Introducing the Heroes of the Resistance
When marking VE Day, we mourn the worst that humanity inflicted in the war but we can also celebrate humanity at its best by commemorating the Heroes of the Resistance. This is why HOPE not hate wanted to launch this project to tell the stories of those whose incredible bravery saved lives, and helped save us from tyranny
Franz Jagerstatter: resistance through refusal
A conscientious objector and devout Roman Catholic, the Nazis set out to make an example of Jägerstätter by executing him in Berlin in August 1943. Jägerstätter’s decision to be killed by Nazis had a dramatic effect on the outside world.
The story of Virginia Hall
Virginia Hall is widely regarded as one of the most successful Allied secret agents of WWII. Born in Baltimore in 1906, she travelled to pre-war Europe, taking a job as a clerk in the US embassies in Poland and Turkey. Upon the commencement of hostilities, she became an ambulance driver in France, despite having a wooden leg that she had christened ‘Cuthbert’.
Defiance: The story of the Bielski brothers
The Bielski partisans are, rightly, among the most renowned resistance groups of WWII, remarkable in that they prioritised saving Jewish lives rather than killing Germans.
Heroes of the Resistance: the Podcast series
To accompany the launch of Heroes of the Resistance, a special series of the HOPE not hate podcast looked at eight stories from the project. Produced by Jake Pace Lawrie, each episode took one incredible story of resistance.
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