Max Pearson presents a collection of this week’s Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service.

We hear about the German children who were evacuated to camps in the countryside to avoid the bombs of World War Two. You may find some of the content distressing.

Also we find out about the execution of Flor Contemplacion

Plus the creation of the 3000 km Te Ararora trail in New Zealand, the Dambusters raid and the story behind the popular children’s book, Pippi Longstocking.

Contributors: Gunter Stoppa and Klaus Reimer - German evacuee camp residents. This was taken from archive recordings from "Haus der Geschichte der Bundersrepublik Deutschland" in Bonn. Beate Muller - Professor of German Studies and Cultural History at Newcastle University, England Geoff Chapple who lobbied for the creation of the Te Araroa trail in New Zealand. Russel Contemplacion - Flor Contemplacion’s daughter Edre Olalia - Flor Contemplacion’s Lawyer George "Johnny" Johnson - the last survivor of the Dambusters squadron. Karin Nyman – Daughter of author Astrid Nyman

(Photo: Flor Contemplacion. Credit: Russel Contemplacion)

Singapore executes Filipina maid and German child evacuees of World War Two 51:20 Share

The History Hour

Shownotes Transcript

Singapore executes Filipina maid and German child evacuees of World War Two