If you follow me via Twitter (Mommycosm) or Facebook (personal), you've probably heard me mention that I recently changed projects at work.  The company I work for just published a very interesting book and I will be using my mad web research/blogging/social media guru skills to help promote it.  I usually don't mix business with my personal life.  Beware.  The matrix might just explode.

When my boss first introduced the topic to me, I was a bit intimidated.  The book is about WWII.  Not just that, but a GERMAN prisoner of war during WWII escaping from a Canadian camp.  I had about, um, let's see...ZERO knowledge about the topic.  As soon as I read the story though, I quickly jumped on board.

I get that it is important to study history in order to avoid repeating mistakes.  I know.  But, in the past, the topic was way too scary, sad and far removed from my existance to hold my interest.  I never desired learning more than I was forced to in school.

My knowledge of WWII can be summed up rather easily: Hitler, concentration camps, death, etc.  Oh, wait.  I did see the movies Pearl Harbor and Valkyrie - that makes me an expert.  Right?  Um, not so much.

Did you know that about 450,000 German and Italian POWs were housed in camps within the United States and Canada during WWII?

Nope, me neither.  Where is that in our history books?!?

I've been doing a lot of research the last few weeks.  A LOT.  Two things stand out:

1. I'm still really surprised that I had never heard about this.  There was even a camp right here in New Hampshire.  Go figure. 
2. I'm so very impressed with an underlying theme within the stories I have been reading.  Apparently, we treated the POWs decently.  So decently, that many remember their time within the camps somewhat fondly.  Some even came back to visit and/or live after the war was over.  Can you imagine?!  When you stop to consider how most German's treated our POWs...and the way we've apparently treated other POWs in recent history...WOW.  Just WOW.

One of the theories I came across: our government hoped that if we treated their POWs decently, they would do the same.  You know, do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

The book I will be promoting: Canadian Escapades: The true story of the author's 3 escapes from WW2 POW camps by Klaus Conrad.

My favorite excerpt from the book:

"Why? Why does a POW escape anyway, when he suffers no physical emergency and everything is done to ease psychological stress? Why does he trade a life with adequate food in well heated shelter for the danger and hardship of an almost impossible escape?

Burning love of country and a patriotic heart were probably seldom the cause; sure, they shouldn't be denied as reasons; but the much stronger motive was indeed in most cases hunger for experience, desire for adventure, ambition – and the desire, in a monotonous existence, in which one seldom witnessed achievements, and much more often witnessed human weaknesses, to once show something special, and prove oneself in front of comrades.

And finally of course it was the longing for freedom, which can probably only be truly understood by those who have themselves been imprisoned for years."

It's definitely an interesting read.  Equally as cool as the story, I think, is the way the book is layed out.  Both languages, German and English, are presented side-by-side on each page.  So, the book not only is an interesting memoir, but it could be helpful to anyone trying to learn the other language.

Just so you know, I'm not getting paid on commission.  I get paid hourly for my research and whatnot, same as always.  That being said...

I would highly recommend this to any history buff, German student, adventure enthusiast and reluctant-male-teenage reader.  It would make a great Christmas gift.  Some of my family members will be receiving it.

We are just in the beginning stages.  For more information, check out:

• Canadian Escapades website
• blog
• twitter
• Facebook fan page
• press release

If you'd like to purchase the book, you can do so via Amazon or here.  

(My typical Amazon disclaimer: yes, using the provided affiliate link may earn me a few theoretical pennies.  Hasn't happened yet.  Providing it more for your convenience.)