Deb’s Comments (group member since Apr 14, 2009)

Deb’s comments from the Between the Wars group.

I did see 2 episodes of the series about the occupation. I thought it was great, and it really ruined "the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie.." book for me, because I thought the TV series was much better.

Concerning the Home Guard, there was a long running TV series in England called "Dad's Army" - a sitcom. They were to be an important part of the invasion defense - they manned observation posts on the coast scanning the sea and sky for invaders. The Cabinet and Churchill thought that invasion was inevitable in the first years of the war.

Also, have any of you read or seen Bedknob(s) and Broomstick(s)? Is it not the Home Guard which is assisted by the ghost army of soldiers from all eras of English history - crusaders, regency armies, etc.?

Diana and Oswald (called Tom) Mosley were imprisoned because Oswald had created and was head of a Fascist organization in Britain which marched in the streets, attacked protesters, opposed allowing refugees from Hitler to enter the country, and was considered likely to try to overthrow British democracy. Imprisoned not just because they were friend with Hitler, but rather because they were the most likely people in Britain to form a fifth column.

The "treaty" that was supposed to avert war between Britain and Germany was the Munich Agreement between Hitler and then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Chamberlain said it ensured "Peace in Our Time." Others called it appeasement (as it was.) Hitler was just buying time to do his dirty work. A year later he invaded Poland, and the war began in Sept. 1939.

I tried to read "Dance to the Music" some years ago, but could not get into it, which is unusual for me.

Soames as a redhead? Never. Loved the old one, hated the new one.

And please, let us remember not only the men who served their country, but the women, nurses, clerks, and now combat soldiers, who also served, and also have died in all the wars.

It's a pot which you fill with warm water and salt, and you pour it into your sinuses....

Another proof that some things never change - the two references in the Diary to preventing colds by douching the nose with warm salt water - here in the US "neti pots" are enjoying another vogue...

I've seen the miniseries of To Serve Them All My Days many times, but I totally disagree with the decision to eliminate Grace along with her mother and sister.

But, I think only the first one, The Light Years, would count as between the wars....