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    Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War
    Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War
    Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War
    Audiobook7 hours

    Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War

    Written by Artemis Joukowsky

    Narrated by Joe Barrett

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In 1939, Rev. Waitstill Sharp, a young Unitarian minister, and his wife, Martha, a social worker, accepted a mission from the American Unitarian Association: They were to leave their home and young children in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and travel to Prague, Czechoslovakia, to help address the mounting refugee crisis. Armed with only $40,000, the Sharps quickly learned the art of spy craft and covertly sheltered political dissidents and Jews, and helped them escape the Nazis. After narrowly avoiding the Gestapo themselves, the Sharps returned to Europe in 1940 as representatives of the newly formed Unitarian Service Committee and continued their relief efforts in Vichy France. This riveting true story offers listeners a rare glimpse at high-stakes international relief efforts during World War II. Defying the Nazis is a fascinating portrait of resistance as told through the story of one courageous couple.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateSep 6, 2016
    ISBN9781515979791
    Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War

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    Reviews for Defying the Nazis

    4/5

    26 ratings13 reviews

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    • 3/5
      A very good piece of non-fiction about a courageous couple, the Sharps, who defied the Nazis during WWII, aiding escaping Jews. A good example of people living their moral convictions!
    • 4/5
      This book is based on a true story of fear, courage and heroism through World War II. Despite the passing of time these stories are still relevant to today and still stirring motion in one soul of what has taken place in the history of the world. One will be moved by the story contained within the pages of this book. Highly recommended for those who are interested in nonfiction about World War II, especially the heroic stories that do come out of this horrific event and for those who are also not as knowledgeable of the events that took place to read a first-hand account of what was taking place during this time
    • 4/5
      Here it is 77 years later and stories of heroism in World War II still stir emotion and great interest in the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. This is a story of The Sharps, an amazing couple serving in Czechoslovakia in 1939 and beyond: he, a Unitarian minister with a Wellesley, Massachusetts flock and she a social worker. They are called to serve in Europe as the Nazis grab for land and power. Other Unitarian ministers had declined requests to serve and surely a couple with two small children would be excused if they chose a similar path. However, their convictions, sense of morality and responsibility impelled them to try and save the children and intellectuals of Czechoslovakia. They were focused, creative, ingenious and committed to their work which provided extraordinary results. This is a great story and well worth sharing.I am grateful to publisher, Beacon Press and Goodreads First Reads for having provided a free copy of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.Synopsis (from dustcover's front flap): In 1939, the Reverend Waitstill Sharp, a young Unitarian minister, and his wife, Martha, a social worker, accepted a mission from the American Unitarian Association: they were to leave their home and young children in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and travel to Prague, Czechoslovakia, to help address the mounting refugee crisis. Seventeen ministers had been asked to undertake this mission and had declined; Rev. Sharp was the first to accept the call for volunteers in Europe. Armed with only $40,000, Waitstill and Martha quickly learned the art of spy craft and undertook dangerous rescue and relief missions across war-torn Europe, saving refugees, political dissidents, and Jews on the eve of World War II. After narrowly avoiding the Gestapo themselves, the Sharps returned to Europe in 1940 as representatives of the newly formed Unitarian Service Committee and continued their relief efforts in Vichy France. A fascinating portrait of resistance as told through the story of one courageous couple, Defying the Nazis offers a rare glimpse at high-stakes international relief efforts during WWII and tells the remarkable true story of a couple whose faith and commitment to social justice inspired them to risk their lives to save countless others. A companion documentary film was directed by Ken Burns and Artemis Joukowsky.
    • 4/5
      Would you pack your bags and head to Czechoslovakia if you were asked? Would you do it if you had to leave your two young children behind? How about if it was 1939? That is exactly what Martha and Waitstill Sharp did…. Hoping to defy the Nazi’s by smuggling refugees out of Europe before it was too late. Reverend Sharp was given $40,000 and a hotel room in Prague, for everything else they were on their own, learning how to operate under the Nazi’s radar while working to attain visas for as many men, women and children as possible. Once they had done all they could in Czechoslovakia, their services were still needed in another European country —France... followed by Portugal and England. How did all their time working for the greater good affect their own relationship—between both husband and wife and parents and children? The story is intriguing—the personal drive to help strangers, all the while putting themselves in the line of danger and harming their relationship with their family. The books starts out by explaining how their job came about, their experiences during the time leading up to the war and during as well as their lives after—at times, it gets a bit bogged down with some small tedious details but the overall story is worth enduring those bits. I have not yet seen the companion Ken Burns’ documentary but at times I read it my head in that style.
