Sarah Sundin | 5 World War II Facts from THE SEA BEFORE US
GIVEAWAY: win a copy of THE SEA BEFORE US
February 2, 2018
England fascinates us and D-day is one of the most pivotal days in modern
history, so I enjoyed exploring both for THE SEA BEFORE US, book 1
in the Sunrise at Normandy series. Here are some interesting facts I learned
while researching this story.
In March 1942, the BBC held a photography contest, asking people to send
in their favorite pictures of the French coast. Thirty thousand "snaps" were
sent the next day, and soon a million snapshots, postcards, and tourist maps
were collected. The BBC was secretly working with the Royal Navy, and those
souvenir pictures were combined with reconnaissance photos and intelligence from
the French resistance and from Allied commando raids to produce maps of Normandy
for D-day! Clever, huh? In THE SEA BEFORE US, my
heroine, "Wren" Second Officer Dorothy Fairfax helps sort and analyze this
material. Since her family took holidays at Vierville-sur-Mer—on what will
become Omaha Beach—she has a personal interest in her duties.
The "Little Blitz" in early 1944 has been overshadowed in history by the
Blitz (1940-41) and the V-1 and V-2 attacks on London that started in late 1944.
From January 21 to April 18, 1944, the Luftwaffe sent its bombers back to London
in retaliation for heavy Allied bombing of German cities. About 1,500 Londoners
were killed, a rude jolt to a war-weary nation. But the Luftwaffe lost
two-thirds of the bombers available on the Western Front, crippling the force on
the eve of D-day. Since Dorothy and her father suffered heavily in the Blitz,
the Little Blitz rattles them deeply.
A little-known manor house in Hampshire played a gigantic role on D-day.
Southwick House in Hampshire
served as Allied Naval Expeditionary Force Headquarters for the invasion, and
both Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and Gen. Sir Bernard Montgomery set up headquarters
in trailers (caravans to the British) on the grounds. In the library of
Southwick House, Eisenhower heard a slightly favorable weather report by RAF
Meteorologist Group Captain James Stagg—conflicting with the storm howling
outside—and made the critical decision to launch the invasion on June 6, 1944. I
was honored to visit Southwick House, where my heroine Dorothy is stationed, and
to eat lunch at The Golden Lion in Southwick, where Ike and Monty once
dined!
When most of us think of D-day, we think of GIs and Tommies storming the
beaches—with good reason! But did you know more sailors participated on D-day
than soldiers? Warships, minesweepers, transport ships, landing craft, and cargo
ships—and many other types of ships—were vital to the invasion. In THE SEA BEFORE US, the
hero, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton helps make naval bombardment plans
for D-day—and then serves at sea on that fateful day.
THE SEA BEFORE US
was inspired by the story of the American destroyers off Omaha Beach. Most of
the American tanks were lost in the first landings, leaving the GIs without
artillery support. The soldiers were supposed to call in gunfire from the
warships, but most of the radios—and the radio operators—were also lost. The
captains of US Destroyer Squadron 18 observed the dire situation on Omaha and
went into action. Heedless of the dangers of mines and artillery and grounding,
these ships charged within eight hundred yards of the beach and knocked out gun
batteries and strongpoints. Of course, I had to place Wyatt on board one of
these gutsy ships!
Which of these facts are familiar to you, and which are new?
As D-Day approaches, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton is teamed up
with Dorothy Fairfax, a British officer. Once they piece together family and
reconnaissance photos to map Normandy, will Wyatt's bombardment plans destroy
what Dorothy loves most?
In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare
for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a
"Wren" in the Women's Royal Naval Service, who pieces together reconnaissance
photographs with thousands of holiday snapshots of France—including those of her
family's summer home—in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that
Wyatt turns into naval bombardment plans for D-day.
As the two spend concentrated time together in the pressure cooker of war, their
deepening friendship threatens to turn into something more. But both of them
have too much to lose to give in to love . . .
Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the adventure and romance of the World War
II era. She is the author of ten historical novels, including THE SEA BEFORE US. Her
novels When Tides Turn and Through Waters Deep were named to
Booklist's "101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years," and Through
Waters Deep was a finalist for the 2016 Carol Award and won the INSPY
Award. A mother of three, Sarah lives in California, works on-call as a hospital
pharmacist, and teaches Sunday school. She also enjoys speaking for church,
community, and writers' groups.
Win a copy of Sarah's first book in the Sunrise at Normandy series, THE SEA BEFORE US just by telling us what you discovered new about the Normandy battles in WWII.
