Heroes of the Battlefield

By Brian Williams

The year is 1939. Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, has invaded Poland. The world is about to enter into the biggest and most terrible war in history. But from the depths of despair rose some very courageous, selfless individuals, such as Douglas Bader, Leonard “Bud” Lomell and Joan Daphne Pearson, who risked their lives for the sakes of others in need, often for no gain and with no recognition. Here are some of their incredible stories…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: May 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781410992451

Brian Williams

Bria Williams is the daughter of Bryan “Birdman” Williams, founder of Cash Money Records. Follow her Instagram at @BriaWilliams1. 

Book preview

Heroes of World War II: Heroes of the Battlefield by Brian Williams

Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Ordinary Heroes

Soldiers in Combat

Heroes of the Sea

War in the Air

Bomber Crews

Special Forces

Behind Enemy Lines

Unsung Heroes

What Makes a Hero?

Timeline

Glossary

Find Out More

Index

Copyright

Back Cover

Ordinary Heroes

Great Britain’s prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, broadcast a speech on the radio at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday morning, September 3, 1939. He told listeners that Britain was at war. They did not know then that World War II would last six long years, until 1945. In a world at war, ordinary men and women became heroes.

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News of war over the radio made people uncertain and fearful of what was to come.

TAKING SIDES

In 1939, Britain and France went to war with Germany, after Germany’s leader, Adolf Hitler, ordered his forces to invade Poland. Britain and France were allies, bound by a treaty to help the Poles.

GLOBAL WAR

In 1940, German armies overran much of Europe. When Italy joined the war in June 1940, fighting spread to the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa. Italy and Germany formed the Axis alliance with Japan in September 1940. The European war became more of a global conflict when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941 and Japan launched a surprise attack on the United States’ naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. The United States joined the Allies after the attack.

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On this map of the Asia-Pacific war, the arrows show how Japan extended its empire. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Allies pushed back the Japanese in a series of sea and land battles.

THE ROAD TO WAR

Adolf Hitler ruled Germany from 1933. He built a strong army and air force in order to establish a new German empire, or Reich. In 1938, Germany took over Austria and Czechoslovakia. Other countries in Europe let Hitler have his way, in the hope that this would prevent another European war on