    • 4/5
      While the Sharps' story is an absolutely amazing tale of self sacrifice and putting oneself in harms way to help strangers in a foreign country(ries) I couldn't help but feel the book was put out solely because of the Ken Burns documentary. The story of this couple is completely deserving of it's telling and I'm certain the documentary will be much more lively. But for all the harrowing adventures and sacrifice and service of the Sharps, the book itself seems to drag at many junctures. I don't know that it could be helped in any way, because I believe this story is perfect for a documentary, not a book.
    • 4/5
      Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War. By Artemis Joukowsky. With a Foreword by Ken Burns.The story begins innocently enough in 1939 with two Americans living seemingly ordinary lives. As leaders in their Unitarian Church, the Reverend Waitstill Sharp and his wife, Martha, are asked to travel to Czechoslovakia to assist with the evacuation of refugees from countries under Nazi control. Their role in getting people out of danger, setting up feeding programs for refugees, and saving children from certain death, clearly becomes a remarkably inspirational and relevant story in light of our world refugee crisis today.The narrative begins with an easily readable description of this couples’ home life with their two children, Hastings and Martha Content. The author describes the so-called normal nature of the family’s lifestyle, but then suddenly, a major decision has to be made when the couple is challenged to leave their comfortable surroundings to serve in Europe. The choice that this couple made to leave their two children in the care of others while becoming involved in the refugee crisis was to change their life course in many ways that could not be predicted at the time.Once the couple settles in Europe, the reality of the situation begins to reveal itself. Because the story is told by the author with primary sources of his grandmother’s and grandfather’s correspondence, notes, and personal accounts, the reader is placed immediately into the dangers and consequences that grip the people that Hitler and the Nazis wanted to annihilate. Not only is the reader confronted with the dangers of the situation, but is also privy to the mundane experiences of the couple. This juxtaposition of events created, in this reader, emotional anxiety about the next traumatic event and the cruelty imposed by the Nazis so commonplace during this time. After following the couple through their service during World War II, the author continues to narrate how Waitstill and Martha continue on the path of service to people in need, many times at the expense of their own children. The passion to make a difference in others’ lives results in unexpected outcomes. Martha runs for Congress; Waitstill carries on a mission far away from his family. A number of twists and turns in family life lead to an unanticipated event.As a part-time family historian and genealogist, I have been inspired by Mr. Joukowsky to investigate further my own family stories based on the primary sources I currently have at my disposal. No story I uncover may prove to be quite as riveting as this one, (or perhaps it will), but certainly well worth investigating, if only to learn about lives well spent and to know the timeless values imparted to future generations.
    • 5/5
      In 1976 Joukowsky is stunned to learn that his mother’s parents played a vital role in the Unitarian Church’s first mission to help various groups of people in Czechoslovakia, France and elsewhere during WWII. He visits and interviews them for a school report. Since their deaths, Artemis realizes just how remarkable the story of their bold efforts on behalf of Czechs and others, non-Jewish and Jewish is. Investigating, researching, interviewing the people the Sharps met, worked with and saved, and writing about them becomes Joukowsky’s life mission. He writes Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War, a fascinating, moving and detailed account of two regular people; a minister and his wife, asked to undertake a number of dangerous trips to aid and rescue refugees. In the 1930’s, the Unitarians were more knowledgeable of European events than most Americans. They were concerned about a population of German speaking co-religionists in Sudentenland, a region in northern Czechoslovakia, ceded to Hitler through Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s Munich Agreement as an offering of appeasement. Robert Dexter, Director of the American Unitarian Association, (AUA) visits Czechoslovakia and reports that Unitarian refugees have relocated to other parts of Czechoslovakia and need help. Many Jews fled as well and now the Nazis were hunting intellectuals, writers, artists, labor leaders, etc. among them. Soon the Nazis take over all Czechoslovakia; so much for appeasement!The AUA raises funds for the Sharps’ missions. Briefed in London and Paris, taught “spycraft” and given