Channel 5 and Spying on Hitler's Army for Channel 4. She has conducted advisory work for TV and drama; something which she particularly enjoys, and has covered the major D-Day commemorations in live BBC broadcasts in Normandy. She appears regularly in media interviews and podcasts.
Helen is an ambassador for the Museum of Military Intelligence, a trustee of the Medmenham Collection, and President of The Friends of the National Archives. She works in London.
Source: helen-fry.com
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