WWI Crusaders

A band of Yanks in German-occupied Belgium help save millions from starvation as civilians resist the harsh German rule. August 1914 to May 1917.

by Jeffrey B. Miller

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.

Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org

*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

Pub Date Nov 11 2018 | Archive Date May 12 2021

Milbrown Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles

Biographies & Memoirs | History | Nonfiction (Adult)

Talking about this book? Use #WWICrusaders #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!

Description

Heroism and humanity behind the lines. WWI Crusaders telling the personal stories behind the facts of one of America’s greatest humanitarian efforts that’s little-known today. During WWI (1914-1918), the American-led Commission for Relief in Belgium (CRB) initiated, organized, and supervised the largest food relief program the world had ever seen. The CRB and its Belgian counterpart, the Comite National (CN), fed for four years nearly 10 million Belgians and northern French trapped behind German lines.

Young, idealistic Americans volunteered to go into German-occupied Belgium to guarantee the relief food would not be taken by the Germans. These humanitarian crusaders had to maintain strict neutrality as they watched the Belgians suffer under the harsh German regime. WWI Crusaders is the first book for general readers that tells in one volume the interlacing stories of German brutality, Belgian resistance, and the young Americans who went into German-occupied Belgium. Through lively personal stories, this nonfiction book follows a handful of young CRB delegates, a 22-year-old Belgian woman, two American diplomats, the leaders of a Belgian underground newspaper, and the founder of the CRB, who would become known to the world as the Great Humanitarian.

It is a story that few have heard.

A Note From the Publisher

Ebook - ISBN: 9780990689355 Price: $9.95

Advance Praise

“A tour-de-force history. . . gripping historical narrative. A magnum opus that celebrates the qualities of compassion, honor, and humanitarian virtue.”
—Kirkus Starred Review & Best Books of 2018

“This detailed account . . . has all the makings of a dramatic feature film: A rising political star . . . underground journalists . . . romance among natives and U.S. delegates to the CRB. . . and lots of human conflict. . .Well-documented and well-written, this [book] will appeal to historians and non-fiction lovers alike.”
—Indie Reader Discovery Awards

“The book is as impressive a feat as the topic it chronicles. . . The book is elegantly written with a firm hold on its historical background. The narrative is dense, detailed, and tightly knit.”
—Foreword Clarion Review, 4 out of 5 stars

“For any student of WWI history, Miller has created an invaluable addition to the scholarship.”
—BlueInk Starred Review

“If ever a book could be described as a true labour of love, then it’s this one. . . This remarkable tome covers the August 1914 to May 1917 timespan. . . Highly detailed, a fascinating story, well illustrated and superbly written — what more could we ask for?”
—Britain at War Magazine

“Though its length will be daunting for most general readers, those with a serious interest in WWI history or the life of Herbert Hoover will find this lively and engaging book fascinating.”
—Publishers Weekly, BookLife

...

Marketing Plan

WWI Crusaders’ story of compassion, honor, and humanitarian virtue by young, idealistic Americans is timeless and should not be limited by the book’s release date. When I launched WWI Crusaders in November 2018, I distributed press releases, submitted the book to numerous book reviewers (including Netgalley), entered multiple contests, participated in lots of media interviews and public appearances—all of which led to great reviews (see “Advance Praise”), good sales, and 11-time finalist in 8 contests (5 national, 3 Colorado) and award-winner in 4 (2 National, 2 Colorado). I’m hopeful that now, in 2021, a second round of Netgalley reviewers will discover this book for the first time and recommend it to their readers. It’s story that deserves to be told and remembered.