lists of contacts and names of refugees needing to escape they arrive in Prague, “a plucky little democracy” trying its best to house, feed, and find jobs for the refugees. The Sharps quickly learn what needed doing; and connected with people who could help and those who required help. They were stunned to learn that many Czechs, Americans and others did not feel as they did and would not lift a finger to aid Jews, i.e. US Ambassador Wilbur Carr. He could have saved lives but would not increase the number of visa allotments to the US. Thankfully, his replacement, Irving Linnel did that and more!The Sharps prioritized by helping get ‘kulturtragers’ (intellectuals), Jews and children out. Waitstill brilliantly coordinates a bizarre plan to move refugees’ money to banks in other countries for safe keeping, avoiding the Nazis helping themselves. He funded the Salvation Army’s kitchen to feed the hungry, set up summer camps for children to get them out of Prague for a few weeks, built an orphan home, helped churches buy a supply of food for winter, rescued students by having them pretend to be miners allowing them to go underground where they reached Poland, and the Resistance put them on British subs. Martha helps her Jewish staff, as well as relatives of friends get food, jobs or visas. She ensures approx. 800 French babies and children get milk, and tries getting as many Jewish children out of the country as possible. She tried, unsuccessfully, to get Alaska to agree to take 10,000 refugees! The work was challenging and stressful, of course. Martha missed her children terribly and was often sick but would continue working, knowing the dangers innocent people were facing. Joukowsky doesn’t shy away from documenting how much his grandparents’ experiences changed their lives especially Martha’s. And how after they returned from Europe the two remained committed to serving and supporting a number of organizations representing people in need. With Defying the Nazis, Joukowsky succeeds in creating a beautiful, honest memorial to not only his grandparents but to the many others who performed miracles every day to help and save as many people as possible.
    • 4/5
      From the moment I read the introduction to this book I was intrigued. I found it fascinating that the author did not know the incredible role his grandparents had played in rescuing people during World War II until his Mother suggested he speak to his grandparents about their activities during the War for a school assignment. After reading this book, I cannot help but wonder what stories I do not know about my family. Although we will not all find something as momentous as the author, his discovery is a great reminder to ask family questions. You never know what you will find. I felt like I was discovering Joukowsky's grandparents with him. It added an extra level of interest to my reading.I was very interested in the Sharps' story. Reading how they adapted to their circumstances quickly and with an intense passion so they could save as many lives as possible was inspiring. I thought this added an interesting view of history. I felt their frustration as they tried to save people and were thwarted by bureaucracy. It was also a deeply personal story as we learn how their rescue mission brings them close together for a time, but ultimately separates them.I admit, I found the first half of the book more intriguing. I found the last part a little dull as we went through their activities after the war. I think some of it was necessary so the readers could learn how profoundly their rescue missions shaped their lives, but perhaps a little less detail for some parts would have kept the book flowing a little more.This book is the official companion to the Ken Burns' film, and I am looking forward to seeing how the Sharps' story is portrayed on film. I am glad I read the book first so I am familiar with the details before I watch it.This was a good book about people who tried to make a difference during World War II. I think Ken Burns summed it up best in the introduction when he said "Martha once said that neither she nor Waitstill saw themselves as anything but ordinary, that anyone else would have acted in the same way. It's hard for me to believe that's true, but their remarkable story shows us why we should at least try." I thought this was a good book, and would recommend reading it.
    • 4/5
      A great account of the life of Martha and Waitstill Sharp who saved many lives from sure death during WWII. Filled with not only the history of the Sharp's missions, but small tidbits of interesting history as well. (Song of Bernadette as example). What a strong and heroic person it must take to undertake these missions during WWII. I did find it heartbreaking that while saving these children from sure death they neglected their own children. It must of been very tough on Martha Content and Hastings to basically group up without their parents. There must have been some resentment there. This is a fascinating read about the courage and sacrifices it took to be an "undercover" operator during WWII.
    • 4/5
