SKU: 39970065614

Sudden Courage: Youth in France Confront the Germans, 1940-1945

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Sudden Courage: Youth in France Confront the Germans, 1940-1945The author of When Paris Went Dark returns to World War II to tell the remarkable story of the youngest members of the French Resistance and their war against the German occupiers and their collaborators On June 14, 1940, German tanks entered a nearly deserted Paris. Eight days later, France accepted a humiliating defeat and foreign occupation. Many adapted to the situation even allied themselves with their new overlords. Yet amid increasing Nazi

The author of When Paris Went Dark returns to World War II to tell the remarkable story of the youngest members of the French Resistance and their war against the German occupiers and their collaborators

On June 14, 1940, German tanks entered a nearly deserted Paris. Eight days later, France accepted a humiliating defeat and foreign occupation. Many adapted to the situation--even allied themselves with their new overlords. Yet amid increasing Nazi ruthlessness, shortages and arbitrary curfews, a resistance arose--a shadow army of workers, intellectuals, shop owners, police officers, Jews, immigrants, and communists. Among this army were a remarkable number of adolescents and young men and women; it was estimated by one underground leader that "four-fifths of the members of the resistance were under the age of thirty." Months earlier, they would have been spending their evenings studying for exams, sneaking out to dates, and finding their footing at first jobs. Now they learned the art of sabotage, the ways of disguise and deception, how to stealthily avoid patrols, steal secrets, and eliminate the enemy--sometimes violently.

Nevertheless, in most histories of the French Resistance, the substantial contributions of the young have been minimized or, at worst, ignored. Sudden Courage remedies that amnesia. Amid heart-stopping accounts of subterfuge, narrow escapes, and deadly consequences, we meet blind Jacques Lusseyran, who created one of the most influential underground networks in Paris; Guy M quet, whose execution at the hands of Germans became a cornerstone of rebellion; Maroussia Na tchenko, a young communist uncannily adept at escaping Gestapo traps; Andr Kirschen, who at fifteen had to become an assassin; Anise Postel-Vinay, captured and sent to a concentration camp; and bands of other young rebels who chose to risk their lives for a better tomorrow. But Sudden Courage is more than an inspiring account of youthful daring and determination. It is also a riveting investigation of what it means to come of age under the threat of rising nativism and authoritarianism--one with a deep bearing on our own time.

--Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Dialogue: The Founders and Us

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Custom House
Published: 09/01/2020
ISBN: 9780062470041
Pages: 336
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.60h x 5.60w x 1.00d
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SKU: 39970065614

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Brittney Caveny
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A Sweet & Playful Valentine’s Read Kids Will Adore 💕🦖
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How to Catch a Loveosaurus is such a fun and adorable Valentine’s Day story! The rhyming text and colorful illustrations keep kids engaged while spreading a sweet message about love and kindness. It’s perfect for classroom read-alouds, Valentine’s Day celebrations, or cozy storytime at home. A charming addition to any child’s book collection and a great seasonal favorite!
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Morg60
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Great read with kids
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Great illustration, quality binding
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DENISE TILKO
Boise, US
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Cute story!!
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Shopsfromhome
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 4
Sweet story
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Gave to a 9 year old grandson who has struggled with reading -- looked like a good choice. He seemed initially pleased.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2026

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