A walk through Vienna, Austria became something else entirely when small brass markers in the pavement stopped me cold. This reflection traces my first encounter with Stolpersteine, memorials to Holocaust victims placed where they once lived. Read the Full Story.
In February 1945, a Schuylkill County anti-aircraft gunner wrote home from France, describing daily life near the front as the war neared its end. His letter offers a view of war-time service far from home. Read the full story.
Dive into a compelling podcast episode where writer Derek Thompson interviews historian Richard J. Evans about his book "Hitler’s People." Hear fresh research on Nazi support, Weimar politics, and antisemitism as Evans debunks myths and reveals how ordinary Germans enabled Hitler’s rise to absolute power. Read my full reflection and listen to the podcast.
On V-E Day 1945, Anthony Kupko of Schuylkill Haven, PA raised a toast in a brewery in war-ravaged Nazi Germany - while memories of liberating Buchenwald’s starving survivors lingered painfully. His account blends victory’s relief with the haunting aftermath of the Second World War, offering a profound glimpse into a Coal Region soldier’s return home. Read the full story.
In November 1938, the Scranton Tribune published a powerful editorial condemning the Nazi-led violence of Kristallnacht. The article denounced the brutal attacks on Jewish communities in Germany and Austria, warning of the the growing threat of Nazi persecution and anti-Semitism. Read the full story.
A German immigrant, mineworker, and inventor unveiled a mechanized coal separator in 1913.
Justin and Jake share their reactions to Episode 9 of Masters of the Air.
Justin and Jake share their reactions to Episode 8 of Masters of the Air.
Justin and Jake share their reactions to Episode 7 of Masters of the Air.
My first trip to Germany in 2022 brought me new perspectives on the realities of air bombardment during the Second World War.