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The Resource Whatever it took : an American paratrooper's extraordinary memoir of escape, survival, and heroism in the last days of World War II, Henry Langrehr and Jim DeFelice

Whatever it took : an American paratrooper's extraordinary memoir of escape, survival, and heroism in the last days of World War II, Henry Langrehr and Jim DeFelice

Creator
Contributor
Summary
Published to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, an unforgettable never-before-told first-person account of World War II: the true story of an American paratrooper who survived D-Day, was captured and imprisoned in a Nazi work camp, and made a daring escape to freedom. Now at 95, one of the few living members of the Greatest Generation shares his experiences at last in one of the most remarkable World War II stories ever told. As the Allied Invasion of Normandy launched in the pre-dawn hours of June 6, 1944, Henry Langrehr, an American paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne, was among the thousands of Allies who parachuted into occupied France. Surviving heavy anti-aircraft fire, he crashed through the glass roof of a greenhouse in Sainte-Mère-Église. While many of the soldiers in his unit died, Henry and other surviving troops valiantly battled enemy tanks to a standstill. Then, on June 29th, Henry was captured by the Nazis. The next phase of his incredible journey was beginning. Kept for a week in the outer ring of a death camp, Henry witnessed the Nazis' unspeakable brutality--the so-called Final Solution, with people marched to their deaths, their bodies discarded like cords of wood. Transported to a work camp, he endured horrors of his own when he was forced to live in unbelievable squalor and labor in a coal mine with other POWs. Knowing they would be worked to death, he and a friend made a desperate escape. When a German soldier cornered them in a barn, the friend was fatally shot; Henry struggled with the soldier, killing him and taking his gun. Perilously traveling westward toward Allied controlled land on foot, Henry faced the great ethical and moral dilemmas of war firsthand, needing to do whatever it took to survive. Finally, after two weeks behind enemy lines, he found an American unit and was rescued. Awaiting him at home was Arlene, who, like millions of other American women, went to work in factories and offices to build the armaments Henry and the Allies needed for victory. Whatever It Took is her story, too, bringing to life the hopes and fears of those on the homefront awaiting their loved ones to return. A tale of heroism, hope, and survival featuring 30 photographs, Whatever It Took is a timely reminder of the human cost of freedom and a tribute to unbreakable human courage and spirit in the darkest of times
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
  • Large print edition.
  • First Harper Large Print edition.
Extent
x, 348 pages (large print), 16 unnumbered pages of plates
Note
Originally published in standard print format: [United States] : William Morrow, 2020
Isbn
9780063040588
Instance
Label
Whatever it took : an American paratrooper's extraordinary memoir of escape, survival, and heroism in the last days of World War II
Title
Whatever it took
Title remainder
an American paratrooper's extraordinary memoir of escape, survival, and heroism in the last days of World War II
Statement of responsibility
Henry Langrehr and Jim DeFelice
Creator
Contributor
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
Published to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, an unforgettable never-before-told first-person account of World War II: the true story of an American paratrooper who survived D-Day, was captured and imprisoned in a Nazi work camp, and made a daring escape to freedom. Now at 95, one of the few living members of the Greatest Generation shares his experiences at last in one of the most remarkable World War II stories ever told. As the Allied Invasion of Normandy launched in the pre-dawn hours of June 6, 1944, Henry Langrehr, an American paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne, was among the thousands of Allies who parachuted into occupied France. Surviving heavy anti-aircraft fire, he crashed through the glass roof of a greenhouse in Sainte-Mère-Église. While many of the soldiers in his unit died, Henry and other surviving troops valiantly battled enemy tanks to a standstill. Then, on June 29th, Henry was captured by the Nazis. The next phase of his incredible journey was beginning. Kept for a week in the outer ring of a death camp, Henry witnessed the Nazis' unspeakable brutality--the so-called Final Solution, with people marched to their deaths, their bodies discarded like cords of wood. Transported to a work camp, he endured horrors of his own when he was forced to live in unbelievable squalor and labor in a coal mine with other POWs. Knowing they would be worked to death, he and a friend made a desperate escape. When a German soldier cornered them in a barn, the friend was fatally shot; Henry struggled with the soldier, killing him and taking his gun. Perilously traveling westward toward Allied controlled land on foot, Henry faced the great ethical and moral dilemmas of war firsthand, needing to do whatever it took to survive. Finally, after two weeks behind enemy lines, he found an American unit and was rescued. Awaiting him at home was Arlene, who, like millions of other American women, went to work in factories and offices to build the armaments Henry and the Allies needed for victory. Whatever It Took is her story, too, bringing to life the hopes and fears of those on the homefront awaiting their loved ones to return. A tale of heroism, hope, and survival featuring 30 photographs, Whatever It Took is a timely reminder of the human cost of freedom and a tribute to unbreakable human courage and spirit in the darkest of times
Biography type
autobiography
Cataloging source
CaOWLBI
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Langrehr, Henry
Dewey number
  • 940.53092
  • B
  • 940.54/8173
  • B
Illustrations
  • illustrations
  • maps
  • plates
Index
no index present
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorDate
1956-
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorName
DeFelice, Jim
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Langrehr, Henry
  • United States
  • United States
  • Parachute troops
  • Concentration camp escapes
  • Prisoners of war
  • World War, 1939-1945
  • World War, 1939-1945
  • World War, 1939-1945
Label
Whatever it took : an American paratrooper's extraordinary memoir of escape, survival, and heroism in the last days of World War II, Henry Langrehr and Jim DeFelice
Instantiates
Publication
Note
Originally published in standard print format: [United States] : William Morrow, 2020
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Control code
pr05741244
Dimensions
23 cm
Edition
  • Large print edition.
  • First Harper Large Print edition.
Extent
x, 348 pages (large print), 16 unnumbered pages of plates
Form of item
large print
Isbn
9780063040588
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations, map
System control number
pr05741244
Label
Whatever it took : an American paratrooper's extraordinary memoir of escape, survival, and heroism in the last days of World War II, Henry Langrehr and Jim DeFelice
Publication
Note
Originally published in standard print format: [United States] : William Morrow, 2020
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Control code
pr05741244
Dimensions
23 cm
Edition
  • Large print edition.
  • First Harper Large Print edition.
Extent
x, 348 pages (large print), 16 unnumbered pages of plates
Form of item
large print
Isbn
9780063040588
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations, map
System control number
pr05741244

Subject

Genre

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