No matter how much I study WWII, there are ALWAYS new facts I learn. I did not know about the photography contest you mentioned. WOW. I LOVE learning about WWII - especially in historical fiction books. Yours are always GREAT. (Nancy Reynolds 9:53am February 2, 2018)
As a fan of historical fiction I look forward to enjoying this book. (Mildred Mayo 10:59am February 2, 2018)
I love this as histoical fiction is just so good. This is one that I look forward to reading and reviewing! Peggy Clayton (Peggy Clayton 12:54pm February 2, 2018)
I don’t know why but I’ve always been fascinated by anything in the WWII era. I think that’s why I’m just as enamored by Sarah Sundin’s books. I knew the fact about D-Day, and even watched Dunkirk to get a better idea of what it was like. I can’t wait to read ‘The Sea Before Us!’ (Sara Johns 12:55pm February 2, 2018)
I liked learning about the photo contest :) clever! Looking forward to this book! (Jennifer Harding 1:07pm February 2, 2018)
We're living in a time when the world is so aware of what other nations are doing, yet gathering intelligence in WWII had to require innovative approaches ...I never considered how they were able to accomplish this, 'a photo contest'!, clever indeed. (Abbie Peterson 1:12pm February 2, 2018)
Thanks for this info, Sarah! I didn't know about the daring work of US Destroyer Squadron 18. Nor the photo contest ~ LOVE that. The Sea Before Us is beckoning me to read it. Can't get my hands on it too soon! (Mary Kay Moody 2:28pm February 2, 2018)
So fascinating. I didn't know about the photographs; that was a very cool piece of information! (Tisha Martin 3:21pm February 2, 2018)
I'm really not sure which parts I had heard before, or just heard as I was reading about the book! This book looks amazing! (Colleen Hudson 5:37pm February 2, 2018)
I've never heard of Southwick house before. We visited the Churchhill War Rooms in London in October. That is one fascinating place. (Arletta Boulton 8:51pm February 2, 2018)
I love learning when I read Sarah’s books. I did know about D-Day...but not the rest. (Tami le Roux 9:04pm February 2, 2018)
I love history and learning about WWII. There is always something new. I love your stories and how you use history. (Melinda Marks 12:36pm February 3, 2018)
i didn't know about the photography contest or the little blitz (Judy Grogan 9:54am February 3, 2018)
Actually ALL of the facts are new to me! I was wowed by the picture contest fact! I'm actually more interested in history now than when I was in school LOL Thank you! (Angel Moore 10:04am February 3, 2018)
This is fascinating and interests me greatly since historicals which are written about WW11 are profound and meaningful. Your novels give me great enjoyment and are memorable. (Sharon Berger 12:49pm February 3, 2018)
I have red a great deal about London during the war. But I had never heard about the BBC's photo contest, amazing and so clever. (Lorena Keech 3:29pm February 3, 2018)
I just love reading Sarah's books and any type of historical fiction I love history and reading these facts about WWII Thank you for such a wonderful article and the chance to win (Patti Bond 3:59pm February 3, 2018)
I have read quite a bit about WWII, but these facts are new to me. I love Sarah's books. (Amanda T. 6:48pm February 3, 2018)
I have learned more about WWII from reading than in school. Marilyn (Marilyn Collins 7:18pm February 3, 2018)
I visited Normandy and saw all the big craters and what was left. It was amazing. (Debra Guyette 7:02am February 4, 2018)
I didn't realize more sailors than soldiers were involved in the Normandy invasion. Also, I never heard about the photo contest. That was a marvelous method of gaining useful information for the future. (Anna Speed 12:37pm February 4, 2018)
I have learned more about WWII from reading. (Mary Smith 4:56pm February 4, 2018)
WW11 is constantly revealing more and more as time goes by. This article fascinating, learning more Navy then Army on D Day. No wonder they are called "The Greatest Generation". We are embarrassingly shallow. (Kathleen Bylsma 7:03pm February 4, 2018)
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A BOOK I WOULD REALLY ENJOY READING. (Marlene Rosenberg 10:32pm February 4, 2018)
I know very little of D-day. However, my father was a POW in Germany but he really didn't talk about it. (Nancy Luebke 9:56pm February 5, 2018)
i knew only the basics - fascinating how they were able to use 'social media' to map out the area before anyone had even heard of that term! (Sandy Haber 10:41am February 6, 2018)
I enjoy learning about WWII and it always has new information. (Melinda Marks 8:09pm March 6, 2018)
I would love to win a copy of this book. I have always enjoyed reading about the Wars the United States had fought in, and WWII has always been one War I enjoyed reading of. The " Greatest Generation" It is called and with all the respect due to it, for all the sacrifices that these young men and women did for their Country. (Wilma Salas 8:23am March 14, 2018)
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