The United States decided to increase the German quota – the number of Germans that they were prepared to admit in view of the percentage of Americans of German origins – with that of Austria, which had been annexed. It took some time to walk the six miles back to base late that evening, the men having either missed the last bus or more likely having spent every last penny on best beer. As the Soviet troops fought their way ever closer to the Reich Chancellery in the final days of the Third Reich, deep underground in Hitler’s bunker fateful decisions were being made.

But it was not only the escapees and evaders who showed courage but the partisans and other civilians who at great risk not only to themselves but reprisals against their families and in some instances entire villages.He is best known for his Great Escapes series on BBC2 but has presented series for Channel 4, Channel 5, the History Channel and National Geographic. I look forward to sharing it further with other Norfolk groups, such as the Women’s Institute, History Groups etc.

As his life was coming to an end in 2000 he made his son Hubert promise to seek out Joe Stirling and ask his forgiveness for how the village failed to act during the darkest hours of Kristallnacht. People who never asked for the plaudits or glory, they simply thought they were doing what was right. The Nation could allow itself a ‘brief period of rejoicing’, but should remember that Britain was still at war with Japan.Escaping Hitler brings new material to the English speaking audience and as such is a contribution to Holocaust history. Some of his prose didn’t seem to overly ‘gel’ together: his descriptions were excellent and quite engaging but his explanations about certain aspects such as technical war information and rolling off facts -although crucial to the story- seemed more forced.

There's also Australian Ralph Churches, who orchestrated the mass escape of 100 POWs from Slovenia - the largest successful Allied escape of the entire war. I can take credit and debit payments on the telephone and I will package the book up safely, mailing it out by first class post. It was a red letter day yesterday in the life of Joe Stirling when we met for lunch with Dr Hubert Becker from Friesland on the North Sea coast of Germany. If you then add in sales directly from book exhibitions and individual readers approaching me online or via the telephone, total direct sales amount to 891 and counting!The author gathered her information through interviews with Gunter, now known as Joe Stirling, and with those closest to him.

Focuses on established escape trails in Europe, all of which largely involve hiking through harsh terrain — so don't expect traditional fare like tunnels or disguises or document forgery. Over 5,000 British, Commonwealth and American servicemen made the journey over the Pyrenees, the Slovenian mountains and the Italian Alps. Joe would be thrilled to see his obituary, alongside other luminaries, inside a national newspaper…. Delighted to have been invited to give an online talk about Escaping Hitler and the life of Joe Stirling. Escaping Hitler: A Jewish Boy's Quest for Freedom and his Future BIOGRAPHY OF JOE STIRLING by PHYLLIDA SCRIVENS published by Pen and Sword Books on 5th January 2016.Many of these have subsequently gained credence by virtue of their constant repetition – however bizarre they may be. There is a difference between emigrating and fleeing, but it is difficult to define the dividing line exactly.