Bell cemetery in Hamburg after the Second World War. [Bundesarchive]

The seizing of Europe’s bells

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

The bells that rang out across allied nations after the First World War ended what for many had been a four-year silence enforced by regulation in some places and imposed by confiscation in others.

In Germany and across Europe, tens of thousands of bronze bells—some imparting “the songs of the angels” since the 12th century—had been seized and melted down for arms and munitions.

During the First World War, 44 per cent of the bells in Germany alone were lost, many given willingly to support the war effort—and some not so willingly.

In the parish of Kusel in southwestern Germany, Deacon Karl Munzinger had grudgingly resigned himself to the inevitable after resisting a decree ordering the surrender of bells to be melted down and converted to guns and shells.

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Whitey’s Journey by Kelsey Lonie is a new children’s book about a WW II canine mascot published by Heritage House Publishing. [Courtesy Heritage House Publishing]

Children’s book published on Canadian WW II dog mascot

STORY BY ALEX BOWERS

“Sometimes, a story reaches out and just won’t let go,” suggested Kelsey Lonie, a Canadian military historian and educator-turned-children’s book author. That story, first told to her by Gord Crossley, The Fort Garry Horse Museum and Archives curator, instantly resonated with the Regina resident.

“I told [Crossley] how much I love the intersection of animals and the Second World War,” continued Lonie, “and he obviously highlighted the ties between [renowned children’s book character] Winnie the Pooh and Winnipeg [during the First World War]. He then mentioned that The Fort Garry Horse regiment had a dog during World War Two. His name was Whitey, and he was a collie.”

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