Volume 37 of After the Battle includes issues 145 to 148. A major
two-part feature covers the French port of Cherbourg. Jean Paul Pallud leads us
through its wartime history: from its take-over by the Germans in 1940; its use
as a naval base by the Kriegsmarine, and the battle for its capture in
1944.
Another account researched by Tony Colvin centres on the German
port of
Wilhelmshaven which, during
the Nazi era, became the largest state-owned dockyard in the world. The
birthplace of the Tirpitz before the war, after the war the Royal Navy went to
great lengths to destroy its future potential as a naval base.
In the Pacific, Justin Taylan visited Bougainville to seek out
Japanese tanks still in situ on the island, and Martin Morgan tells us of the
day when Japan mounted an
attack on California.
The dangers of dealing with high explosives are highlighted by David
Green in his feature on the accident which occurred at the Royal Australian
Engineer Training Centre at Kapooka in New South
Wales, and by Chris Ransted who researched the wartime career of the
Earl of Suffolk, killed in May 1941 while leading an experimental bomb disposal
unit in Britain.
We also cover three significant events which took place in 1944. Carl
Rymen investigates the murder of members of the 6th Airborne Division at
Hérouvillette in June, and Jean Paul tells us of a remarkable discovery in
Chartres - an M5
light tank still buried at the side of the road since it was knocked out in the
battle for the town in August. The following month, Lela Caryannis was executed
in Greece together with 71 of her
undercover organisation, her remarkable story being told by her adopted
grandson. Nearer to home, Marjorie Scott describes the work of The Women’s Land
Army; Andy Saunders looks into the fate of a missing Canadian airman; Roger
Morgan brings us up to date with Operation Mincemeat, and Karel Margry relates
the story of the secret school for Polish agents of the Special Operations
Executive.
Finally, Nikolai Bodrikhin corrects the record covering the raising
of the first flag over the Reichstag in Berlin, the rightful soldier having died in
January 2008.
