{"id":1109,"date":"2011-05-13T05:28:11","date_gmt":"2011-05-13T10:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=1109"},"modified":"2011-05-13T05:28:11","modified_gmt":"2011-05-13T10:28:11","slug":"book-review-world-war-ii-radio-heroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2011\/05\/book-review-world-war-ii-radio-heroes\/","title":{"rendered":"SWLing Book Review–Lisa Spahr’s World War II Radio Heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year I had the pleasure of meeting author Lisa Spahr at the Winter SWLfest in Plymouth Meeting, PA.\u00a0 There was considerable interest in her new book, World War II Radio Heros<\/em>, at the event, and after speaking with Ms. Spahr for only a few minutes, I knew I wanted to read it, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion<\/em> is the story of Ms. Spahr’s grandfather, Robert Spahr, who was captured by German forces and held as a prisoner of war. After the death of her grandfather, she discovered letters written to her family during the war some sixty years ago, from total strangers, telling her great-grandmother that her son had been captured and was being held as a POW.<\/p>\n

In the process of reading through these letters, she discovered a forgotten fraternity of shortwave radio listeners who routinely listened to German propaganda stations in order to hear and pass along news from POWs to their families.<\/p>\n

Though one might think that these were condolences–describing that a loved one has been captured and is being held against his will–Spahr demonstrates that such letters (derived from the act of listening to propaganda radio broadcasts) were actually the opposite:\u00a0 these were messages, she explains, of reassurance, that a loved one is alive, and has not fallen on a battlefield. These propaganda broadcasts inadvertently translated to a form of solace, and the radio listeners knew this.<\/p>\n

WWII Radio Heroes<\/em><\/strong> is a slim volume, but a wonderful bit of radio history.\u00a0 I liken it to having a good friend spending the afternoon showing you an album of original letters and photographs that, own their own, tell a heart-warming story. Spahr provides insight into each letter, photograph, and details the curiosity that lead her on this original journey into her family’s and America’s past.<\/p>\n

You can purchase WWII Radio Heroes<\/em> directly from the book’s dedicated website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This year I had the pleasure of meeting author Lisa Spahr at the Winter SWLfest in Plymouth Meeting, PA.\u00a0 There was considerable interest in her new book, World War II Radio Heros, at the event, and after speaking with Ms. Spahr for only a few minutes, I knew I wanted to read it, too. World […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[251,288],"tags":[391,392,390],"class_list":["post-1109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-radio-history","tag-book-reviews","tag-lisa-l-spahr","tag-world-war-ii-radio-heroes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-hT","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":52574,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/world-war-ii-radio-letters-a-real-life-shortwave-story-part-ii\/","url_meta":{"origin":1109,"position":0},"title":"World War II Radio Letters: a real-life shortwave story \u2013 Part II","author":"Thomas","date":"April 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: World War II Radio Letters: a real-life shortwave story \u2013 Part II By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM That so many people have been moved by Part I has been heartwarming. Since writing it, there have been further developments. Tecsun Radio\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/61gTnOl9-AL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/61gTnOl9-AL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/61gTnOl9-AL.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/61gTnOl9-AL.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19248,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/wwii-correspondence-collection-highlights-pow-radio-letters\/","url_meta":{"origin":1109,"position":1},"title":"WWII Correspondence Collection highlights POW radio letters","author":"Thomas","date":"May 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Cuff, who shared the following article via the Winter SWL Fest email group: (Source: Ithaca.com) He Got News to Families of POWs The word \u201carchives\u201d can conjure up an image of dusty boxes of documents and sepia photographs. Do not be deceived. In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Atwater-Kent-Dial","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Atwater-Kent-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Atwater-Kent-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Atwater-Kent-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54111,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/09\/the-passing-of-a-compassionate-shortwave-listener-agnes-joan-negra\/","url_meta":{"origin":1109,"position":2},"title":"The passing of a compassionate shortwave listener, Agnes Joan Negra","author":"Jock Elliott","date":"September 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM I just received this: Dear Jock: It is with a heavy heart that I must report that 102 year old, Agnes Joan Negra passed away last Friday, peacefully, and at home. She went into Hospice care about three weeks ago. We had a private funeral for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/waves-of-hope.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":41755,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/wrmis-origins-in-scituate-ma\/","url_meta":{"origin":1109,"position":3},"title":"WRMI’s origins in Scituate, MA","author":"Thomas","date":"January 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: The Patriot Ledger) WHAT IS IT? Located off Hatherly Road, the Scituate Proving Grounds was used as an ammunition dump and a testing facility for artillery during World War I. During World War II, it served a different purpose, beaming radio broadcasts to occupied Europe as the transmitter site\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52474,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/wwii-radio-letters-a-real-life-shortwave-story\/","url_meta":{"origin":1109,"position":4},"title":"WWII Radio Letters: A real-life shortwave story","author":"Thomas","date":"April 17, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: A real-life shortwave story By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM On July 25, 1943, a Royal Canadian Air Force Wellington bomber took off from England to fly a mission over Nazi-held territory in Europe. It never returned to base. On board\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/TG6-shortwave-story-pix-002-001.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/TG6-shortwave-story-pix-002-001.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/TG6-shortwave-story-pix-002-001.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/TG6-shortwave-story-pix-002-001.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/TG6-shortwave-story-pix-002-001.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20794,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/details-emerge-the-pantronx-titus-ii-drm-portable-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":1109,"position":5},"title":"Details Emerge: The PantronX Titus II DRM Portable Receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"August 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Harald Kuhl (DL1ABJ), who shares more details about the new Titus 2 DRM receiver via the DRM Consortium Chairman,\u00a0Ruxandra Obreja: NEW DRM RECEIVER UNVEILED at HFCC MEETING IN MIAMI, FLORIDA THIS WEEK! The HFCC meeting is being held 22-26 August in Miami and on this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DRM"","block_context":{"text":"DRM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/drm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"TitusII-DRM-Receiver","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/TitusII-DRM-Receiver-1024x652.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/TitusII-DRM-Receiver-1024x652.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/TitusII-DRM-Receiver-1024x652.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1109"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1109\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}