      Following any of the horrific events that have become all-too-common in modern society, someone on social media inevitably shares Mr. Rogers’s advice to “’Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’… I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” These words are true, but after so many tragedies and so many Facebook posts, it becomes easy to dismiss or forget about them. Artemis Joukowsky’s Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War provides clear proof of the veracity of this sentiment. The book tells the true story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp, who took on the enormous task of helping refugees in Europe as the Nazis were coming to power and World War II was starting.While the Sharps seemed like an ordinary couple, they had an extraordinary sense of duty that led them to accept the mission put forth by the American Unitarian Association to go to Prague, Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Nazi invasion. Despite having two young children, Waitstill and Martha go to Prague, learn ways of circumventing the obstacles in their way, outwit the Gestapo, and work to help those who are being oppressed and hunted by the Nazis. After leaving Prague and having a short sojourn at home, they return to Europe during World War II to continue helping those they can.In many ways, this story seems too fantastic to be true, but Joukowsky, who is the Sharps’ grandson, does an excellent job providing research and facts as support. In some instances, the number of names, dates, and references can weigh down the narrative, but the text’s focus never wavers for long. Joukowsky’s writing style also does not veer far away from the facts. If it is not verified in Martha and Waitstill’s correspondence, excerpts of which are included, or through his interviews with him, the text takes pains not to dramatize the events. This helps further establish Joukowsky as a trustworthy author, but it also can make the narrative a little dry, which is surprising given the suspense that is built into the story. However, despite these minor issues, the book moves quickly and leaves the reader wanting to find out what happened to the Sharps.Another aspect that reinforces the book’s reliability is that Joukowsky examines some of the more everyday facets of the Sharps’ lives. A prime example of this is the tension that exists between the good that Martha wanted to do by helping refugee children and the fact that she did this at the expense of spending time with her own children. Also, rather than closing with the Sharps’ second mission to Europe, Joukowsky follows them post-World War II, as they grow further apart both literally (Martha did a lot of travelling on the lecture circuit, while Waitstill returned to Prague to work for the American Committee for Relief in Czechoslovakia) and figuratively and after their marriage ends. In a perfect world, their bond would have been galvanized by the shared experiences in Europe and would have remained strong. Joulowsky’s exploration of its disintegration reinforces the reality of this story; it is not a fairy tale or fable but the story of two seemingly ordinary people who were able to accomplish extraordinary things under great duress and in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
    • 4/5
      This was a fairly dry read, considering the humanity of the subject matter. Enough historical detail is provided for those who don't recall how the Czechs fared under the Nazis, and the deeds of the title characters, Rev. and Mrs. Sharp, are fascinating, though the storytelling lacks some of the drama seen in other books of this genre. Highly recommended for those interested in WWII and/or the Holocaust.
    • 5/5
      With thanks to LibraryThing and Beacon Press for the opportunity to read and review this remarkable book. The author,Artemis Juokowsky,is the grandson of Righteous Among the Nations Waitstill and Martha Sharp and he spent decades researching their heroic rescue missions in Europe during World WarII. I read lots of Holocaust literature that focuses on mans' depravity against man, so it is uplifting to read about those that risked their lives to save countless others. "With little more to guide them than innate decency, a keen sense of fairness and a deep love for each other, the Sharps stand up to unspeakable evil and made a difference. I will be sharing this book with several friends and then Defying the Nazis:The Sharps'War,will share space with my collection of Holocaust books to be remembered along with the 6 Million.
    • 5/5
      In Defying the Nazis – The Sharps’ War, Artemis Joukowsky presents the story of his grandparents’ work to aid refugees in Czechoslovakia and France during 1939 – 1940. Waitstill and Martha Sharp began their work as Unitarian missionaries, but quickly learned how to pass coded notes, evade Gestapo agents that were tailing them, launder money, smooth talk border agents, and form relationships with embassy and consul staff from Britain, France, and the U.S. in order to help people escape the oncoming tide of persecution under the Nazi’s territorial expansion. The story would sound too amazing to be true, but Joukowsky bases everything on the primary sources that his grandparents left behind along with other surviving records from their work during World War II and beyond. Following the war’s conclusion, Martha ran for Congress, worked as a lecturer for the new nation of Israel, and continued to aid refugee children. Waitstill worked with other relief organizations and tried to combat Chicago’s housing discrimination. To quote Joukowsky, though they could not help everyone, “perhaps what matters most in not the number they were able to help, but that they chose to help at all. With little more to guide them than innate decency, a keen sense of fairness, and a deep love for each other, the Sharps stood up to unspeakable evil and made a difference” (p. 226). Defying the Nazis is an amazing story made all the more meaningful for the quiet bravery of the Sharps. This book, which will appear on bookshelves on 6 September 2016, is a companion to the PBS documentary Joukowsky co-directed with Ken Burns and that airs on 20 September.