The War Blog - Weekly Update #2

1. Hitler had planned to set up HQ in UK

German dictator Adolf Hitler had plans to set up his headquarters in the English Midlands if the Nazi invasion of Britain had been successful during World War II, say historians.

Maybe I'm understanding this wrong, but Hitler's HQ's usually were set up relatively close to the frontlines, or at least in the vicinity of the relevant theater of operations. Why would Hitler set up shop in the UK if it had been successfully conquered? While he saw the British Empire as a great and important force in the world and had hoped to be on friendly terms with the British there is simply no reason for him to place his personal HQ where the article suggests.

Look at occupied France, for example. Hitler was a great admirer of Napoleon and yet all he did after his conquest of France was to visit Paris, once, and return home. There was no "Wolf's Lair" in France, not even when he contemplated operation Sealion. [As a matter of fact, I was informed there was one called Wolfsschlucht 2 at Margival near Laon/Aisne.] Then why should we assume there would've been one in the Midlands? To what end? To attack Ireland and fight leprechauns?

2. Japanese-American vets honored for WWII service

Receiving recognition at last, these second-generation Japanese-Americans were honored for their services in WWII. And to quote the sole comment on the article, not mentioned was the fact that many of these men served while their families and friends were locked up in internment camps. Not only are they heroes for their service but for their ability to serve their country in their pursuit of freedom even though many of their families were being denied the same.

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/19/2728975/japanese-american-vets-honored.html#storylink=cpy

3. Xeric Grant Winning Graphic Novel Finds FREEDOM

This one falls into the alternate history department of news stories. According to its creator Seamus Heffernan, Freedom is something of a “historical mythology”. At its root it’s an alternate history about the American Colonists losing the Revolution to the British. He's taken what might have been a likely path for history to follow in the event of the colonial defeat, and injected it with mythical and magical elements. It is a massive, irreverent epic with a huge cast of characters, both fictional and historical. You can check out a PDF excerpt here.

4. Call of Duty: Devil's Brigade

The Verge unveils an indepth look at Infinity Ward's cancelled third-person tactical shooter set in WWII. A nice perspective on a game that was not to be (related story: here).

5. What if Israel were in Germany? An AH.

Another article about Matt Ruff's "The Mirage", a novel I'm not really sure what to make of so far. I'd review it, but as of now I don't actually feel like buying it.

6. Scifi Author spoils his entire book series' finale for terminally ill fan

I may not be the greatest fan of Turtledove's "The War That Came Early" series, but you've got to give it to the man: in real life he seems to be a great guy. Nachu Bhatnagar is a huge fan of the series of alternate history novels. Sadly, Nachu also suffers from terminal cancer and may pass away this June. So his best friend approached Turtledove ("It is my duty as a friend to do whatever I can to fulfill Nachu's last wishes."), and Harry not only sent him an advance copy of the next book, but also spoilt the rest of the plot to him.